JEDDAH, 8 October — The air strikes on Afghanistan by US and British forces shocked people of all nationalities and religions in the Kingdom. The majority said that America should have been more restrained and patient, and given diplomacy a chance to succeed.
Some of the expatriates said America had in effect declared war on an obscure enemy to please its citizens.
“We wonder what the US could gain from this action, except showing their prowess as the world’s most powerful country,” one man told Arab News.
His view was echoed by almost all of the others who were approached.
Many said they were reminded of the Gulf War days, when the atmosphere was charged because of the possible use of biological weapons in the wake of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
“That war was over within minutes. And we also expect that this war will not last for long, since there is nothing much the US can destroy in that war-ravaged country. But they’re living in a fool’s paradise if they think they can catch their prime suspect Osama Bin Laden ‘dead or alive.’ All they can ‘achieve’ is to kill innocent Afghans,” said Bashir Ahmad, a Sudanese executive of a shipping firm in Jeddah.
Palestinians in Jeddah condemned the US strike, calling it “the US aggression against Afghanistan.” One of them, Yasin Hammoud, a business executive, said: “All the US needs to do is to strike a balance in their dealing with the Palestinian issue. Once they are fair without siding with the Israelis, the kind of terror the US has already faced and expects to face in the future would disappear.”
A few Western expats, when asked for their reaction to the US strike, said they were still considering the latest Alkhobar bomb blast.
“We’ve nothing to say,” said one.
Afghans and Egyptians however expressed their outright condemnation of the US action, calling it “misguided and totally uncalled for.”
An Egyptian medical representative, who did not want to be named, said: “President Bush should have heeded President Hosni Mubarak’s advice and addressed the real causes of the problem. He should root out the cause of the disease instead of dealing with its symptoms.”
“The strike was expected and we’re waiting for it. Now we’ll be keenly watching the developments. Alongside what the US is doing, they should effectively crush the ongoing Jewish terrorism, Israel being its child. Otherwise, the US will lose its credibility in its so-called war on terror,” S.M. Arshad, a senior Pakistani management executive of an electronics firm, commented.
Many Muslim expats, especially Afghans, were depressed to hear about the attacks, and they were crowding into phone cabins to make calls to relatives and friends.
“I am very sad and feel pity for our people. They will be terrified and horrified by these blind attacks,” said an Afghan manager of a restaurant.
“How can I sleep tonight while so many ill-fated Afghanis will not be able to take a rest?” he continued. “A lack of rain for three years and very bad farming equipment has created famine and catastrophe.”
There are about seven million expelled Afghans, he continued, who are in most need of aid because of what is happening.
A Saudi resident of Afghan origin who also owns a restaurant preferred not to engage in a political discussion in public. He just said “may Allah support Islam and Muslims.”
“I feel grieved for my people there but at the same time I trust their boldness and great faith in Allah, which will enable them to stand firm against these unfair attacks,” said an old Afghani baker at a small restaurant in the heart of the city.
Another young Afghan with a very good grasp of local Arabic said that he does not expect a huge loss of life because so many Afghan residents in the main cities had already left for safety in the mountains.
“I think that even if the attacks last for a week, the Taleban will not give up — not until they are all dead,” he added.
In Riyadh, speaking immediately after hearing about the attacks, Azam Siddiqui, a Pakistani, said the hunt for terrorists will bring death to hundreds of thousands of innocent people.
“It is not wise to kill a million people on the off-chance that you may get one person,” said Siddiqui, who also agreed that the ongoing attacks do not resemble the Gulf War, when people in Saudi Arabia were in a great panic.
H. Ritz, a European manager, said that he was taking extra precaution in the wake of the attacks on Afghanistan. However, he supports the US shelling of strategically important positions in Afghanistan, and said that life in Saudi Arabia was continuing as normal.
He blamed the Taleban authorities for the situation, because they did not respond to the US demands to hand over Osama Bin Laden, for the deterioration of the situation.
This view was rejected by Afghan Zaheer Maula, who said that he was more concerned about the Afghans living in various parts of the world, including the more than 50,000 in the US itself.
His parents and several of his relatives, Maula said, have fled Kabul. He added that he himself is living comfortably in the Kingdom.
Ataullah Khan, an Indian national, said the attacks should have come within the mandate of the United Nations.
Khan, who watches the news on television into the early hours of the morning, called on the UN aid agencies to attend to the fleeing Afghan population in neighboring countries.
In the Eastern Province, the reactions were the same.
“In the whole process it will be eventually the common man in Afghanistan who will suffer. President Bush should have shown more statesmanship,” said Alfred Myers, a chemical analyst in a testing laboratory and a resident of Chicago.
Abdullah Al-Omairi, a US educated employee at Saudi Aramco, said there should be a difference between terrorists and a civilized state like the US.
“The attack on Afghanistan will yield only one result: More misery and suffering for the people of Afghanistan,” he said.
Saud Al-Rais, a journalist with a leading Arabic daily, said the attack reflects America’s “illogical” approach.
“Bush has done it to get political mileage,” he added.
M. Stephen, an employee at British Aerospace, said diplomacy should have been given a fair chance.
Michel Stanley, an American working in Jubail in one of the chemical plants, said: “The attack on Afghanistan will create further hostilities against Americans all over the globe.”
Many Asians felt that the attack was part of America’s “Expansion plan.”
Sheharzad Hussain, a construction engineer who hails from the southern Indian city of Mangalore, said: “They can now level charges of terrorist against any country and launch an attack. It’s a very dangerous signal.”
Pakistanis were also critical of their government in allowing the US forces to use their country.
“It’s very immoral and unethical,” said trading establishment general manager Umar Farooq, who is form Lahore.
People in general are optimistic that the attack will not last for long.
“Sanity will eventually prevail,” said Ahmad Al-Johani, an Arab journalist.
The streets in Dammam and Alkhobar were deserted, as people remained indoors glued to their TV screens.
Meanwhile, the American Embassy in Riyadh and Consulates General in Dhahran and Jeddah will be closed today to allow for a review of security measures.
Only emergency services will be provided to the American community.
In addition, the Embassy and Consulates General have advised all US government personnel to restrict their movements to essential travel only.
Consistent with these instructions, employees have been advised not to send their children to school today. Some international schools are also reviewing security arrangements. As a result of this, Rahima Academy in the Eastern province has cancelled classes for Monday.
American citizens are urged to review the Department of State’s Worldwide Caution of yesterday, which reads:
“The US government initiated military action today pursuant to its inherent right of self-defense recognized in Article 51 of the UN Charter, after the events of Sept. 11 in the United States. This action may result in strong anti-American sentiment and retaliatory actions against US citizens and interests throughout the world by terrorists and those who are sympathetic to or otherwise support terrorism. Americans in Afghanistan, which continues to harbor international terrorist Osama Bin Laden, should depart the country. Americans elsewhere are urged to monitor the local news, maintain contact with the nearest American Embassy or Consulate and to limit their movement in their respective locations. The Department and our embassies and consulates around the world will make every effort to keep Americans informed as the security situation unfolds.”
Information sheets are on the Internet at www.travel.state.gov. American citizens may hear recorded information by calling the Department of State in Washington, D.C. at 202-647-5225 from their touch-tone telephone, or receive information by automated telefax by dialing 202-647-3000 from their fax machine.”
— Inputs by K.S. Ramkumar, Saeed Haider, Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Molouk Ba-Isa and Mohannad Sharawi
