WASHINGTON: As President Bush weighs further military action in the global war on terror, one blunt statement seems to sum up his approach: “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”

Since Bush set out that stark choice, Washington has moved aggressively to sort out friend and foe. So far, officials say, three camps have emerged: nations fully committed to tracking down and eliminating terrorist cells, recent “converts” still suspect for their past tolerance for terrorists, and stubborn state supporters of terrorism.

From this spectrum, one can begin to discern the likely roles for the US military beyond Afghanistan, where the first phase of the war is approaching a denouement.

Already, the United States is extending hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military aid - including weapons, training, and military advisers - to countries that have emerged as partners in the counterterrorism fight. Recipients include the Philippines, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Columbia and Yemen are also candidates, defence officials say.

In a related effort, the Pentagon is also seeking to expand or reestablish military-to-military ties with countries such as Pakistan and Indonesia, viewed as crucial allies in combating terrorism.

Next, the Bush administration is gauging the need for US forces to intervene against terrorists in countries such as Sudan and Yemen, whose willingness or ability to root out the networks is still in question.

Since Sept 11, four of the seven states listed by the State Department as terrorism sponsors - Sudan, Syria, Libya, and Iran - have taken steps to help the US-led counterterror dragnet, such as making arrests, sharing intelligence, and offering military support.

Finally, Washington is pointedly keeping open the option of military action against hostile regimes that continue to harbour terrorists and/or weapons of mass destruction (WMD), such as Somalia and Iraq, defence officials say. North Korea is also under close scrutiny as a potential exporter of WMD to terrorists, they add.

In the short term, one possibility is for US forces to launch quick, targeted strikes against Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups that the Pentagon says are hiding in Somalia. Some defence officials consider Somalia much like Afghanistan - a weak, lawless nation infested with terrorists.

In the longer run, the Pentagon has not ruled out a full- scale US campaign to unseat the government of Iraq. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s backing of terrorism - coupled with his WMD and hatred for America - makes Iraq a prime candidate for US military action, suggest defence officials and prominent Pentagon advisers.

Still, officials stress that Bush has made no decisions on Iraq, and leading State Department officials advocate a cautious, go-slow approach focused on sanctions. At the same time, however, the rhetoric both in and outside the Pentagon suggests it is more a question of how and when - than whether - the US should move to overthrow the Baghdad regime.

Washington is beefing up military counterterrorism assistance for several far-flung countries. More than $140 million has already been pledged to the Philippines, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. Secretary of State Colin Powell will allocate millions more once Congress passes the 2002 foreign operations bill, according to State Department officials. Following are examples of the military-aid packages being put together for countries:

Uzbekistan was recently granted $25 million for counterterrorism in the form of foreign military financing (FMF) - for weapons and other military purchases.

Turkey, another US ally in Afghanistan, was allocated $20 million in military financing for counterterrorism under th the emergency bill, according to the State Department. Turkey would be a vital ally in any US campaign against Iraq, Pentagon officials say.

The Philippines last month won a grant of $92.3 million Columbia is seeking more than $700 million for military assistance. Yemen is discussing a $400 million aid package from the US —Dawn/LATS Service (c) Christian Science Monitor.