Dear FRONTLINE,

Osama bin Laden was not quite shown as the tyrant and oppressor I expected him to be shown as, but it came close. In your interview with him, he indicated his correct Islamic views on not killing women and children. I've heard many people, U.S. officials included, in regards to Nagaski and Hiroshima, show much less appreciation for human life.

While I do not as a Muslim even know if all of Osama bin Laden's views and actions are correct Islamically, (such as the view about killing all Americans, since there are Muslims in America), I can assure you that a lot of his views and actions are indeed Islamically correct. Muslims are required to fight to protect their lands, and their lives.

As it says in the Muslim holy book "oppression is worse than slaughter." Muslims are taught to fight against oppressors wherever they maybe and whoever they are (yes, even other Muslims) even if they will be slaughtered by the millions.

As for objections to one of Osama's friends,stating that if someone slapped him, he would punch him back, exactly how many of you would fail to respond to not even just one slap, but repeated slaps? This is how the U.S. has treated Muslims.

Not content with bombings in Sudan and Afghanistan, or even with bombing Iraq, or (er, should I go on, this may be rather long?) the U.S. continues with their obvious foreign policies of supporting Israel against Palestine and killing as many Muslims as possible. What about the U.S. actions in Kosovo?, you might ask? Well, good for them. They took a brief break from killing Muslims to actually helping a few. Wonderful! Or is it?

v.v, ca

Dear FRONTLINE,

The more I learn about the religion of Islam, the more I like it. Some people are prejudiced against Islam because they don't understand it and only believe bad things about it. This is not right!

Even though I am a Jew, I must say that I don't like the way that much of the media portrays Islam and Muslims. It is similar to the way Jews were perceived 60 years ago. I intend to learn more about the religion of Islam and the Muslim people as soon as possible. I am very impressed with their sincerity, morality and beliefs. Thank you for the program. I learned a lot.

Daniel Schulman
los angeles, ca

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am a young 20 year old college student that was born in Afghanistan, but raised in the United States since the age of 2. I am not a supporter of terrorism nor am I a supporter of foreign troops in my Islamic region. I agree that bombing innocent people throughout the world is not the answer.

But I ask you the reader, what would you do against a super power so big that not only you nor any of your fellow nations could defeat. I ask you this, how would you feel if you were driving through your city and saw hundreds of Saudia Arabian troops stationed there? Or how about a Iranian cruise ship just off the coast of Los Angeles? How does that make you feel? Violated doesn't it!

That is the way muslims feel. I feel where this man is coming from. And I support him, but I do not support the ways he is conducting his beleifs. I also end with saying that he is termed as a terrorist with the american government. Let me say this....anyone who is against the American Gov't is considered a terrorist! Whether you are defending in what you think is right or expressing your feeling about a matter.

southern california, ca

Dear FRONTLINE,

Dear Frontline: My son is serving in the US Navy, and preparing for a deployment to the Persian Gulf. He works on land-based aircraft, so will be in the group most vulnerable to attack. I know that, at 21 years of age, he does not begin to understand the situation he is going into, but that he will do as he is ordered.

Even after reading a great deal about the Gulf, I cannot grasp exactly what our military is there for, especially after seeing your program on Osama bin Laden. If they don't want us there, can't we leave them to their own problems?

I will gladly cut back on my gasoline use, if our only "strategic" interest is oil. I have not been comfortable since my son joined the military, and I will not sleep any better knowing that Islamic hatred makes him the target of those he is supposedly there to help.

phoenix, az

Dear FRONTLINE,

What a good story Frontline has offered us. The footage & editing & sound were incredible. The interviewer was perfect, and I would not want to play poker with him, He withstood some strong opinions.

Too bad you had to stick that bit on the end of the story - but I see the temptation. It lacked any insight into the Sudanese oppression of its own people. The white-toothed face of the Sudanese President belies the real actions of violence of his gov't. against his own people. I realise this wasn't the real story - but maybe it had to do with bombs, who knows? In other words, there always seems to be only so much we can learn in ONE hour! What really are our (U.S.) or their, motivations? The footage of the bombing remains of the Sudanese targets seemed to show us everything - HELLO, message to the White House: If it was a pharmacological facility, at least sweep the pills up so we think it wasn't! This should be mandatory, "Always sweep up the facility so no one can go and prove you wrong!."

Jakie Wraught
hermosa beach, ca

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am a professional pilot working in California. I saw the interview with U.S. muslims commenting on the feelings of their people regarding U.S. servicemen in the Gulf region. If they feel my country is violating their "holy land" then why don't they return to their homeland. We should look back in history to the crusades, is it outrageous to think that a religious war could develop in the U.S. because of the cultural diversity and growing tensions around the nation.

