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| US Briefs NATO Allies on Anti-Terrorism Plans |
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THU, SEP 27, 2001
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The United States has said it will seek help from individual allies in its "war on terrorism", but doesn't envisage a collective NATO military response to the terror attacks. At an informal meeting on Wednesday, US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz briefed NATO defence ministers on ideas and approaches for future anti-terrorism strategies.
NATO Secretary-General George Robertson opened the one-day session, and led the defense ministers in a minute of silence.
European allies welcomed a "measured" American approach to the crisis. They praised the US for working patiently to build a global coalition to fight terrorism rather than lashing out in retaliation.
NATO has declared that if the September 11 attacks were proved to have been initiated from abroad, it would be considered as an attack not only on the US but also on all its allies.
Wolfowitz sought to play down expectations of imminent US military action, although he said Washington did expect that its armed forces would play a role. But immediate military retaliation is difficult because little is known of the perpetrators' whereabouts.
The US did not present detailed evidence of foreign involvement in the attacks, but Wolfowitz said there was no doubt Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network was involved.
The 19 NATO partners met in a separate session with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. The US is seeking Russian support for its campaign against terrorism.
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