TWO weeks on from the atrocities in New York and Washington, the United States still enjoys a remarkable level of support in its campaign against terrorism.

That such unity continues to exist among the diverse nations of the world is testimony to the measured diplomatic response undertaken by President Bush and his close advisors.

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which is offering Osama bin Laden shelter from justice, is accused in eyes of the world of harbouring terrorists and sponsoring terrorism.

Pakistan remains the only state to retain any diplomatic links with the Taliban. And so strong is global opinion, that Pakistan seems prepared to offer support for military action.

That action now appears inevitable. Diplomatic moves to get the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden are exhausted.

In recalling Parliament for a second time and in saying that the Taliban would be our enemy unless it acceded to the ultimatum to hand over Osama bin Laden, Tony Blair gave a clear indication that a military strike was imminent.

The delicate task facing President Bush is to concoct an armed response to the attacks on September 11 while holding together the coalition he has mustered.

Yesterday, the President made it clear his dispute was not with the Afghan people or the Muslim faith, but with the rulers of the repressive Taliban regime.

What has become abundantly clear over the past two weeks is that both Osama bin Laden and the Taliban speak only for themselves.

If military action to hunt down Osama bin Laden coincides with the overthrow of the Taliban, then the world will shed no tears, and the coalition will remain intact.

If, however, military action is less precise and incurs serious loss of life among innocent Afghan people, then the coalition will come under severe strain.

Action needs to be confined to bringing terrorists and those who harbour them to justice.

At all times, President Bush needs to balance the understandable demands from his own people for retribution while working within the limits of the mandate given to him by the rest of the world.