Anonymous Comrade writes: "The following statement from the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) was forwarded to me in an e-mail:"

Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)
RAWA statement on the terrorist attacks in the US

The people of Afghanistan have nothing to do with Osama and his accomplices

On September 11, 2001 the world was stunned with the horrific terrorist
attacks on the United States. RAWA stands with the rest of the world in
expressing our sorrow and condemnation for this barbaric act of violence and
terror. RAWA had already warned that the United States should not support
the most treacherous, most criminal, most anti-democracy and anti-women
Islamic fundamentalist parties because after both the Jehadi and the Taliban
have committed every possible type of heinous crimes against our people,
they would feel no shame in committing such crimes against the American
people whom they consider "infidel". In order to gain and maintain their
power, these barbaric criminals are ready to turn easily to any criminal
force.

But unfortunately we must say that it was the government of the United
States who supported Pakistani dictator Gen. Zia-ul Haq in creating
thousands of religious schools from which the germs of Taliban emerged. In
the similar way, as is clear to all, Osama Bin Laden has been the blue-eyed
boy of CIA. But what is more painful is that American politicians have not
drawn a lesson from their pro-fundamentalist policies in our country and are
still supporting this or that fundamentalist band or leader. In our opinion
any kind of support to the fundamentalist Taliban and Jehadies is actually
trampling democratic, women's rights and human rights values.

If it is established that the suspects of the terrorist attacks are outside
the US, our constant claim that fundamentalist terrorists would devour their
creators, is proved once more.

The US government should consider the root cause of this terrible event,
which has not been the first and will not be the last one too. The US should
stop supporting Afghan terrorists and their supporters once and for all.

Now that the Taliban and Osama are the prime suspects by the US officials
after the criminal attacks, will the US subject Afghanistan to a military
attack similar to the one in 1998 and kill thousands of innocent Afghans for
the crimes committed by the Taliban and Osama? Does the US think that
through such attacks, with thousands of deprived, poor and innocent people
of Afghanistan as its victims, will be able to wipe out the root-cause of
terrorism, or will it spread terrorism even to a larger scale?

From our point of view a vast and indiscriminate military attacks on a
country that has been facing permanent disasters for more than two decades
will not be a matter of pride. We don't think such an attack would be the
expression of the will of the American people.

The US government and people should know that there is a vast difference
between the poor and devastated people of Afghanistan and the terrorist
Jehadi and Taliban criminals.

While we once again announce our solidarity and deep sorrow with the people
of the US, we also believe that attacking Afghanistan and killing its most
ruined and destitute people will not in any way decrease the grief of the
American people. We sincerely hope that the great American people could
DIFFERENTIATE between the people of Afghanistan and a handful of
fundamentalist terrorists. Our hearts go out to the people of the US.

Down with terrorism!

Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)

September 14, 2001