 | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | Terrorism: You're in our sights, Bush warns Taliban">Archive of stories pre April 2007 | | | | | | | 
Archive of stories pre April 2007 | News submitted by: Alpha1
A COVERT war is already being fought against terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, President George W. Bush said yesterday as he warned Afghanistan's Taliban government: "We have you in our sights."
Amid growing indications that he wants to see a change of regime in Kabul, Mr Bush said: "The United States respects the people of Afghanistan and we are their largest provider of humanitarian aid.
"But we condemn the Taliban and welcome the support of other nations in isolating them."
He said a covert war was already being fought to hunt down terrorists in the wake of the September 11 hijacking tragedies in New York and Washington.
"Some victories will be won outside of public view, in tragedies avoided and threats eliminated," Mr Bush said.
"In this struggle, our greatest advantages are the patience and resolve of the American people.
"We did not seek this conflict, but we will win it."
Mr Bush's comments came as several thousand anti-war protesters clashed with police in riot gear in Washington.
Pepper spray was used to disperse the crowds and several arrest were made.
In other developments:
CLAIMS that bin Laden followers had captured US commandos on a spying mission were dismissed by the Pentagon and the Taliban.
AFGHAN rebels have promised to begin an all-out war against the Taliban within days – with the support of American air strikes.
THE trial of eight foreign aid workers accused of preaching Christianity – including Australians Diana Thomas and Peter Bunch – was under way in Kabul last night.
PAKISTAN said it planned more talks with Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to try to persuade them to hand over bin Laden, despite the failure of two recent efforts.
BRITISH police arrested a man, 36, headed for the US at Gatwick airport on terrorism charges.
Mr Bush refused to disclose when an attack would begin but Afghanistan's Northern Alliance – the 15,000-strong force opposed to the Taliban government – said it was about to launch a new offensive on five fronts.
"We hope and believe our offensive, in a number of places throughout the country, will be backed by America attacking from the air," its military leader, Soleh Muhammad Registani, said yesterday.
"We believe the Taliban is ready to be beaten."
The new campaign will add fresh pressure on the beleaguered Taliban regime. Military sources have confirmed British and American special forces commanders have met Northern Alliance leaders at their mountain stronghold in Faizabad.
Afghanistan's president-in-exile, Burhanuddin Rabbani, has sent Farsi-speaking troops many hundreds of kilometres south to act as scouts for the SAS and their American counterparts, the Delta force.
"We are glad to help our friends in America and Britain," he said.
"We welcome them joining our tireless fight against the evil government which took over our country six years ago. My soldiers are courageous men who know their territory."
The Northern Alliance's declaration brings forward the prospect of Western forces finally engaging in a shooting war.
US officials announced that 11 high-ranking members of the Congress were due to meet former Afghan King Mohammed Zahir Shah in Rome tomorrow to demonstrate Washington's support for efforts to build a post-Taliban government.
The plan was unveiled after Afghan opposition leaders said they were forming a supreme council comprising an interim administration in Afghanistan under the auspices of the 86-year-old former monarch.
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