SEPTEMBER 11 was an obscenity, a crime against humanity, an uncivilised act. But has the politician's response been any more civilised?

In Afghanistan so-called "smart bombs" have been replaced with cluster bombs, which in turn have been replaced by carpet-bombing with B52s from a great height. Who these weapons are slaughtering, we can only guess. Five million civilian refugees are starving in the countryside. These acts, too. are an obscenity, a crime against humanity, an uncivilised act.

This awful revenge is said to be "'just" because it is a war on terrorism. But the "just war" argument is used by Osama bin Laden who says that September 11 was revenge for America's slaughter of innocent civilians.

There have already been terrorist reprisals for America's actions in Afghanistan, and more terrorism, not less, will be created on the back of this war. And, anyway, the US and UK have regularly sponsored terrorists, dictators and any mercenary who would further their economic and strategic interests.

That's why I, along with so many others, I was marching on Sunday to say: stop the bombing. Take all that money that you are spending on bombs and spend it on the NHS.

M. SWINDELLS,

Socialist

Alliance.