-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! U.S.: We Won't Topple Taliban Photos AP Photo Slideshows By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States will not attempt to topple the Taliban movement in Afghanistan (news - web sites) but does plan to take action against the radical Islamic militia for harboring terrorists, the White House said Tuesday. ``The objective here is to protect people from terrorism,'' presidential press secretary Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) said. He added that the word ``topple'' has a political implication about replacing one government with a different government. ``The goals are not lined up in that sense,'' he said. He reaffirmed the goal of punishing the Taliban for its role in providing shelter to terrorists - an objective established shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (news - web sites). ``There's no question the Taliban is harboring terrorists right now,'' he said. Fleischer denied that the United States is bargaining with other nations to win support of the anti-terrorism coalition. ``There are no blank checks,'' he said, adding that countries that offer cooperation are doing so because it is wise. ``It's not just the United States concerned about terrorists here ... . There's an overlapping of interests,'' Fleischer said. As for the support being offered by Russia to the anti-terrorism effort, Fleischer denied that was part of a deal under which Washington would refrain from criticizing Russia over abuses in Chechnya (news - web sites), where an Islamic insurgency has been under way for years. ``On Chechnya, the principles of adherence to human rights is always important,'' he said. He added that the ``threat of terrorism is a threat Russia faces as well. We're always mindful of combatting terrorism in a way that is consistent with concern about human rights.'' Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said after a meeting with President Bush (news - web sites) that his country was planning to provide medical assistance, aid to refugees and transport of supplies in the event military force is used in the struggle against terrorists. ``We Japanese stand by the United States to fight terrorists,'' Koizumi said, with Bush standing at his side. Bush said he talked with the Japanese leader on ways to cut off funding to terrorists. The president also said he was most pleased by the announcement from Saudi Arabia of a cutoff in relations with the Taliban. The announcement said the Taliban was defaming Islam by harboring and supporting terrorists. Two Japanese newspapers have reported Japan will send warships to the Indian Ocean as early as this week to carry out intelligence and surveillance missions. The squadron may accompany the USS Kitty Hawk, an aircraft carrier that left its base near Tokyo on Friday, the reports said. Japan and six other industrialized countries also have instructed their respective cabinets to specify measures to stem the flow of funds to violent extremists and enhance aviation security. They also took steps to tighten control of arms exports in a bid to reduce the terrorist threat. Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) was to receive Italian Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero later in the day. Powell also planed separate closed-door meetings with senators and House members to share the administration's thoughts on a response to the terrorist attacks. The administration is attempting to hunt down Afghan-based Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), the prime suspect in the attacks, and his allies. On Monday, the Senate approved a House-passed agreement that effectively removes all trade barriers with Jordan, a close Arab friend of the United States. Jordan's King Abdullah II, who will visit Washington this week, has backed the U.S. anti-terrorist fight and ``accordingly we should do whatever we can to reinforce Jordan's support,'' said the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Sen. Max Baucus (news - bio - voting record), D-Mont. Officials were eager for a report from the British government on Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's visit to Iran, the first trip of its kind to Tehran since the 1979 Iranian revolution. Iran has surprised U.S. officials by condemning the Sept. 11 attacks but said any coalition that emerges from the assaults should be U.N.-led rather than U.S.-led. *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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