----- > BBC News > Sunday, 16 September, 2001, 18:22 GMT 19:22 UK > America widens its war targets > > US preparations for military strikes are increasing Senior US officials > have issued warnings that up to 60 countries supporting perceived > terrorists face the "full wrath" of American military might. Defense > Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the US would engage in a "multi-headed > effort" to target terrorist organisations and up to 60 countries > believed to be supporting them. > > The US, Mr Rumsfeld told American TV, "had no choice" other than to > pursue terrorists and countries giving them refuge, following Tuesday's > suicide plane attacks on New York and Washington. Vice-President Dick > Cheney said US strategy was to "aggressively go after" Osama Bin Laden, > the Afghan-based Saudi-born dissident identified by the US as the > mastermind of Tuesday's attacks. > > The statements came as President Bush consulted his top advisers at his > Camp David retreat on plans for a military response to the attacks, in > which more than 5,000 people are believed to have died. In other > developments: US Attorney-General John Ashcroft says he will > ask Congress for stronger anti-terrorism laws, including wider phone- > tapping powers Pakistan is sending a delegation to Afghanistan > to persuade the Taleban to hand over Osama Bin Laden. Mr Bin Laden > issues his first direct denial of involvment in the attacks Afghan > citizens flee built-up areas fearing imminent US air attacks New York > Mayor Rudolph Giuliani reports that 180 bodies have now been recovered > from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, while 5,097 people > remain missing US Vice-President Dick Cheney says that after Tuesday's > attacks, orders were given to shoot down any further unauthorised > passenger flights over New York and Washington. > > Officials have made it clear that, apart from air or missile strikes, > the use of ground troops may be under consideration, to destroy the > network behind last Tuesday's attacks, and then try to eradicate state- > sponsored terrorism. But the BBC Washington correspondent says the US > would like to build a firm coalition of states supporting its action > before launching any retaliation, even if that means some delay. > > Opinion polls show strong support among Americans for the use of > military force against whoever was responsible for last Tuesday's > attacks. Mr Bush has singled out Osama Bin Laden as the prime suspect. > But his top officials stressed on Sunday that the problem was much > wider than just one man. Vice-President Cheney singled out the > Egyptian group Islamic Jihad on NBC's Meet the Press programme. > > Threat to Taleban And he issued an emphatic warning to Mr Bin > Laden's hosts, Afghanistan: "They have to understand, and others like > them around the world have to understand, that if you provide sanctuary > to terrorists, you face the full wrath of the United States of > America." The Saudi-born dissident issued a statement on > Sunday denying any involvement in the attacks. > > "The US is pointing the finger at me but I categorically state that I > have not done this," he was quoted as saying by the Pakistan-based > Afghan Islamic Press news agency. > > Hopes of finding anyone else alive in the New York ruins have > receded US Secretary of State Colin Powell has meanwhile welcomed > Pakistan's decision to allow the US full co-operation, possibly > including the use of its airspace. Mr Bush has backed this up by > telephoning Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to thank him for > his government's support. The Taleban has warned Pakistan that it faces > war if it allows the US to launch an attack from its territory. > > Noble Eagle > > At the same time, the president's military advisers are concerned that > the immediate threat of attacks on US civilian targets is not over and > a plan - Operation Noble Eagle - has been launched to improve defences. > The extent of the damage at the Pentagon has become clearer. Warplanes > are patrolling the skies above major US cities and military > installations, warship battle groups are on guard off the country's > east and west coasts, and tens of thousands of reservists have > been called up to protect the homeland. > > Throughout New York memorial services are being held on Sunday, with > thousands expected to attend the main ceremony at St Patrick's > cathedral. The message from White House aides is that Mr Bush wants > ordinary Americans to defy those who carried out the attacks by > returning to the normal course of their lives as soon as possible. > > New York's Stock Exchange, which has been closed since the attack on > the heart of the city's financial district, is due to reopen on Monday > - as is the US baseball season, suspended as a mark of respect. > > *** > TARGETS - Independent monthly paper on international affairs - contributes > to its ability to inform on issues of war and peace, social justice and > international affairs. We encourage you to forward our messages to your > friends. 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