The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, September 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I L B A G

Wounded, USA will never be same again

This refers to “Now or never”, the front-page editorial by Mr Hari Jaisingh. It’s admirable. So much so it may be safely assumed the learned Editor is speaking for us all.

We believe we are a civilised, democratic people. The ghastly, gruesome sickening scenes of death and destruction in New York, Washington and elsewhere have grieved and shocked the nation beyond belief. Our heart-felt sympathies and condolences for the dead and those injured and suffering! So grievously wounded, the USA would never be the same again!

Begin now the post-mortem. In a famous House of Lord’s judgement Lord Edmund-Davies remarked: “It is fatally easy to be wise after the incident”. So indeed, it is! The terrorists (no marks for guessing!) struck with a deadly precision. Cold bloodedly did they plan and mastermind the mass murder. Of totally innocent people. Had the advantage — to choose time, target(s) and place. Not a single bullet — have you noted — has been fired. Training, planning and waiting apart, no money whatsoever did they require. Looking back, tragically, proverbially, literally and stunningly they killed Caeser with a knife! All they needed was half a dozen or so highly trained, motivated fanatics. Just prepared to die. Suicide is the name of the game. For a cause. For money. Or both.

It has been universally established beyond any shadow of doubt that our worthy neighbour (read Pakistan) funds trains and motivates youngsters for a deadly skill. In camps and madarsas. Not to contribute and earn livelihood. But to terrorise, maim and kill innocent people. In Kashmir and elsewhere for decades this has been the scenario. This has been our misfortune. In streets and bazaars of Pakistan these fanatics collect money. Not as a charity to relieve pain and suffering. Not to help humanity. Not for the candle for the lady with the lamp. But for Ibrahim Dawood and the likes of him. Recently Pakistani News Week carried a story how Ibrahim Dawood and his family were living in luxury and enjoying state protection in Karachi. A terrorist, criminal, an assassin, Ibrahim Dawood, he!

Sane people do not talk war. Sane nations do not want war. But “history has cunning passages and contrived corridors”. On Britain World War II was thrust upon. There was no escape. Today if we have to pay the price, let us pay it now!

Tony Blair of Britain chose to call Tuesday’s horror “a new evil”. The American President very rightly said that they would hunt down the terrorists and also those who harbour them. Mr President, the world would wait and watch. It’s not for me or anyone to remind the USA at his hour of the skeletons (Afghanistan in mind) in her cupboard. They say the USA has neither friends nor foes. She has her interests. To bring out the bitter truth the USA must answer this.

Is it or is it not a fact that two of your embassies were bombed some time back in Africa? Some 300 innocent people killed? Was there any doubt about the identity of the killers? Or of those harbouring him/them? Leave it to your conscience! Sparing your enemy is like ignoring a snake in your bedroom, says Mechiavelli. Quietly will it strike. The monster has done just that!

KARAM CHAND, Chandigarh

Pollution board

Interviews for the post of Scientific Assistant were held on February 2, 1999, but the result has not yet been declared by the Punjab Pollution Central Board, Patiala.

MANJINDER SINGH, Ferozepur

Stamp on Kairon

The Department of Posts released in June & August this year commemorative postage stamps on former Chief Ministers of Bihar, MP and Delhi. The year 2001 is the 100th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Partap Singh Kairon. A similar stamp should be released on him.

NARINDER SINGH, Chandigarh

BSNL server

For the past 15 days the BSNL server has been down and the fate of incoming messages is not known. It is hard to contact their Internet staff. If contacted, they have a standard answer: the server in New Delhi is down.

VED PARKASH, Chandigarh

Punsup interviews

Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd, Chandigarh, had invited applications for the post of Inspector grade II in August, 1997. Even after four years, Punsup has not yet held interviews.

BALDEV SINGH, Maloud, Ludhiana

Hoshiarpur library

The District Library in Hoshiarpur needs more funds, spacious accommodation and additional staff as it is kept open even on Saturday and Sundays.

B. S. SAINI, Hoshiarpur