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"WW III? No thanks...!" On-Line Library

What is an appropropriate response?
Political and philosophical considerations after the attack on the Word Trade Center

Zinni Urges Economic, Diplomatic Moves
The Washington Post
Sep 14, 2001

U.S. military action against Afghanistan and other countries in the region
without accompanying economic and diplomatic moves would only make the 
battle against terrorism more difficult, retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. 
Zinni, the former commander of U.S. military operations in the Middle East
and Southeast Asia, said yesterday.

"You can't just go in and devastate a country," said Zinni, who as 
commander of the U.S. Central Command was one of the Pentagon's top 
authorities on the region. "A military approach that strikes and leaves 
will only perpetuate the problem" by inflaming anti-American sentiment in 
the Muslim world.

Zinni, who retired in August 2000, commented in an interview as senior 
Pentagon officials said they were drawing up plans for a prolonged 
military campaign against suspected terrorists in response to Tuesday's 
attacks in New York and Washington. The Bush administration says it has 
evidence linking the attacks to Osama bin Laden, a Saudi-born militant who
has been living in Afghanistan under protection of its Taliban government.

Zinni said that any military action must be accompanied by a broad 
economic and diplomatic offensive aimed at drying up support for bin Laden
and other terrorists.

He said this should include action not only in Afghanistan, but also in 
Pakistan, Yemen, Europe and the United States. It would involve closing 
bank accounts, businesses, and front companies and groups known to the U.S.
government to be linked to terrorist organizations as well as increased 
economic aid and military and intelligence contacts with countries such as
Pakistan and Yemen.

Zinni and the former vice chairman of the joint chiefs of chief, Air Force
Gen. Joseph Ralston, now the U.S. commander in Europe, sustained the 
Pentagon's relationship with the Pakistani military following the 1998 
coup there despite calls by the State Department and Congress that it be 
ended. Pakistan's cooperation has now become pivotal to the U.S. effort to
mount a strike against Afghanistan.

In his role as commander, Zinni led missile strikes against Iraq as well 
as strikes against Sudan and Afghanistan that were in response to 
terrorist attacks alleged to have been masterminded by bin Laden.

During his tenure, Zinni publicly criticized the Clinton administration's 
support for Iraqi exile groups that said they could overthrow Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein, an idea supported by many Republicans on Capitol Hill and 
by the new Bush administration. Unseating Hussein, he argued at the time, 
would create a destabilizing power vacuum in Iraq, which borders Iran, and
would push the region into war.

Likewise, he said yesterday, invading Afghanistan, Yemen or any other 
country in the region would lead to a long-term U.S. military occupation.