The British government has today released what a government official called a bible of war aims today, in an unusual move designed to ease Arab fears of a Western crusade against Islam.
The detailed breakdown of British strategy produced as Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair rallied Arab support for the US-led war on terror, sought to dampen speculation that the war might stray beyond Afghan soil.
The government official said no other country would be attacked without absolute evidence that it sponsored terrorism and without the widest international backing.
The official, who is travelling with Mr Blair, said the policies were set out clearly in what he called Downing Street's bible of campaign aims for a war against terrorism.
The strategy paper - Defeating International Terrorism: Campaign Objectives- sets its prime targets as bringing Saudi-born Osama bin Laden to justice for the role Washington and London believe he played in attacks on September 11th in the United States.
Britain also wants sufficient change in Afghanistan's leadership to ensure the links to terror are broken .
As well as breaking protocol by making the strategy public, Britain also risks making waves because the government official dubbed the document a bible.
US President Mr George W. Bush caused widespread offence last month with his call for a crusade against terrorism.
Longer-term aims included deterring states from supporting, harbouring, or complicity in international terrorist groups.
The government official said the objectives included international aid for Afghanistan which could cost several billion dollars.
They should also tackle suspicion in the Middle East that Washington was using the suicide hijackings, which killed up to 5,600 people, as a pretext to settle scores with Arab foes.
Asked about Britain's policy towards the Taliban's Northern Alliance opponents, the official said the alliance had strengths and weaknesses.
"They couldn't alone form a government. That is our assessment. When they did try it was pretty hopeless," he said.
He said the document had been compiled with Washington's knowledge but said the bible, nonetheless, highlighted Mr Blair's delicate role of keeping more sceptical members of a fragile coalition on board while standing shoulder to shoulder with the United States.
Reuters