US drops 'messages of friendship' to Afghans

As part of the propaganda war, the United States is dropping leaflets into Afghanistan with the message that the Allies are not the enemy.

Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, said yesterday that almost half a million leaflets had been distributed. In addition, American aircraft based in Germany have dropped more than 275,000 food parcels. "This is bringing needed food to hungry Afghan people, as well as a message of friendship from the American people,'' Mr Rumsfeld said.

One of the leaflets shows a photograph of an Afghan man shaking hands with a Western soldier. The message on one side reads: "The partnership of nations is here to help." On the other it says: "The partnership of nations is here to assist the people of Afghanistan."

Another leaflet depicts a radio tower with radio waves emanating from the top. It lists times and channels for broadcasts, although the US has not yet dropped any radios into the country. Radio messages are being transmitted from aircraft flying over Afghanistan saying the war is against terrorism, not Muslims or Afghans.