Re: JSP/sendRedirect() problem...

I have a response.sendRedirect() in a JSP, to be triggered if a param
passed in request evaluates to "" or null.. however, sendRedirect is
being ignored; also tried <jsp:forward..>, is also ignored.. would
appreciate some help.. thank you.. code is as follows:

<%
theSponsor = request.getParameter("sponsor");
if (theSponsor.equals("") || theSponsor == null) {
    %>
          // following test alert triggers fine, the rest is ignored..
    <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
    alert("test");
    </script>

    <%
    // following ignored...
    response.sendRedirect("/ws/sponsors/index.jsp");
    %>

    <%-- // following also ignored..
    <jsp:forward page="/ws/sponsors/index.jsp" > --%>
    <%

    return;
} else if (!theSponsor.equals("") || theSponsor != null) {
%>

    <%-- code for a custom tag here, using "theSponsor" var as one of
the parameters inside the tag... --%>
<% } %>

thank you very much...