The planes struck in September And the retaliation did not come Untilwhen? November, I think it was. During that time, I was fond of saying 'This is how Europe felt In the weeks between the assasination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in July And the German invasion of Belgium in August' When I heard the news, I called to my flatmate Look, they're bombing Kabul. And we watched the TV and saw the Laser guided ordnance hitting, of course, Only legitimate military targets, And I, for one, wanted to cry. I was scared; I do not know If this was the right response But it was how I felt. 'Fuck', was the only thing Either of us could say, and we were ashamed Because we knew it was not adequate To resort to obscenity so quickly In the case of a war that could last years. During the campaign, everybody was full of shit, People who had only the name a week before Pretended they had always known Where the Tora Bora caves were to be found Of course, back then the papers All said it would be another Vietnam, A long and bitter conflict, And I was surprised At the speed of developments. But I still think there is only one acceptable reaction, To seeing planes belonging to your country, Ordered by your leader, Bombing the shit out of civilians In a third world country, And that response is one of deep and severe shame, Whether or not you think the action is justified.