Relative of 9/11 victim says that Americans do not want retaliation

ANTI-WAR MEETING:A relative of a victim of the September 11th terrorist attacks told an anti-war meeting in Dublin yesterday that conquering Iraq "is not the way to end terrorism or create security in any country in the world."

Ms Valerie Lucznikowska of September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group representing the families of victims of the Twin Towers atrocity, remarked that "breaking the cycle of violence is the only way of ensuring terrorism does not happen."

She said Americans like her did not want retaliation. "We want the terrorists tried in an international court of law. It's not in anybody's interest to break the law. But that is what's happening in this war. Both national and international law is being broken."

Addressing a meeting of the Irish Anti-War Movement, Ms Lucznikowska fought back tears as she spoke of her nephew's death in 9/11. "It has affected everyone deeply whether or not you have lost a loved one," she said.

She said a delegation from her group visited Afghanistan after the recent US-led regime change and came across two children, one aged seven, the other nine. Both were "made mute by the bombing. One stumbles all the time. One drools all the time. Why should it happen to anyone else? It shouldn't."

Ms Lucznikowska, who had been invited to Dublin by Labour Party MEP, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, added "no one deserves to die because Mr Bush is impatient. If he can afford to send 200,000 troops to Iraq why can't he send 100,000 weapons inspectors?"

She noted Americans were beginning to see the reality of the war despite government lies and a "right-wing" press.

"A lot of Americans right now think it was mostly Iraqis in the planes (in 9/11), rather than Saudis."

Weblink: www.peacefultomorrows.org