IP: Four paragraphs from the Guardian -- Cracks appear in coalition

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

The first cracks appeared in George Bush's fledgling international 
coalition against terrorism yesterday over the extent of military action 
against the prime suspect for the New York and Washington attacks, Osama 
bin Laden, and any countries harbouring him.
Only two days after replying positively to Mr Bush's rallying call, several 
European countries and Russia - whose support is considered vital for any 
action against Bin Laden's refuge in Afghanistan - yesterday qualified 
their backing.

<snip>

Russia, which initially offered enthusiastic support, was adamant that it 
would not participate in any "revenge'' attacks. The Russian defence 
minister, Sergei Ivanov, said there was no chance of the US being allowed 
to launch attacks from the former Soviet republic, Tajikistan, to the 
immediate north of Afghanistan. The potential risks involved in any action 
against Afghanistan were underlined by the most threatening statement yet 
by the Taliban. In a radio address, the Taliban's spiritual leader, Mullah 
Mohammed Omar, warned Afghans that they faced a military strike, but called 
on them to stand steadfast "against the enemy". "Death comes to everyone. 
We must stand proud as Afghans in the defence of Islam," he said. "Believe 
in God, for with the grace of God the American rockets will go astray and 
we will be saved.

One of the reasons that several European foreign ministries are growing 
anxious is that the possibility is gaining credibility of a second Gulf war 
against Iraq to finish off the job begun in 1991 by toppling the Iraqi 
president, Saddam Hussein.

Paul Wofowitz, the hawkish US deputy defence secretary, hinted at such an 
attack by casting the challenge much wider than just taking out Bin Laden. 
"One has to say it's not just simply a matter of capturing people and 
holding them accountable, but removing the sanctuaries, removing the 
support systems, ending states who sponsor terrorism."

The Bush administration said it was examining the possibility of Iraqi 
sponsorship of Tuesday's attacks.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/wtccrash/story/0,1300,552410,00.html



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