FINALLY, the hour came.

The action for which people on both sides of the Atlantic had been holding their breath became reality when US and British forces pounded Afghanistan.

The hunt to rid the world of the terrorist threat of Osama bin Laden and his Taliban protectors became real.

Tony Blair and George Bush had addressed their nations to explain the action as Operation Enduring Freedom's Tomahawk and Cruise missiles from American and UK ships and subs hit Kabul, Jalalabad and Kandahar.

While opinion about the action is bound to be divided among nations, it is important to keep in mind constantly that the military is carefully targeting this already war-torn and battered country.

They cannot ignore the humanitarian elements of this campaign.

Already, our TV screens and our hearts have been filled with the images of refugees, and supplies are being dropped to these poor souls as aid agencies continue their own private battle to help on the ground.

Anyone with relatives in the armed forces is today bound to be fearful for them, and our hearts go out to these families.

But the terrible events of September 11 are still keen in everyone's mind, and the world knows exactly why our countries are now locked in a battle against terror.

Security everywhere is hitched up a notch and concerns about terrorist action coming to our major citites is bound to be to the fore.

But, it is vital in all this to be level-headed.

And it is equally important to bear in mind that our Muslim neighbours are not of the same mind or ilk as Bin Laden.

They are still just ordinary people, living in towns like Bolton in the same way and playing the same part in the daily life of our community.

Fortunately, Bin Laden may well have made a huge mistake with his remarks about the September 11 attacks as acts of God.

Many Muslims were victims, too, and religious opinion itself may well be undergoing a sea change.

While we all hold our breath, watching our TV screens, avidly reading our newspapers to follow the news as this country goes to war once more, real values must hold sway.

We are not terrorists.

We are not inhuman.

And throughout what may well be a lengthy campaign, we must keep to decent values, ensuring that we never lose sight of the real value of human life.