THE world enters the new week anxiously, not knowing quite what to think.

It knows that some people must pay for their heinous crime, but it does not know who they are.

It knows that last week's outrage was tantamount to a declaration of war, but it doesn't know precisely who the enemy is, nor where it is located.

It knows that America's response is, understandably, likely to be brutal, but it knows that violence only breeds violence.

It knows that the fundamentalists must be confronted, but it knows that if they are turned into martyrs even more will spring up to replace them.

It knows that Britain must support America to the hilt, but it knows President George W Bush cannot be given a blank cheque to do as he pleases.

It knows that Afghanistan is the number one target, but it knows that carpet bombing poverty-stricken Afghan people will solve nothing.

It knows that it is the rulers of countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq who bear the responsibility, but it knows that when sanctions are taken against those countries, be they military or economic, the ordinary people will suffer first and suffer longest.

It knows that the most shocking aspect of Tuesday was the loss of so many innocent lives, but it knows that more innocent lives will be lost in avenging them.

It knows that there is remarkable unity among most countries in condemning Tuesday's attacks, but it knows that that unity will fracture with one false move.

It knows that the aim of any action is to stamp out terrorism and bring peace, but it knows that in Pakistan a likely result will be civil war in a country with nuclear capability.

It knows that in the short-term military action is inevitable, but it knows that in the long-term only political action will solve the Middle East crisis - and that military action makes a political solution less likely.

It knows that the prayer that has been heard most is "God bless America", but it knows that the prayer that really should be said is to the infinite variety of gods, asking them to bless each and every leader and to provide them with the courage and wisdom to see it through one of the most difficult and dangerous times in its history.