The world is waiting with bated breathe as the United States continues preparation for reprisal for the tragedy of World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

It has trained its guns at Afghanistan, the country hiding Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden, alleged to have masterminded the terrorist attack.

No conclusive evidence has been shown that the Saudi dissident was actively responsible. But his past records have pointed him out as the prime suspect.

The United States suffered casualties above 6,000 lives in the incident and these include nationalities from about 62 countries including Nigeria.

No country, with any pride, will not think of avenging that kind of hurt or redeem its pride. And understandably the world gave the US its sympathies and understand the logic of its current preparation to strike back at the enemy.

There is a pressing danger: the crisis has been debased by the bogey of religion which some have infused. America has demonstrated that it does not believe so, but those who want to confuse the situation have latched on to it. We do not believe also that religion has anything to do with it.

But the Pope does. While in Kazakstan, where Europe meets Asia and Islam meets Christianity and Afghanistan shares border with Kazakhstan, he said a peace mass for the crisis.

He declared: "We must not let what has happened lead to a deepening division. Religion must never be used as reason for conflict."

Saudi Arabia has backed the fighting of terrorists but not a religious war. And that is the rub. Impressions are getting created even here in Nigeria that obfuscate the true reason for the devilish act of the terrorists.

Vanguard remains unequivocal in its condemnation of the waste of lives and monumental properties. The rascals who know no creed must be sought out and punished severely if only to deter evil mongers who kill for passion. Any of us could have been killed so mindlessly.

But we caution that, unlike the terrorists, America cannot afford to punish the innocent with the guilty. As a bastion of democracy and the due process, the US must not be seen to be arbitrary in its sanction for redress.

We want to direct the US to the Pope's concern, he begged, "god to keep the world in peace." Only the guilty anywhere in the world MUST be sought out and punished.