Britain Release Blueprint of War Aims

The British government published a detailed blueprint of its aims in the campaign against terrorism on Wednesday, an unusual move designed to ease Arab fears of a Western crusade against Islam, Reuters reported.

The strategy paper -- "Defeating International Terrorism: Campaign Objectives" -- sought to dampen speculation that the war might stray beyond Afghan soil.

It set its prime targets as bringing Osama bin Laden to justice for the role U.S. and Britain believe he played in terror attacks on New York and Washington on September 11.

A government official who is traveling with Tony Blair in the Middle East said no other country would be attacked without " absolute evidence" that it sponsored terrorism and without the widest international backing.

Britain also wants sufficient change in Afghanistan's leadership to ensure the links to terror are broken. Longer-term aims included deterring states from "supporting, harboring, or complicity in" international terrorist groups.






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