President Bush ,Set to make televised Congress address
United States fighter planes and bombers are being sent to the Gulf in the first indication of imminent action against Afghanistan. F15 and F16 fighters and B52 bombers, which can carry cruise missiles, have been ordered to the region by the Pentagon as part of what is now being called Operation Infinite Justice.
The first of the aircraft will move tomorrow, to arrive at the bases in Saudi Arabia. These bases have been operated by the US Air Force since the Gulf War. The move puts them within striking distance of Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime offers shelter to Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Centre.
The US administration has been seeking the support of Russia, Indonesia and Germany in its effort to build a "coalition against terrorism". President George W. Bush said that it was clear all countries wanted to help, but not all in the same way.
President Bush is set to make a televised address to the US Congress tomorrow. He said that he "looked forward" to explaining who carried out last week's terror attacks and why the US was targeted. "I think America needs to know that we in government are on alert," he added.