I am a Christian and a very patriotic American, I love my country and will do absolutely anything to defend its integrity and honor. I think We, as Christian Americans, should look past racial issues and come together as American ready to defend our nation from foreign aggression.

Louie DeSantis
carlsbad, ca

Dear FRONTLINE,

The Islamic nation is on the uprise right here in the U.S.A. I believe that future Bin Ladens will be located right here on our own so called home turf. If we do not take the time to learn to respect other cultures then we will utimately create new ones which will destroy us all.

The refusal to turn one's cheek is a growing universal attitude, from road rage to cold war. Cock fights are everywhere. The new world order speech could be refigured into a new world respect.

Todd Ahseln
portland, or

Dear FRONTLINE,

I saw frontline and agree that we need to better understand the muslims and discontinue our presence in Saudia Arabia. We have overstayed our welcome and need to leave until again asked. We have to stop trying to push our beliefs and or ideals on other sovereign nations

robert bean
palo cedro, ca

Dear FRONTLINE,

Its a sad and tragic situation, people like Bin Laden use their anger and frustration against US to justify the killing of innocent people in the name of Islam. It is important that american people understand that, Islam doesn't allow in any circumtances, the violience against anybody. Its people like Bin laden through their weak interpretation of Islam justify the killings. These people are criminal plain and simple and should be brought to justice. But it is also important that United States should not balantly follow one sided policy against muslim countries. They first assess the consequences before indulging in one sided and "their self interest first" policy. Like to protect their interest they blindly supported the Shah regime even though this regime was making grave human rights violation. If this double standard was not maintained earlier their would be no Iran revolution. But these double standards, which causes the friction in the muslim community. For example in eighties they supported and aided Pakistan during the Afghan war but as soon as the Russian were defeated and their interest were fulfil they halted the aid in excuse for building the nuclear weapons. This kind of attitude toward the muslims are in fact sowing the seeds of hatred and mistrust.

Moez Momin
austin, texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am truly confused as to how some individuals can perceive the US actions in response to Osama bin Laden as an attack on Islam itself. Many of these same individuals claim rightfully that Islam does not support or justify terroism. Yet they also criticize the US for attempting to bring to justice an avowed terroist like bin Laden. I don't know if they realize that there actions cloud Americans perceptions of what Islam is all about.

austin, tx

Dear FRONTLINE,

The name of this program could be truth and consequences. As Americans, we must realize that there will be consequences if we continue to relate to a large portion of the world's people as we have over the last 100 years. The next 100 years will definitely not be an American century, if we do not solve our attitude problem. While the others are of a different religion and race, they are human and have the ability to impact our lives in negative ways if they so desire. We must find ways to share this small planet and its resources with all. Or we are all finished.

Ernest Lane
cleveland hts, ohio

Dear FRONTLINE,

Osama Bin Laden is a hope for the muslim world."We waited until we had given up on everybody - and then Osama Bin Laden came along."

With his high cheekbones, narrow eyes and long brown robe, Mr Bin Laden looks every inch the mountain warrior of mujahedin legend. Chadored children dance in front of him, preachers acknowledged his wisdom. He is truly a new-world savior who will bring about justice and liberation to the islamic world.

Abd'ul'Atif Akhtar'i
toronto, ?ontario

Dear FRONTLINE,

I don not believe that it takes a rocket scientist to observe fairly that everywhere america is currently bombing happens to be Islamic nations. The french overthrow of free elections in Algeria also show how america(and europe)lives in mortal fear of Islam. When muslims fight back it is immediatly labeled terrorism.

kansas city, missouri

Dear FRONTLINE,

In my opinion, Osama bin Laden would use any excuse to start a "holy war", just as many popes called for the crusades. They didn't need a reason in the Middle Ages, and certainly holy warriors do not need any justifications now. When one of Osama's friends was asked about whether he had two sides to his personality, he voiced his feelings very well. He said (not a direct quote) "I won't turn my cheek if you hit me, I will punch you back." It shows how different the mentalities of the fanatics are from at least other holy people. But he also missed the point. The missile attacks would not have happened in the first place, if the world trade center was not bombed. We were attacked, then we responded. The way Osama bin Laden and his cronies think, they always act as if they are innocent and would be merely defending themselves. Islam is not under attack, but the rest of us "infidels" are being attacked under the auspices of a holy war.

s.s., md

Dear FRONTLINE,

Certinly Osama bin Laden is right about a corrupt regiem in Saudi Arabia. If he would educate himeself about the west he would know that the U.S. population could barely stomach going to the assistance of these corrupt regimes. Does he think a dictatorial Hussien controlling most of the world's oil is a better answer? Perhaps we would find a commonality of interest if his eyes were not so blinded by hatred.

Ma Prabodhi
ithaca, new york