[Peace] World opinion turning against the war

[Charles Lipp]

* US Admits it INTENTIONALLY bombed Red Cross

* World opinion turning against the war (international wrap-up by the
Guardian of London (Indonesia, Turkey, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Greece,
Iran,
Belgium, Malaysia, Venezuela, Pakistan, India, Kuwait, France, Spain,
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the
Philippines
* more reports from London, Spain and France

================================

US Admits it INTENTIONALLY bombed Red Cross

Please note the very last sentence here. This reflects a complete change
of tune for the US rationalization, which had previously claimed it had
"accidentally" bombed the Red Cross in Afghanistan.

- Mitchel Cohen

  From an interview on MSNBC, October 31, 2001
  www.msnbc.com/news/627086.asp?cp1=1

In a suburb of Kandahar, a doctor who said he was injured in the bombing
attack that struck the Red Crescent dispensary said the 11 people killed
and six injured included patients and staff at the facility.     "The
bombs fell at 4:30 this morning," Dr. Obaidullah told reporters escorted
by the Taliban to the dispensary, his head, right hand and left leg in
bandages from wounds he said he had sustained in the raid.     Reporters
heard U.S. planes dropping bombs on the city in two predawn raids, one
of
which took place at about 4:30 a.m. The reports of casualties could not
be
independently verified.     U.S. forces had drawn criticism earlier for
twice bombing Red Cross warehouses in Kabul. On Tuesday, a senior U.S.
military official told NBC News that the Red Cross warehouses were not
hit
by accident, saying they were bombed because Taliban troops had
commandeered the food stored there.

================================
World opinion turning against the war

Bombing casualties cause concern around the world

Some nations shift stance after air campaign

Wednesday October 31, 2001 -- The Guardian (London)

The British public's support for a pause in the bombing of Afghanistan
is
being reflected across many countries in Europe and the Middle and Far
East.

Many governments who signed up to the United States' war against
terrorism
prompted by the events of September 11 are now urging caution. Some are
still supportive of forthright action, others are calling for restraint
while a few are now openly hostile to any continuance of military
action.

Images of impoverished Afghans being bombed out of their homes has led
to
street protests in some countries.

Here the Guardian looks at how the mood of different nations has shifted
-
how some nations' support has wobbled, while others has remained
steadfast.

  Indonesia

Signs have been mixed. Initial strong support from President Megawati
Sukarnoputri turned to "great concern" after bombing began. "No
individual, group or government has the right to try to catch terrorist
perpetrators by attacking the territory of another country," she said.
Although Megawati has recently reaffirmed her commitment to combating
terrorism, her foreign minister, Hasan Wirayuda, said it would be
"emotionally explosive" to continue attacks during Ramadan.


  Turkey

While protests have been muted, unease over the US bombing campaign is
growing in the only Muslim member of Nato, bringing together an unlikely
alliance of conservative Islamists, hardline nationalists and the small
but vocal Turkish far left movement. Polls show between 57% and 70% of
Turks are opposed to the country's direct involvement in Operation
Enduring Freedom.

  Italy

Italians have been among Europe's most lukewarm supporters of military
action, with more than 200,000 people participating in a peace march two
weeks ago.

  Saudi Arabia

Initially the ruling royal family was prepared to "fully cooperate" in
tracking down "the perpetrators of this criminal act" of September 11.
However relations with the US have soured with American criticism of
Saudi
links with Bin Laden. "We are not at all happy with the situation,"
interior minister Prince Naif said recently of the bombings.

  Greece

Anti-war protests organised by the small but powerful communist party,
have become louder as bombing intensified. Polls show Greeks to be by
far
the least sympathetic of all European nations. Around 30% of the
population view the September 11 carnage as retribution for a
superpower's
misguided policies over decades.

  Iran

President Mohammad Khatami harshly condemned the attacks on the US and
expressed desire to be involved in the fight against terrorism. But
Iran's
spiritual leaders have recently reaffirmed traditional antipathy to US,
"the great Satan".

  Belgium

Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt pledged "total solidarity" with
the
US and UK at the outset but has sounded more cautious recently. Foreign
minister Louis Michel has accused Tony Blair of being too "bellicose"
and
said his country will not "blindly follow" Washington and London.

  Malaysia

Prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been a strong supporter of a global
campaign against terrorism but opposed the bombing of Afghanistan from
outset.


  Venezuela

President Hugo Chavez, during a live TV broadcast, displayed photographs
of Afghan children reported to be bombing victims and pleaded for an end
to "the killing of innocents".

  South Africa

Yesterday the government urged the US to show restraint and expressed
"grave concern over the disastrous humanitarian tragedy that is
unfolding
in Afghanistan".

  Pakistan

General Pervez Musharraf has been the US's linchpin and supportive from
the start. However his language has become more cautionary as protests
among sections of the population have become violent. "The operation
must
be as short as possible. We must try to achieve our objectives through
military means, and if we are unable to do that within a certain
duration,
switch to a political strategy that would give us the same objectives,"
he
said.

  India

India threw its weight behind the US-led war on terrorism and offered to
provide facilities for American military forces. But yesterday defence
minister George Fernandes cast doubt on US objectives and indicated the
campaign was a "long-term gamble."

  Kuwait

Initially talked of solidarity in the war against terrorism. But as
bombing persisted concern has deepened. Last week half of its elected
MPs
signed a statement calling for an end to the bombing.

  Romania

Substantial turnaround in opinion since bombing began when 55% were in
favour of allied air strikes and around 35% against. This week's poll
showed 54% against bombing and 36% in favour.

  France

Support is still solid, with the government last week pledging extra
military backing. Recent polls show substantial majority of population
behind the operation. But there is concern. The foreign minister, Hibert
Vedrine, yesterday admitted the military campaign "isn't yet working",
but
said there was no alternative strategy on offer.

  Spain

The government of prime minister Jose Maria Aznar's rightwing People's
party has been an enthusiastic backer of the war against international
terrorism, which it hopes will also bring armed Basque separatist group
Eta to its knees. But an anti-war campaign is gaining support amongst
students, who protested in Madrid's streets last week.

  Norway/Sweden/Finland

Have reiterated their "full support" of the campaign, but are
increasingly
worried about the effects on Afghanistan's civilian population. Public
opinion in non-Nato members Sweden and Finland in particular is
beginning
to demand an end to the bombing. "We're all worried about this, and we
regret the civilian casualties," said the Finnish prime minister Paavo
Lipponen.

  Germany

Germans are divided on the war. At the beginning of October 59%
supported
the US military action. However a poll last week indicated 54% were in
favour of a pause so that humanitarian assistance could be provided.
Sixty
per cent are against German soldiers' participation in a land war.
China.
No signs so far of a wobble in Chinese support. While Chinese government
spokesmen say routinely that they hope civilian casualties will be
avoided, they have not addressed specific reports of "collateral
damage".

  Japan

According to a poll this week, 63% of the Japanese public approves of
the
military action by the United States, Japan's main ally. But divisions
have started to appear over the extent to which Japan should become
involved in the campaign.

  Holland

Dutch support for military action has remained solid, although the prime
minister, Wim Kok, has expressed concern about the use of cluster bombs
and civilian casualties.

  Philippines

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been President Bush's number two
global ally after Tony Blair and shows no signs of wavering. In return
the
US has sent a team of military advisers to help combat the threat posed
by
the Islamist Abu Sayyaf group.