NATO role in proposed strikes may be limited

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, OCT. 4. It now appears that only a few countries will supply military aircraft for the proposed attack on Afghanistan, if and when it does materialise.

Some European strategists hope that an air strike against Afghanistan can be averted if Osama Bin Laden is captured `dead or alive' and the Taliban regime is replaced in Afghanistan by the Northern Alliance. An European observer today described the emerging global alliance as ``four concrete circles wrapped round the U.S. ''

The inner ring of countries includes Britain, France, Germany and Australia who will contribute troops and military aircraft. The second ring of seven countries will provide logistical and intelligence support.

The third ring consists of friendly Muslim countries which will try and contain opposition to the air strikes in Arab countries and Pakistan.

The fourth ring of countries includes Israel, Iran and India, which will be ``counted on mostly to avoid stirring up trouble for other members of the proposed global coalition.''

The Bush administration has now formally asked NATO to mobilise its fleet of surveillance aircraft as part of the build up of military forces around Afghanistan.

The U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Mr. Nicholas Burns, last night presented a formal request to the North Atlantic Council - which is the NATO's decision- making body. The U.S. has made a request for eight military items which includes 17 AWACS - early warning systems.

The U.S. has also asked for the right to overfly NATO territories and airport access as well. France has agreed to provide naval and logistical help while Germany is expected to supply intelligence co- operation and also access to its airspace.

The NATO last week invoked Article V or the collective defence article of its founding treaty, according to which an attack on any one of the NATO countries is deemed to be an attack on the other members as well.

A senior Western official said: ``NATO was now fully on board, in political and military terms'' But observers point out that NATO has not been asked to participate in the command and control of the proposed military operations.

The U.S. is wary of a repeat of the Kosovo operation which saw much bickering among the NATO allies.

Hence, the North Atlantic Council will not make the decisions on strikes. These will be decided by American commanders and strategic planners under the umbrella of the global coalition.

Among the European allies, the British Government has put its entire military capability at the U.S. disposal and the Blair Government has been involved in dialogue with various governments to structure a global alliance.

There has been a marked shift in the geo-political balance of power and influence with the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin declaring that Russia was prepared to re-consider its traditional opposition to the proposed eastward expansion of NATO.

Mr. Putin said all countries must place top priority on the fight against international terrorism. Mr. Putin's assessment is that global politics has experienced a ``tectonic'' shift after the terrorist attacks in the U.S.

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