"The United Nations said today that a military hospital in the western
Afghan city of Herat had been destroyed by US air strikes, but it did not
know how many people were killed.  The Taliban had reported the bombing of
a hospital yesterday, saying that a US and British strike killed more than
100 patients and medical workers there."  Guardian, 23.10.01

Are more weapons what Afghanistan needs?
"Old Soviet tanks, helicopters and kalashnikovs are being supplied in a
multi-million dollar arms deal between Russia and the Northern Alliance...
The arms deal is estimated to be worth between $40-$70m."
And where does the money come from to finance these purchases?

Infringing human rights...
"[Blunkett's] latest display of panicky authoritarianism is to announce
seven-year jail sentences for anthrax hoaxers, applicable from midnight
last Saturday, before parliament has passed the law: another violation of
the HRA [Human Rights Act], which bans retrospective legislation."

"Much of the new legal regime is a way of tightening the rope around
"suspected terrorists". If there's evidence against them, such people
deserve no judicial mercy, and no haven of legal procrastination. But who
will determine the membership of this category?
By whom "suspected", and against whom "terrorists"? Without a judicial
process - maybe even held partly in camera - this will become a
conveniently fluid group, dependent on the unchallenged word of the
security service. Given also that the EU is on the way to enacting a
common definition of terrorist that could include anti-globalisation
protesters, there's a clear need for independent courts to hold the ring."
Hugo Young, Guardian.

Hilary Armstrong, Chief Whip and Paul Marsden, Shrewbury & Atcham MP
"PM: You won't even give us a free vote on whether we go to war - it is an
issue which should be a matter of conscience.
HA: War is not a matter of conscience. Abortion and embryo research are
matters of conscience, but not wars.
PM: Are you seriously saying blowing people up and killing people is not a
moral issue?
HA: It is government policy that we are at war...
It was people like you who appeased Hitler in 1938."

"Those who have suggested that Iraq is the source of the anthrax used in
the current attacks - including Richard Butler, a former chairman of the
UN weapons inspection effort - merely fan the flames of fear and panic.
There is no verifiable link whatever and it is irresponsible for someone
of Mr Butler's stature to be involved in unsubstantiated speculation. His
behaviour has, it seems, been guided by animosity towards Baghdad, rather
than the facts."
Scott Ritter, UN weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991-8.