Sorrow compounded

I join all the American Muslims in condemning, in the harshest terms, the cowardly and senseless acts of terror perpetrated against innocent Americans (including more than 500 Muslims) in New York and Washington, D.C., on September 11.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends who have suffered in this terrible tragedy. I also join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.

Yet I also deeply regret that political imbalance around the world seems to leave some people in a state of hopelessness to such a degree that they see this type of violence as their only option. As Americans we need to reassess the fairness of our foreign policies.

The foreign policy of the United States has its own purpose and preferences, but for American Muslims it is very confusing and hard to understand. For example, democracy is in the blood of the entire American system of life, and, like every other citizen, it is very dear to every Muslim American. But when it comes to Muslim countries, the U.S. government feels that dictators serve better American interests than the Muslim masses.

The Shah of Iran was considered a friend and ally, and was armed and supported to attack Iraq. When the Iranian masses overthrew the dictator, Iraq was supported to go to war against Iran.

Iraq was encouraged to go to Kuwait, then, to restore the rule of one family in Kuwait and assure safety to another ruling family in Saudi Arabia, the American army has to go to war against Iraq.

When Russia came into Afghanistan, the American government went in to join in the jihad against Russia. Once the mujahadeen succeeded in pushing Russia out of Afghanistan, Russia became a friend and the mujahadeen were not acceptable to the U.S. government, so the Taliban was created. Once the Taliban gained power, they went out of control.

The United Nations is a world body and its resolutions are respected and enforced only when they relate to Iraq or East Timor. However, when it comes to Palestine or Kashmir, then world peace, justice and fairness are served better to veto, ignore, forget or even oppose U.N. resolutions.