International
U.S., U.K. rift widens
By Hasan Suroor
LONDON, DEC. 11. The British-U.S. ``solidarity'' showed some more chinks, observers noted today, as Britain's Defence Chief, Sir Michael Boyce, strongly opposed American moves to broaden the war against terrorism beyond Afghanistan saying ``we cannot be all-singing, all dancing'', and London must lay down clear ``red lines'' beyond which it would not go.
His remarks, in a speech to the Royal United Services Institute on Monday, came amid reports that U.S. was preparing to target Somalia as part of a ``plan'' to extend its military campaign to other countries which it suspects of habouring terrorists. ``We will have to decide soon whether we make a commitment to the broader campaign-in other words, widening the war or make longer commitment to Afghanistan,'' he said intensifying speculation that despite official denials there were differences between London and Washington over the limits of the present campaign.
British leaders, from the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair downwards, have consistently maintained that the current military action, prompted by the September 11 outrage, is limited to Afghanistan and the coalition has no mandate to widen its scope. There is concern here that increasingly hardliners in Pentagon are reported to be pressing the President, Mr. George Bush, to have a go at other ``rogue'' States as well while the iron is still hot.
The resentment at America's ``Big Brother'' attitude was also reflected in the reaction to the way Britain's offer to lead a multinational peacekeeping force in Afghanistan was announced today. In what was seen as the most public demonstration yet of who really is the boss in the coalition, the announcement was made by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Colin Powell, during a visit here, and not by the British Government.
Mr. Powell, who arrived here this morning for talks with Mr. Blair, said he was ``pleased'' that Britain was willing to lead the force. Mr. Blair later joined him in a sombre ceremony at 10, Downing Street to mark three months of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Anything upto 3,000 British troops are expected to join the multinational ``stabilisation'' force even as, despite Sir Michael's warning, speculation continued over Britain's response to any U.S. request for its assistance to go beyond Afghanistan.
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