The man/woman-in-the-street this week comment on America's war against terrorism in Afghanistan. Their views follow:

Conrad Niles - electrician: `In this day and age, I feel America should have used psychological warfare rather than resorting to military might. You don't fight fire with fire. [Osama] bin Laden is in hiding but he would have had to surface sometime. Then it would have been less expensive, fewer casualties and less lives lost. But America being America and George W. Bush being a Bush would not be satisfied unless muscles are flexed. They think that if you mash their toe, they got the right to cut off your head. I am against terrorism but I am also against what America and Britain are doing right now. In the first place they should not have been fighting bin Laden. In their own self-interest they helped him against the Russians, then they helped Iraq against Iran. America's deeds are coming back to haunt them. It is backlash time. America's war in Afghanistan is putting Americans back home at risk because the terrorists will use only their brains. And this is frightening.'

Colin Copeland - US-based Guyanese: `America had no choice but to follow through because of the devastating attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Never before in American history had there been such an attack on innocent civilians on American soil. If they had attacked military installations, one could understand, but not innocent civilians. This was also unlike the case of Pearl Harbour, or the American embassies in Kenya or Tanzania where there was no retaliation. This happened on American soil. You cannot consider bin Laden an innocent terrorist. The war to get justice for those who perish may not be easy because of the terrain in Afghanistan but America's message is clear. You harbour terrorists and you will perish. America gave the Taliban enough time to hand over bin Laden to avoid retaliation. The American government waited patiently for two weeks. America had the right to strike back. In the long run I expect America to win the war.'

Nazmoon Ally - housewife: `I don't agree with the Americans starting the war in Afghanistan. They just cannot go about accusing people of doing bad things and without proof start bombing and destroying a country. What America has done is start a war against Muslims. They are saying it is a war against terrorism. If it was against terrorism why couldn't they find the terrorist instead of bombing a Muslim nation. No Muslim will buy that story. America's leaders could not see this is how ordinary Muslims like myself will see it. Right now innocent Muslims are being punished. No nation deserves to go through what the Americans are doing to Afghanistan. I personally don't like war or terrorism and would like the war in Afghanistan to stop because it can spread to other countries.'

Pierre Wills - electronic technician: `The American government should be very cautious about how it goes about fighting terrorism, such as the war in Afghanistan because it could trigger off another World War. The stage is already being set for a third world war... Israel and Palestine, America in Afghanistan and Iraq on the other side. This could also lead to widespread poverty throughout the world as many economies depend on the American economy. What America could have done was used its wealth to help fight poverty instead of warring in Afghanistan. I am very concerned because I've got strong ties with North America. Right now I am feeling it personally. Whatever happens will affect me but I am confident that America will win the war with the help of the Northern Alliance.'

Roma Isabelle Chee-A-Tow - housewife: `I think everybody in Guyana has relatives in America and should be concerned because whatever affects the American people will ultimately affect us. Every Guyanese goes to America or wants to go to America. Bin Laden, killing and maiming innocent civilians, is unpardonable. So America has the right to retaliate. America should do whatever it wants to do get justice for her people.'

Lawrence Sinclair - upholsterer: `America wants to show the world it is the world power. If America says it is so, then it is so. Whatever America wants to do, it must do. How America went into Vietnam, Iraq and Indonesia, that is how America operates to remain the number one country in the world. America has no respect for anyone and supports terrorism itself to suit its own purposes, I still do not agree with what they are doing in Afghanistan. It wasn't that much of a surprise to me that America was targeted but it was surprising that America has retaliated in the manner in which it has. I was expecting America to show more leniency because America is all for peace and democracy. Right now the war in Afghanistan means nothing to the people. They have been fed on war and lived on it. Those who feel they have a grouse against America and would want to attack America, know that they cannot win a war through military might but will do so through other strategies. That is the reason why anthrax is so scary at this time. It has now come home to this Bush administration. The Bushes eras are not too comforting. The senior George Bush had it with Iraq now the younger Bush. Why didn't it happen with Clinton who was there for two terms?'

Feroz Ali - public sector employee: `If bin Laden committed the atrocity then President Bush is a terrorist as well. They both go about sanctioning the killing of innocent people and this is sad because we are all feeling it. Right now I am making out America's reaction to the whole September 11 disaster as a war against Islam. America supports Israel against the Muslim Palestinian state, declares war against the Taliban, a Muslim government, stating it's fighting terrorism. How else can I interpret it? Not as a war against Islam? Right now in Guyana, we Muslims are teased by members of other religions who tell some of us that we have started a war. Right there in America, Muslims are being victimised and you are telling me that America has not declared war on Muslims?'

Dennis Dalrymple - barber: `I feel America should not have started bombing Afghanistan in the first instance. Bombing and crippling the country and bringing it to its knees will not help. In addition the war will hamper the development of developing countries. For now America is the strongest country and may want to do whatever it pleases but Afghanistan and their supporters, including the terrorist network will not fight with weapons. They will fight using sheer intelligence. A lot of American soldiers will die but the world will not know about it. I am totally against the war because its effects will be detrimental to the developing world. No one, including us, will be safe from biological warfare especially if viruses or bacteria used are contagious. Right now Muslim brothers of other nations will not see their brothers biting the dust. America has to be careful.'

Joseph Hoyte - computer specialist: `I don't think the war is justified. It is an unjust method. All they are going by is allegations. They have no proof that bin Laden committed the atrocities. Yet President Bush has authorised the bombardment of Afghanistan. What he has done is declared war on Islam, on Muslims because of the attack on a Muslim nation. No amount of food falling from the sky could justify what has happened. This action is as barbaric as those who bombed the World Trade Center. As a Muslim I condemned the act of taking one's life but I would support a fight resulting in the loss of life, for a just cause. Indeed, bin Laden has a network but America needs to educate people about what terrorism is. Anyone can be a terrorist. People supporting the war in Afghanistan right now are only responding to emotions. They are reacting to the propaganda that bin Laden is this and bin Laden is that. This propaganda is being out by the BBC, CNN, NBC, ABC and others they control. No one is seeing the other side of the story.'

Conrad Chester - self-employed: `I want peace. I don't want war. I want America to stop its war in Afghanistan. All you are hearing is what America has done including bombing a Red Cross facility. You are not hearing about retaliation. We can't afford to fight wars and I don't think that America has proof to just go fighting a war. The British are also just as guilty as the Americans. They have their own history. Both America and Britain could have stopped this before it started. They could have used diplomacy or psychological warfare. That I think could have been effective. I vote for peace.'