DAILY POST OUR VIEW.

AS THE minutes tick by towards tomorrow's unofficial deadline for the handover of Osama bin Laden, it appears to be a question of when, rather than if, there will be military action by the United States and its allies, including Britain, against Afghanistan.

The desire for revenge is a powerful emotion which politicians frustrate at their peril. Hence the rhetoric from President Bush and Prime Minister Blair over the last seven days.

Politicians, however, should have a commitment to something greater than the justifiable and understandable cries for vengeance from a wounded people.

Above all, they have a duty to ensure that their actions do not make an already critical situation even worse.

Afghanistan is a ravaged country full of starving people who are only kept alive by humanitarian aid, and an attack in which many civilians were killed would simply confirm the opponents of the US in their prejudices. It would also invite the destabilisation of moderate regimes across the Muslim world.

The Taliban are backward bigots who should not be allowed to lead a donkey, never mind a country. However, they are also politicians, and as such are clearly desperate to get out of the bind in which they find themselves - the uncomfortable hosts of a troublesome guest.

Although the diplomatic situation appears bleak and war is highly probable, there is still time for politics, and politicians, to find a solution.

Under these dark skies, it was encouraging yesterday to see moves towards peace in the Middle East after months of seemingly intractable conflict.

The unilateral ceasefire ordered by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the response by Israel, which promised not to launch attacks on Palestinians and to withdraw tanks from Palestinian areas, is an indication of what American pressure can achieve without a shot being fired. Sadly, it does not seem that the Taliban will take a similarly pragmatic approach or be anything like as amenable to diplomatic overtures.

However, it is hardly helpful for the US defence secretary to suggest that, even if bin Laden is handed over, the Afghans may still face attack.

Like all politicians, the Taliban's primary objective will be to maintain their hold on power and therefore they are likely to agree to any way out which may keep that prospect alive.

History tells us that even Genghis Khan could not defeat the rulers of Afghanistan, which suggests that political, rather than military, manoeuvres might be the best way to get rid of the Taliban.