Although Osama bin Laden said that he was not responsible for well-planned strikes against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, he however expressed support of them consistent with his Declaration of War and various fatwas issued against the Americans on Aug 23, 1996 ('FBI intercepts communications between Osama associates : Senator', Sept 12).

In doing so, he makes a fatal mistake. He fails to understand that from the Western point of view, responsibility is pinned as much on the person who incites as much as the persons under his influence or direction who actually committed the terrorist acts.

There are also two other elements, the first being President Bush's extending responsibility to those who harbour potential terrorists, and second, the moral justification for pre-emptive action based on self-defence against future acts of terrorism.

On these premises, the Taliban militia of Afghanistan had better expel or extradite Bin Laden quickly. Already the Americans are rallying Nato powers to buttress the moral cause and justification for an eventual retaliatory strike very likely against Bin Laden and his harbour, Afghanistan.

Having regard to the desert terrain of Afghanistan and the lessons drawn from the Russians there and the Americans in Vietnam, emphasis may less likely be placed on ground troops than deployment of massive fire power that would incinerate innocent civilians as well.

This may lead to further outrage amongst Muslim hardliners elsewhere in Iraq, Iran, Yemen, etc. and escalate further terrorist attacks on Western targets and symbols and Western reprisals to the detriment of the world economy.