Bull's Eye

Then came George Bush. He got tough with China. He was pro-Taiwan and anti-China because of its npt violations. But as Newsweek columnist Fareed Zakaria pointed out, the terrorist attack on the twin towers changed everything. China became the biggest beneficiary. American attention shifted from China to Osama bin Laden. Now America has shifted attention from Osama to Saddam. Thus from China to Osama to Saddam—that's what America's war against terrorism has achieved.

Why didn't America first complete the Osama operation? The Taliban regime was changed but Osama was not caught and Al Qaeda activists were not eliminated. It was known that they were hiding in the NWFP-Afghanistan belt. The Americans continued to treat Pakistan's ISI with kid gloves despite its known links with Al Qaeda.

Osama worked with the Taliban. China helped the Taliban. But Americans refuse to link Osama to China. America created Osama to fight the Soviets in the '80s. The popular belief is that after that war ended, Osama turned against America.

This is incorrect. Osama's links with America survived. In 1994, Osama colluded with the Pentagon's Defence Intelligence Agency and Britain's MI6 in Bosnia. This is recorded in a Congressional report of the Republican Party itself. In 1998-99, the links continued in Kosovo. Interpol intelligence official Ralf Mutschke recorded this in his testimony before the House of Representatives Judicial Committee. As US Congressman John Kassich told the House Armed Services Committee: "We connected ourselves in 1998-99 with the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLO), which was the staging point for Osama bin Laden." After Clinton, Bush continued to arm the KLO.

Is the US administration subverted? It seems to work against America's own interests. Only American citizens themselves can protect their national interests. If they succeed, they will protect the world's interests.

Bomb Saddam in a hurry
Osama's no cause to worry!
But how to tackle that djinn –
The enemy within?