“President George Bush and Tony Blair yesterday warned the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the starkest terms that preparations for the war against them were complete and attacks could be launched at any time.”
“In what amounted to a final warning to the Islamic fundamentalist regime, which is accused of protecting Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network, Bush said: ‘Full warning has been given. For those nations that stand with the terrorists, there will be a heavy price.'”
“Bush’s comments were echoed by Tony Blair, who was even more outspoken in suggesting that an outbreak of hostilities was imminent. He told journalists accompanying him as he returned from three days of whirlwind diplomacy in Russia, Pakistan and India: ‘We are ready to go. Everything is in place.'”
“The warnings came as the Taliban made a desperate last-ditch bid to avoid attack, announcing that it was releasing the British journalist Yvonne Ridley and would negotiate the release of eight foreign aid workers accused of being Christian missionaries if America would halt its bellicose stance.”
“Blair also renewed fears that further attacks by bin Laden’s network were being planned, echoing comments by US intelligence and military spokesmen – including those yesterday of Nato Supreme Commander Joseph Ralston – that another attack was ‘100 per cent likely’.”
Read more: It’s time for war, Bush and Blair tell Taliban
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