rickster
Team Captain
From theage.com.au
The United States, flushed with military success in Afghanistan, is insisting that its war against terrorism is just beginning, with plans under way to destroy terrorist cells in the Asia-Pacific area and military strikes under consideration against countries such as Iraq.
Speaking before cheering soldiers in Kentucky, Mr Bush made clear that the so-called "Bush Doctrine" - to treat nations that harbor terrorists as America's enemies - would not end with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan is just the beginning on the war against terror. There are other terrorists who threaten America and our friends, and there are other nations willing to sponsor them."
Calling the United States "patient and determined and relentless", he said America would "not be secure as a nation until all these threats are defeated".
Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld told troops in North Carolina that they would carry the President's message to America's enemies, "sealed with the muscle and might of the greatest warrior force on Earth".
The next phase of America's war will be far more complicated than the seven-week campaign in Afghanistan, in which the Taliban have been internationally isolated.
While there is intense debate within the administration about toppling Saddam Hussein of Iraq, the focus now is to eliminate the alQaeda network, which the US blames for the September 11 terrorist strikes. The US says the group operates in about 60 countries.
Washington's focus is also strongly on Islamic extremists in Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim community. That is likely to mean closer ties to Indonesia's military, which would be controversial because of US laws banning military aid to Indonesia until soldiers responsible for atrocities in East Timor are properly dealt with.
Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz is an advocate of quickly expanding the military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein, who remained in power after the US forced Iraqi troops from Kuwait in 1991. Iraq, with about 429,000 troops, would be a more formidable foe than the Taliban, and any attack would alienate Arab countries.
European nations and Canada have expressed reservations unless there are proven links between Iraq and the September 11 attacks.
Israeli intelligence said this week it had detected no link between Iraq and the terrorist assaults.
But Mr Wolfowitz argues there is no need for proof because President Saddam poses a threat because of his development of weapons of mass destruction.
USA Today reported this week that the Pentagon was building a case for a massive bombing attack on Iraq, despite Arab objections. The issue is unresolved within the administration, with some members believed to be arguing for increasing support for Iraqi opposition groups, rather than US military strikes.
__________
No way! So the US feels free to attack over 60 countries with 'suspected' links to terrorists?
I hope that Australia wouldn't support these actions, but I've got a sneaking suspicion they would.
"Saddam poses a threat because of his development of weapons of mass destruction." Well stone the crows, but I seem to recall that the US has a few weapons of mass destructions itself.
cheers
The United States, flushed with military success in Afghanistan, is insisting that its war against terrorism is just beginning, with plans under way to destroy terrorist cells in the Asia-Pacific area and military strikes under consideration against countries such as Iraq.
Speaking before cheering soldiers in Kentucky, Mr Bush made clear that the so-called "Bush Doctrine" - to treat nations that harbor terrorists as America's enemies - would not end with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan is just the beginning on the war against terror. There are other terrorists who threaten America and our friends, and there are other nations willing to sponsor them."
Calling the United States "patient and determined and relentless", he said America would "not be secure as a nation until all these threats are defeated".
Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld told troops in North Carolina that they would carry the President's message to America's enemies, "sealed with the muscle and might of the greatest warrior force on Earth".
The next phase of America's war will be far more complicated than the seven-week campaign in Afghanistan, in which the Taliban have been internationally isolated.
While there is intense debate within the administration about toppling Saddam Hussein of Iraq, the focus now is to eliminate the alQaeda network, which the US blames for the September 11 terrorist strikes. The US says the group operates in about 60 countries.
Washington's focus is also strongly on Islamic extremists in Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim community. That is likely to mean closer ties to Indonesia's military, which would be controversial because of US laws banning military aid to Indonesia until soldiers responsible for atrocities in East Timor are properly dealt with.
Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz is an advocate of quickly expanding the military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein, who remained in power after the US forced Iraqi troops from Kuwait in 1991. Iraq, with about 429,000 troops, would be a more formidable foe than the Taliban, and any attack would alienate Arab countries.
European nations and Canada have expressed reservations unless there are proven links between Iraq and the September 11 attacks.
Israeli intelligence said this week it had detected no link between Iraq and the terrorist assaults.
But Mr Wolfowitz argues there is no need for proof because President Saddam poses a threat because of his development of weapons of mass destruction.
USA Today reported this week that the Pentagon was building a case for a massive bombing attack on Iraq, despite Arab objections. The issue is unresolved within the administration, with some members believed to be arguing for increasing support for Iraqi opposition groups, rather than US military strikes.
__________
No way! So the US feels free to attack over 60 countries with 'suspected' links to terrorists?
I hope that Australia wouldn't support these actions, but I've got a sneaking suspicion they would.
"Saddam poses a threat because of his development of weapons of mass destruction." Well stone the crows, but I seem to recall that the US has a few weapons of mass destructions itself.
cheers
.
