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The key players, their strategies
and the likely targets as the United
States prepares for a war against the powers of terrorism
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ON WHOM THE
US IS BANKING
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Russia
Urges thorough probe. Ready to share intelligence but
will not take part in any attacks. |
China
As price for its support wants US sympathy on Taiwan,
Tibet and Xinjiang.
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France
Supports strikes against bin Laden and terrorism but
stops short of calling it a war.
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Britain
Closest ally of the US but doesn't want the fight to
degenerate into a war against Islam.
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India
Offers full support to the US, including the use of
its air bases if the need arises.
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1 US FLEET IN THE
PERSIAN GULF
Present are two American
carrier battle groups USS Carl Vincent and USS Enterprise
with guided missile cruisers, destroyers with thousands of
Marines, nuclear submarines armed with cruise missiles ready
to be launched towards Afghanistan.
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The RAF has eight Tornado fighters
3
3,000 US troops. Plus tanks and armoured carriers.
4
RAF has eight Tornado jets.
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F-16 fighter base for launching missile attacks.
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US logistics base to support attacks.
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BRITISH FORCES OFF THE COAST OF OMAN
Expected in the first
week of October is aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, accompanied
by submarines HMS Superb and HMS Trafalgar, amphibious ships
HMS Ocean and HMS Fearless, destroyers HMS Southampton and
HMS Nottingham, frigates, mine counter-measure vessels and
support ships. Also available for military strikes will be
Sea Harrier jumpjets and Sea King long-range helicopters.
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TALIBAN FORCES
The rag-tag militia is
said to have 20-30 Scud surface-to-surface missiles at its
disposal besides Stinger and Frog short-range missiles. The
radical Islamic group has 20 MiG-21, Sukhoi-22 ground attack
fighters and even attack helicopters such as Mi-25 hindships.
It has around 500 T-54 and T-62 tanks with a large quantity
of artillery guns. But this is only the paper strength as
the last weapon inventory was undertaken nearly a decade ago.
US Military Options
# Launch cruise missiles
at bin Laden's hideouts and terrorist camps in Afghanistan
from aircraft carriers based in the Arabian Sea and the Persian
Gulf.
# Use Pakistani cities
such as Quetta and Peshawar to launch commando raids to nab
bin Laden and neutralise the Taliban.
# Use Pakistani bases
to deliver precision strikes against the Taliban.
 F117
Stealth fighter provides air superiority in enemy skies.
 B2A
bomber carries bunker-busting ammunition.
 AWACS
direct fighter operations in the enemy territory.
Tomahawk is a cruise missile that hits targets 3,000 km away.
 High
explosives glide bombs can pierce 20 ft of concrete.
 Taliban's
airbases that could be attacked by the US.
 Pakistani
bases that may be used for US airstrikes.
 Major
cities
 Indian
bases that may support US operational plans.
 Pakistani
cities that may support US ground strikes.
 Major
Indian airports near the border.
 Afghan
cities that may face attacks
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