Powell says strike against al-Qaida would be first step

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday a prospective military strike in Afghanistan against the al-Qaida terrorism network would be only the first step in the U.S. campaign against terrorism.

"This is the first phase of this operation," Powell said after receiving unqualified support from Qatar, a Persian Gulf emirate. "I obviously cannot comment on what might happen in the future."

As Powell left open the possibility of taking the U.S. fight beyond Afghanistan, he offered assurances that "we are not looking for conflict with other nations."

On the diplomatic front, meanwhile, Richard Haass, director of policy planning for the State Department, made plans to meet in Rome with Afghanistan's exiled former king, Zahir Shah.

It was the highest-level U.S. contact with the 86-year-old deposed king. "We support the idea of a broad-based government in Afghanistan," department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "We are certainly interested in his ideas."

Powell, addressing Arab worries and even demands that the Bush administration promise not to strike Arab countries, said this is not the beginning of a conflict with them.

Powell said that while focusing at the outset on Osama bin Laden's network in Afghanistan, the U.S. campaign "also takes note of those nations that provide haven, provide succor, provide support to terrorist organizations."

In the three weeks since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, Powell has condemned Iraq frequently as a supporter of terrorism. Some senior officials in the Bush administration are known to support a strike against Baghdad as well as Afghanistan.

There also are Arab governments disturbed by the possibility that the United States might go that far in pursuing the al-Qaida network.

Powell's remarks did not appear to rule out an attack on Iraq.

While bin Laden has his headquarters in Afghanistan, Powell said, "He has elements of his network around the world."

"We are using all the tools available to us -- financial tools, law enforcement, intelligence and the prospect of military operations as well -- to go after this network."

Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Qatari emir, pledged his country's unqualified backing to the U.S. effort.

"There is no doubt that the unique relationship between Qatar and the United States dictates that we have to stand by the United States, especially in the efforts to combat terror," the emir said in Arabic.

Powell sought again to dismiss reports that Saudi Arabia is balking at cooperating with the United States if an attack should be mounted.

"The requests that we have put to the Saudis have been responded to," he said. "We are very satisfied with the support that the Arabian government has provided to us."

Powell had lunch with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Department spokesman Boucher said the meeting did not involve an effort by the administration to get Congressional approval for military action in Afghanistan.