Interview by Between The Lines' Scott Harris.

The U.S. air war against Afghanistan began on Oct. 7 with bombers and missiles striking military and infrastructure targets as part of an American-led effort to destroy Osama bin Laden's terror network and topple the Taliban government.

Although the Pentagon and State Department said they were doing all they could to avoid what they describe as "collateral damage," Taliban officials told the international press that four United Nations workers and 20 civilians had been killed in the first two days of U.S. attacks.

Reaction to the air strikes were seen across the Islamic world in angry street protests in many nations including: Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and in the Gaza Strip. Pakistani President Musharraf, who reluctantly endorsed the American war against Osama bin Laden and his former Taliban allies, was apparently nervous about many of his own citizen's opposition to the U.S. assault, when he urged a quick end to the fighting on Oct. 8th.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Chris Toensing, editor of Middle East Report, who assesses reaction in the Muslim world to the U.S. bombing campaign and the possible repercussions for governments supporting the U.S. war against terrorism(A RealAudio Version of this interview may be found At www.btlonline.org).

Contact Middle East Report by calling (202) 233-3677 or visit their Web site at www.merip.org