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U.S. and Britain to Strike Terror Camps Within Days
Sunday September 30, 2001
By Ed Vulliamy / Washington
Jason Burke / Peshawar, Pakistan
and Peter Beaumont & Paul Beaver / The Observer

Attacks limited to targets found by special forces

Devastating attacks on bases controlled by Osama bin Laden are set to be launched in the next 48 hours as part of a tightly focused military operation approved by US President George Bush and backed by Britain.

The strategy, which is a victory for pragmatists in both Britain and America, is designed to kill bin Laden and his forces, and will be launched in tandem with strikes against air and ground forces of the Taliban regime supporting him.

The operation, which British and US sources say could be launched as early as today, would begin with air and missile strikes to destroy the Taliban's 20-aircraft air force, remove anti-aircraft missile batteries, and destroy Taliban tanks and other armour.

In a clear sign that strikes were imminent, Bush declared last night, after a meeting with military advisers at Camp David: 'America will act deliberately and decisively, and the cause of freedom will prevail.'
(More: The Guardian News Source)
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2001

Dan