US Secretary of State Colin Powell set a new benchmark in the conduct of US foreign policy Friday, saying the United States will now gauge its ties with other nations on counter-terrorism cooperation.
Powell laid down the standard as he looked to the Arab world for support in building a global anti-terrorism coalition to back US retaliation for this week's strikes in New York and Washington.
The announcement also came as US officials awaited a response from Pakistan about a series of demands regarding exiled Saudi militant Osama bin Laden, whom US officials consider a prime suspect in the attacks and who lives in neighboring Afghanistan.
"I am not threatening so much as I am saying that this has become a new benchmark, a new way of measuring the relationship and what we can do together in the future and what kind of support we can provide to you in the future across the whole range of issues and activities," Powell told reporters.
He said countries "unresponsive" to the appeal would suffer a variety of consequences that could range from military retaliation and economic sanctions to diplomatic isolation and the loss of US foreign aid.
"If we find particular countries [that] are simply unresponsive, and we deem that unresponsiveness to be contributing to additional terrorism ... then that will certainly affect the kind of relationship we're going to have with them in the future," Powell said.
The message is being sent everywhere but he singled out Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia for a special warning over bin Laden whom he named Thursday as a suspect in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
"To the extent that you are providing havens to organizations such as the one headed by Osama bin Laden... you need to understand you cannot separate your activities from the activities of perpetrators," Powell said.
His remarks came amid a growing US push to enlist the international community, particularly Arab states, in Washington's newly declared "war" on terrorism.
Powell said he spoke to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia "to build the coalition" and "get this campaign plan in place."
He also spoke to Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara.
Syria has condemned the September 11 attacks but remains one of seven nations the US regards as "state sponsors of terrorism" for its support of the radical Hezbollah movement and opposition to the Middle East peace process.
"We have had a mixed relationship with Syria over the years," Powell allowed, adding he was hopeful for a change since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent "a very strong letter of support in efforts against terrorism."
The United States has similar concerns about terrorism with Pakistan, whose intelligence services and military have close ties with the Taliban and by extension bin Laden.
On Thursday, Washington asked Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to take a series of "specific" steps which sources say includes a request for the use of Pakistani airspace for possible attacks on bin Laden bases in Afghanistan.
Powell said Musharraf had not yet responded to the specific requests but had delivered a message of general support that he found encouraging.
"I'm quite encouraged that the Pakistani government is taking this so seriously and so deliberately," he said.
The United States has lined up support from its traditional friends and allies as well as rivals such as Russia and China but the extent of their backing for military retaliation for this week's attacks are unclear.
Arab nations are particularly wary of appearing to endorse strikes against fellow Muslims but most have expressed general support for Washington's anti-terrorism campaign.
In addition to the seven Arab leaders, Powell also spoke Friday with his Indian, Japanese and South Korean counterparts as well as UN chief Kofi Annan -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
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