From: Barry Stoller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: WWIII: 'Between Oct. 8 and mid-November' [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK] Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- Reuters. 3 October 2001. U.S. Puts Pieces in Place for Campaign. WASHINGTON and ISLAMABAD -- The United States asked NATO on Wednesday for unlimited access to allies' airspace -- as well as for the use of air bases in Europe and NATO fuel pipelines -- as preparations built up for an expected strike on Afghanistan. NATO sources said it was the first time the United States had asked to use the alliance's Cold War-era network of aviation fuel pipelines since the 1991 Gulf War. In another military move, the U.S. Army put 1,000 troops from the 10th Mountain Division in New York state on alert for possible movement to Central Asia to join a buildup of U.S. forces near Afghanistan. A defense official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters the troops were under "deployment order" but no movement had begun. The official denied a Washington Post report that the soldiers had gone to the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to provide support for other U.S. forces. The possibility of conflict has made the world edgy and the U.S. and French governments both announced on Wednesday measures to build defenses against biological attacks. The time window for U.S.-led military action in Afghanistan is narrowing and several indicators point to a possible strike any time from early next week, experts said. Washington is playing down the prospect of an imminent strike. U.S. officials are still requesting help from partners as diverse as Saudi Arabia, Russia, NATO and Uzbekistan. But a host of factors including politicians' travel plans, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, public opinion, the weather and Muslim holidays all point to a short window of opportunity for action between Oct. 8 and mid-November. "Clearly things can't wait very much longer. They have a few short weeks. It may be a question of days rather than weeks," a Western defense attache said. Rumsfeld landed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to arrive on Friday in Pakistan, the only country still recognizing the Taliban. Pakistan has sided with the United States, helping to further cement Bush's coalition against terrorism. The Taliban appear to have gained some breathing space as it is unlikely Washington will launch any operation with Blair and Rumsfeld in the region. After Saudi Arabia, Rumsfeld will swing through Oman, Egypt and Uzbekistan which has key airfields close to Afghanistan. As the future darkened for the beleaguered Taliban, its reclusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar called for a holy struggle against what he called a Western crusade against Afghanistan and urged rich Muslims to fund its defense. "Merchants and owners of capital, your prime duty is to spend in the way of God," Omar was quoted as saying in a statement broadcast by Qatar-based al-Jazeera television. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
