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--> --> Catastrophe is looming inside Afghanistan Did the flames of September 11 turn our hearts to ashes? An enormous catastrophe is on the horizon. Afghanistan - already a desperate nation - faces famine. Seven million humans are at risk, and of these, the most vulnerable are the children - 45 percent of the population. Wracked by war, drought, and earthquakes, these people are now on the edge of oblivion. Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, implores that the bombing stop so that food be brought into the country. Millions of tons are needed before winter sets in - a few weeks away, after which the roads will be impassable. Airdrops are insufficient and inefficient - the Russians dropped thousands of landmines from the air, and Afghanis learned to be wary of airplane-delivered "presents." These people are victims - not terrorists - not the mujahadeen; they did not plan the horrors in New York and Washington, D.C. We must not let innocent people die in our pursuit of justice. To allow millions to starve to death will thwart our objectives to eradicate terrorism. The world will be watching at this potential genocide. We must not let this happen - an unimaginable tragedy would be a horrendous blunder for our cause. Please write the President and the Secretary of State and request a cessation of the bombing to allow food to be transported into the country. Lyn Levin Ashland Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing