Public opinion in Bermuda seemed to be behind the American attacks on Afghanistan although everyone The Royal Gazette spoke to feared things could get worse before they got better.

On Sunday American and British bombs began hitting military targets and training camps for Osama bin Laden's organisation - believed to be behind the recent carnage in New York and Washington.

However, Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb had mixed views about the US military action in Afghanistan.

She said: "I think it's a tragedy when people have to use violence to resolve situations in 2001.

"Maybe the action is reasonable, obviously the Americans know things we don't. "But I can't agree with bombing other countries and I am not convinced that all other options had been explored."

She condemned the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon but said some positive things had come out of it such as the US taking an interest in the plight of the Palestinians after previously giving Israel total backing, food aid being given to Afghanistan and America paying millions of dollars in back-fees it owed to the United Nations.

She said America had now reversed it's isolationist-stance which it had embarked upon with the election of the Bush administration.

"America will start to understand what Islam is," she added.

She said America's foreign policies had earned it enemies and that it was time for America to take stock.

Ms. Webb, who worked in the Middle East off and on between 1982 and 1987, said the portrayal of Islam by the US media after the September 11 attacks had been skewed.

But she said she condemned religious fanaticism in all its forms.

Her Government colleague Dale Butler MP welcomed the American military action.

He said: "We had no choice. We can't continue to live in fear.

"Bin Laden said Americans will never feel safe. We can't live in a world like that.

"When he says Americans he means all of us. The hijackers didn't go around asking where people were from."

United Bermuda Party leader Pamela Gordon said: "This return attack is unfortunate, however it's necessary to show terrorists that what they have done and continue to do is not acceptable to the free world.

"It's important we all rally together to stamp out terrorism. I know people are very concerned for their safety and that of their loved ones.

"But we have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that freedom and democracy prevails."

Lori Talbot, joint owner of MR Onions bar and restaurant, said of the attacks: "It needed to be done.

"Hopefully there won't be too many civilian casualties and they will hit military targets."

Finance manager Chris Fleming also supported the strikes: "The US didn't act in haste, it's been almost a month since the attack. I hope it doesn't result in future terrorist attacks."

Film company executive marketing director Dy-wayne Hayward said: "The attacks by the US are really deserved, they are long overdue.

"The attacks are inevitable but whether is worth the death toll, I don't know.

"War is a lose/lose situation. The problem is that it will spawn revenge attacks."