BBC News Online: World: Americas

News Online users' messages for Bush

Many of the people who have contacted Talking Point from Europe have counselled that military action would be a mistake.

Mr Ilja Flug in Coesfeld, Germany said: "The scale of this awesome tragedy is indescribable. But all this does not give any moral right to the mankind of this world to bring itself on the brink of the final World War."

But Joshua Bard in Spokane, Washington, USA finds such attitudes difficult to understand.

He said: "I am truly amazed at the number of Europeans arguing for pacifism in the face of the current attacks on the US. The just must, from time to time, use violence."

Pankaj Rai, speaking by telephone from Bangalore in India, also backed tough action: "Terrorism has to be launched in the immediate instance by taking retribution against the terrorists and against the countries who harbour and support them."

Policy changes

Many people have spoken of the need for the United States to address its policy in the Middle East as part of its response.

Leow Bok Wee in Singapore said: "The American people should look at this incident from different angles before agreeing on what should be done. "

Many Muslims and people from the Arab world have expressed their sympathy with the American people. Typical is the response of Sherif in Cairo, Egypt: "My sympathy is with the US. Even if I did not agree with US policy, especially in the Middle East, but what happened yesterday was beyond human, moral and religious values."

Tough action

But there have also been messages of support from the Islamic world for tough action against terrorism.

Taj Hussain Taj in Islamabad, Pakistan said: "The whole world should react to find out those terrorist and then they should punish them."

But he also warned: "Complete investigation is required to find out the real criminals."

US polls back Bush

Whatever the words of caution from around the world, President Bush already knows the American people strongly support military action.

A Gallup opinion poll published two days after the attacks indicated that 92% of Americans support launching military strikes.

And ABC found 94% of Americans in support of military action against "the groups or nations responsible for the attacks." Almost as many people said they would support military action even if it means "getting into a war."

But the support was conditional on the correct assailants being identified. A big majority, 71% wanted the president to wait until those responsible are known before ordering reprisals.