Ghastly
Assault
ONE day after a
string of what appears as terrorist attacks in three cities of the United States, the
world is still trying to comprehend the enormity of the tragedy that has struck that
country. Americans are in a state of shock, fear and chaos, and the people all over the
world are in a state of utter disbelief that the world’s lone superpower could be
subjected to such large-scale harm on its soil. Though the United States has seen its
share of terrorist strikes at home and its missions and military installations abroad, the
sheer scale of what is thought to be a coordinated assault on key symbols of its financial
and defence establishments on its home turf is unprecedented in history. Pieces of
information so far, though not all confirmed, point to four hijacked planes being used as
missiles to destroy sensitive targets and kill people. Two planes rammed, one each, into
the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York and the third into Pentagon in
Washington DC, the capital. The fourth, according to one US congressman, apparently had
Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, as the target, but which crashed into a
nearby field in Pennsylvania. The four planes had 266 people, all feared dead. Though US
officials were wary of putting number on the toll in the World Trade Centre skyscrapers,
which collapsed following the attacks reports say the number of those killed or injured
would easily run into thousands. The fact that it was a little before the start of the
working hours may have saved many from perishing in the disintegration of the 110-storey
edifices, where an estimated 50,000 people work.
Even as rescue,
relief and security measures are being taken on literally a war-footing in the US and its
western allies are taking precautionary security steps around the world, the question of
who are behind the attacks is being speculated on. US officials have been hesitant in
immediately pointing fingers at any terrorist outfit for the assault, which is a prudent
thing to do. More than speculation and emotional outbursts, what is needed now is a
full-scale investigation, which President Bush promised the American people soon after he
got words of the mayhem. Even as it reels under fear and anxiety and the enormous rescue
and relief undertaking, the United States is expected to receive support not only from its
allies but other friends as well in its pursue of the perpetrators of the crime in order
to bring them to justice. All peace-loving nations on earth must condemn such dastardly
acts of terrorism. Horrendous blow as it is for the Americans and their friends, it should
also serve as an incident that prompts a renewed commitment from all the nations to stamp
out terrorism. A sober analysis of the ugliness of terrorism and effective ways to combat
it must emerge from the devastation and carnage of Tuesday.
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