Ed Snyder, in his commentary in the Oct. 26 Bangor Daily News, promotes a law enforcement solution to the Sept. 11 attacks. He argues that our war on terrorism is inappropriate.

As with other similar commentaries I have heard recently, he offers no specifics except to offer rewards for the apprehension of, or information leading to the capture of the terrorists. He admits that there is no international criminal court, so just where would we try these people, assuming that they could be apprehended? He conveniently glosses over the fact that Osama bin Laden is indistinguishable from the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan. By sheltering bin Laden, Afghanistan has committed an act of war on the United States.

Snyder gives some credit to the Bush administration for using the “law and order” model early on. What he again fails to point out is that there are continuing efforts on many fronts, including developing criminal cases.

A great effort is being made to follow the money to cut off funding. We are working with foreign intelligence sources to locate terrorist cells. We have heard repeatedly that much of this war will be invisible, even the campaign in Afghanistan. We are using diplomatic measures to make new friends, and strengthen old alliances. Our new relationship with Russia is an example of this. We have even warmed our relationship with China. These are all positive signs of an administration committed to making the world safer for everyone, not just Americans.

Snyder may be short on alternatives, but he makes up for this by giving several reasons why we are to blame for the attacks. He states that we must temper justice with compassion and forgiveness. We must understand the causes of “justifiable grievances”. We are too closely aligned with Israel. We are responsible for the humanitarian disaster in Iraq. Our multinational corporations are responsible for the domination and exploitation of the people in the developing world. It is our misguided foreign policy that is to blame. We shouldn’t blame the terrorists, they have legitimate grievances. Let’s give them what they want. What they want is our destruction.

It is not possible for this country to solve all the world’s problems. We are the most generous nation in the world. We have come to the aid of the world in two world wars. We have been involved whenever there has been a need. We continue to do so today. We will continue to do so in the future. That does not mean that we should not defend ourselves when we are attacked.

We have only to look at Eastern Europe and Russia to affirm that when people yearn to be free it will happen. At some point oppressed people need to stand up for themselves. It is too simplistic to state that this country is somehow to blame. There is no other alternative, and Snyder hasn’t provided one.

Alfred J. Greenlaw is a resident

of Orrington.