10-12-2001
		Bush launches air strikes against Taliban military bases A regiment of the Northern Alliance. They have been fighting against the Taliban for four years.

With the air attacks over Afghanistan in their fifth day, Pentagon officials have announced that the Afghan air defenses have been crippled.

``Essentially we have air supremacy over Afghanistan now,'' said General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Taliban denies such claims, however. ``American planes fly very high and they are not in range of the defense system that we have,'' said Abdul Salam Zaeef, Taliban ambassador to Pakistan.

Zaeef declared that as long as the air raids continue, America is not safe. This coincides with the statement released by Sulaiman Abu Gaith, spokesman for al-Qaeda: ``The Americans should know that the storm of plane attacks will not abate, with God's permission. There are thousands of the Islamic Nation's youth[s] who are eager to die [just] as the Americans are eager to live.''

Gaith, to justify these remarks, said, ``Carrying out terrorism against the oppressors is one of the tenets of our religion and Shari'ah.''

Several Islamic groups disagree, saying that terrorism goes against every principle of Islam and that true Muslims do not engage in such atrocities. Baraham Diop, president of the Federation of Ulemas of Senegal, stresses that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and dialogue that is against any violence and any form of terrorism, whatever its objective. `'Invoking Islam in using the weapon of terrorism runs counter to the recommendations of the Holy Qu'ran,'' he says.

The air attacks were originally aimed at the training camps and other facilities that al-Qaeda has, but have now moved on to other Taliban sites. Sources inside the Pentagon have said that the next stage could involve ground troops and special forces.

To help in the event of an emergency, Pakistan has decided to provide the United States with two air bases. Neither are to be used to launch strikes, according to a senior Pakistani military official. A contingent of U.S. ground personnel has arrived at these facilities and arrangements are underway to make them operational.

The U.S. effort to help the people of Afghanistan has drawn harsh reviews from many. The U.S. has been dropping ready-to-eat meals in an effort to provide humanitarian aid. The critics argue that these efforts are just a way to win over the support of the populace. Taliban sources have said that the people are burning the relief packages in defiance of the U.S.

The anti-Taliban Northern Alliance claims to have gained ground after the U.S. attacks. The Alliance claims to have seized control of the main north-south road after 40 Taliban commanders and 1200 fighters defected. The Taliban has denied this, claiming that they have repelled the Alliance's assault in the Northern Province of Gur.

According to the Taliban, Osama bin Laden has been given free reign to battle the United States. Previously the Taliban had barred bin Laden from using telephones, fax machines and the Internet. ``Now that America has begun its war against Muslims, the situation is totally