The war the "international coalition" is presently engaged in is on terrorism, in all its forms, shapes, claims and pretensions. The president of the United States himself has said so. What it means is that all terrorists, no matter where, should be living in fear of certain extermination. Are they?

Are the leaders of Spain's Basque terrorist group ETA sleeping in cellars with their ears cocked for the first distant sound of an incoming cruise missile? Are the leaders of the IRA and their counterparts in the Protestant terrorist gangs in Northern Ireland waiting nervously, waiting for the doors and windows of their hideaways to be blown in by blast bombs, before special forces charge inside with weapons blazing? In Colombia, are the terrorist armies who survive and prosper on cocaine production looking to the skies for Stealth bombers sweeping in to destroy their communications systems before British and American helicopter assault forces attack them?

If, in American perception, Colombia is not a prime threat, then American perception is plain wrong. The five thousand who died in the Sept. 11 horrors represent a fraction of the number of victims of deadly narcotics. Colombian drugs wreck lives and families and rot the heart of decent society. Tens, maybe even hundreds, of thousands of people experience the curse of Colombian narcotics every year. But Colombia's terrorists will be able to sleep easily tonight, sure in the knowledge that the US is not coming after them.

The Basque terrorist group ETA has waged a long and vicious campaign of murder and mayhem against the authorities in Spain where few people, including the Basques want for any material benefit. They are the very sort of criminals against whom the Bush White House should be launching their clinically targeted strikes. But ETA's Basque terrorists will be able to sleep easily tonight, sure in the knowledge that the US is not coming after them.

Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom and London has proved to be Washington's staunchest ally. Yet IRA terrorists, funded and armed by evil elements within the US itself, continue to thrive. Their offer to disarm is yet to be tested; but their history of butchery is a proven fact. That butchery has spawned more terrorists within the rival Protestant communities and unleashed a 30-year reign of violence and intimidation. Where though are the frozen bank accounts, the list of most wanted Republican terrorists, including the companions of those who were teaching their murderous craft to their Colombian opposite numbers? Northern Ireland's terrorist need not worry. They will be able to sleep easily tonight, sure in the knowledge that the US is not coming after them.

But in Afghanistan, where also terrorists are known to be sheltering, the story is different. Cruise missiles and smart bombs seek out secret nooks and crannies where intelligence reports say terrorists and their supporters lurk. Bank accounts around the world are frozen. Most wanted lists are published with bounties worth millions of dollars.

So far Bush's war against terrorism looks like a war against just one target, and ordinary Afghans will stay awake, terrified, tonight and for many more nights to come.