October 9, 2001    
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Are you for or against a war with Afghanistan?

I'm against war, period. In this case, though, I am particularly against war on a country whose people don't have any food and are suffering the violations of basic human rights under the Taliban.

etoile, 20
Washington
, DC  USA

Afghanistan is not my enemy. The Taliban, a faction in Afghanistan's murky politics, has supported and sheltered international terrorists. I am willing to spend American lives to fight both terrorism and the Taliban.

Jill, 60
Saylorsburg
, PA  USA

I'm not for any war, but I do think the U.S. is right to target the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in the recent attacks in Afghanistan. I've struggled with this but feel better knowing that the US Catholic Bishops support a military response.

http://www.nccbuscc.org/comm/bishopsstatements.htm

Laura, 36
Lowell
, MA   USA

I'm pretty much against a war with anybody.

Karen, 22
Marshalltown/Ames
, IA  USA

For it, but I'm still a cynic.

Alias Irrelevante

Against war in general, but something has to be done.

Tracy, 24
Ocean City
, NJ  USA

What a simplistic question! I am never in favor of war, but sometimes it becomes a reluctant necessity. And are we fighting Afghanistan, or are we fighting terrorists and the Talliban that supports them?

Jane, 60
West Linn
, OR   USA

I haven't heard anyone really proposing a war with Afghanistan. The Taliban is not Afghanistan, though it does occupy plenty of space there, at least until last night. I am not fond of war, but I am also not a pacifist. Fight for what you believe in. The US believes in Freedom, including freedom from terrorism.

Firelady, 23
Dallas
, TX   USA

Against...if we go in there and kill innocent people, then how is that any different than what they've done to us?

Angela, 17
Bella Vista
, AR  USA

FOR! All the way :)

Melodi, 19
Gahanna
, OH   USA

Can you bomb the physical space and the controlling power of a country (despite whether they came to power legitamately) and still deny you are attacking that country? I understand the need for the US to respond to the attacks Sept. 11. I always have this sinking feeling that violence only begets more violence. Then again, what if you sit back and do nothing would it end up worse?

Felicia, 35
Lowell
, MA   USA

I'm all for justice - in any matter. If that means getting over there, kicking ass and not even bothering to take names this time....I say dig in and go for it! Ten years from now I'd like to still have a country to feel partiotic about; it's time we showed some frigging force.

Fisch, 46
Preston
, CT   USA

I am for peaceful justice. It is hard for me to separate war from the deaths of innocent people. While it may seem appropriate to attack the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden, there will be civilian casualties: in this case the Afghans who are not responsible for terrorism or harboring terrorists.

Eric, 19
Beverly Hills
, CA  USA

Somebody was going to ask this; and I figured that someone had  so I didn't ask... I'm pretty much for a war. I guess now is where we see what our political beliefs are built of... I've always thought of myself as being a pacifist but at the same time America can not choose not to respond to

Johanna, 18
OK  USA

The CIA created bin Laden. Bush Jr. gave the Taliban over $40 million to discourage opium production. What this reminds me of is Mark Twain saying "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." We need to destroy the Taliban. But we also need to avoid increasing the suffering of the Afghans who are being oppressed by the Taliban. I don't know that war is the best way to combine those goals. What happened to the special ops people we sent in?

Theresa W., 23
Raleigh
, NC   USA

i'm for it...except i don't want it to turn into a huge thing where millions of people die. we need to get in, accomplish our mission, and get out. kill bin Ladin and get back to our lives. we don't need war in our lives, even though it brings us closer together. it's sad that it takes tragedy and

Mandi, 16
Lake City
, MN   USA

I don't know. I am saddened by it. I feel that there must be another way to solve our problems. There must be a way to talk to people instead of bombing the shit out of them. I feel like we are taking the anger of our nation out on people - many of them probably innocent victims with nothing to do with what happened in NY and DC. Still, there may be no other way. How do you talk to people who will not talk? How do you negotiate with people who will not listen? I dont know - I am just sad.

Deb

Totally for it...while, we should try to minimize civilian casaulties, the assault on us on 9/11 deserves a massive retiliation. We have got to knock out the terrorist networks around the world...we are NOT at war with Islam, or its followers, but terrorists. I don't expect it to be easy, since the terrorists hide in the shadows, but we will flush them out, and bring them to justice, I totally agree with Bush's plan of action.

Frodo
age unknown, parts unknown

against cuz I heard that due to the bombings over there, the coming of christ is near. seriously.

Patty

Gosh, I don't know. Most of afghanistan is so poor they can barely feed themselves. The ones we are really after are the terrists, not the afghanis.

Talia, 24
Wilton
, CT   USA

YES I THINK WE SHOULD GO TO WAR AND DO WHAT WE HAVE TO SO THAT THESE TERRORISTS CAN'T GET INTO OUR COUNTRY AND CAUSE THE TRAGEDY THEY CAUSED. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE IN AFGHANISTAN THAT ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE. BUT WE CAN'T LET THIS GO ON. I FULLY BACK UP OUR PRESIDENT AND OUR COUNTRY IN THOUGHT AND PRAYER. I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN AND A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Marci, 56
Diamond
, OH   USA

Keep the bombs going until there's nothing left.

A-Dog, 18
McMinnville
, OR  USA

I am for it. What they did cannot go unpunished.

Jennifer, 19
Wilkes-Barre
, PA  USA

This is a hard one because I have very mixed emotions. We will bomb them and then to get even, they will do something to us. Then we will retaliate and then they will - and so on and so forth. Meanwhile, a lot of innocent people will get killed and injured. Where will it end? This bothers me but then we can't just sit back and let these sneaky bastards kill 6,000 Americans and do nothing. I don't know what the answer is but I think our president is doing the best that can be done and I support him.

Reba, 51+
Silver Spring
, MD  USA

I am conflicted. War scares me. I feel that we have to go to war because if we don't they will continue to terrorize us. But I also feel that by going to war that we will continue to be terrorized. It does not seem like a win win situation either way. Going to war with Afghanistan could be a good thing for the Afghani people. It appears that many of the people there, especially the women, have suffered hardships under the Taliban rule. I would like to see that change for them. I would like the Taliban and any affiliates to Bin Laden (including Bin Laden) to be destroyed.

Celeste, 30
Colorado Springs
, CO  USA

I think ANY war that goes on is a sham! Nobody has any right whatsoever to kill anyone for any reason. I think it's wrong and it's sick. War is not the answer! Peace is. God said "Thall Shalt not Kill" and I strongly believe that includes war and doesn't mean "an eye for an eye"

Ivan, 20
Spotsylvania
, VA  USA

Definitely against. Notwithstanding all the obvious reasons we should leave innocent people alone, I think the US needs to suck it up and accept the fact that they're entirely too nosy. If you stick your nose in the business of other countries, you should NOT be surprised when someone from those countries decide to blow part of your country up.

Kristin, 20
IA  USA

I never favor war but I do believe we need to defend our country.

Janet, 44
E. Brunswick
, NJ  USA

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