The British 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 traveling with 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 Osama bin Laden to justice for the role Washington and London believe he played in attacks on September 11 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, London also risks making waves because the government official dubbed the document a "bible". President George W. Bush caused widespread offence last month with his call for a "crusade" against terrorism. Longer-term aims included deterring states from "supporting, harboring, or complicity in" international terrorist groups.
"Any military action taken to achieve those objectives (must be) compatible with international law and self-defence," the official quoted the document as saying. He said the objectives included international aid for Afghanistan, which could cost several billion dollars.
