During the past few days, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad pointed out that the US should not accuse Osama bin Laden of being the person responsible for the US attacks without any solid evidence.

And he praised the effectiveness of Internal Security Act, which gives the right to arrest any citizen who is suspected of endangering the national security.

To the US government, Osama bin Laden is a threat to its national security. Does this give the US the right to arrest Osama, in the same way the ISA is used in Malaysia?

According to the Rule of Law, any person or persons who is/are the accomplice of a criminal, can be charged with the same offence a criminal is charged. Here, Afghanistan is harbouring Osama and its refusal to hand him over clearly proves that Afghanistan is violating a law by protecting a wanted 'criminal'.

Does it not give the US the right to charge at Afghanistan?

For example, if your friend is a wanted killer and you protect him from the authorities, surely when he is caught you, too, can be charged for a criminal offence as you are also in the wrong?