Gambia: A Lesson to Be Learned

D.A. Jawo, The Independent (independent), Banjul, Sept. 17, 2001.

It appears that both the U.S. administration and its allies have concluded that the tragedy was planned and executed by Muslim fundamentalists from the Middle East. They just cannot imagine that U.S. citizens could be capable of causing such destruction in America. Therefore, it appears that all their attention is being focused on outside forces, particularly Osama bin Laden, a Saudi dissident living in Afghanistan. However, it would be unwise if the U.S. administration and its allies should strike at any target before getting convincing evidence that the attack was carried out by those targeted. Otherwise, the United States is likely to earn more enemies than sympathizers. It is quite obvious that it has already made a lot of enemies in the Middle East because of its support for virtually every action taken by Israel, when many of these actions against Palestinians cannot be justified.