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CNN Live Saturday

U.S. Authorities Refuse to Comment on Downed Spy Plane

Aired September 22, 2001 - 17:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington the Pentagon is refusing to comment on a claim by Taliban officials that they've shot down an unmanned spy plane over Afghanistan. It's not clear whether the plane was U.S. or Russian. Officials with the Taliban say the aircraft contained computerized equipment and the wreckage was being taken to Kandahar where the Taliban is based.

Check in now with CNN's military affairs correspondent Jamie McIntyre. Jamie, what are they saying at the Pentagon about this spy plane?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're saying nothing, Wolf, officially. But Pentagon -- but U.S. officials are telling -- are indicating to CNN that this UAV that was shot down may, in fact, been operated by the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA, not a U.S. military drone but perhaps a CIA drone. Again, the CIA, just like the Pentagon, absolutely refusing to comment on those indications saying that they will not respond to any of the Taliban claims.

But there is some indication according to sources that I've talked to that this may have been operated by the CIA.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has called up another 5,000 reservists bring to more than 10,000 the number that have been activated since the president's authorization of activation of the reserves. And Defense Secretary Rumsfeld again on the phone with President Bush today talking about military options. He is about to leave the Pentagon for his workday. They say he still has not signed a second deployment order and they still haven't picked a name for the operation. Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thank you very much.

And with the Taliban refusing to turn Osama bin Laden, what's ahead for the United States and its allies. Joining us now with his thoughts on some of the options standing before the president is Jim Steinberg. He's with the Brookings Institute. He's a former deputy national security adviser to former President Bill Clinton.

Thanks for joining us, Mr. Steinberg.

The whole nature of getting the attention of the Taliban leadership, has the president -- President Bush succeeded in getting their attention? Do they understand what's potentially going to happen?

JAMES STEINBERG, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I think they understand very well what's going to happen. They've seen the military deployments, they've heard the president's very categorical ultimatum. I think they know what's coming but I think they've made a decision that they've suffered a lot before, they've been in difficult military situations before, and that right now they're just going to tough it out.

BLITZER: Is the ratcheting up of the pressure -- is that the kind of strategy that will work with the Taliban, presumably Osama bin Laden, or is it -- it'd have to require just a full thrust of attack and then see what happens?

STEINBERG: I think there's always a remote chance it will work and that's why you have to put the pressure on. But you also have to tell the rest of the international community that you've given them the last clear chance to deliver this guy to avoid what's going to be coming. I think the administration is ready for it in some respect. I think given the problem before that they're doubtful even if they got kind of half-way answer from the Taliban that it would be helpful. They see this as a problem that needs to be dealt with and dealt with decisively.

BLITZER: We have a question from a viewer who e-mails us with this. "In pariah states the leadership does not answer to the population. Why is the population then considered as legitimate targets?"

STEINBERG: I don't think that the administration will treat the population as a legitimate target. I think they're going to try to be focused on the best strategic targets they can find. Of course, the problem is there aren't many strategic targets in Afghanistan. They don't have large massed military forces. They don't have significant communications facilities that we can target. But I'm sure the administration is think very hard about how not to have civilian casualties, how not to turn the public opinion against us.

BLITZER: All right. James Steinberg, former deputy national security adviser President Clinton, now at the Brookings Institution. Thanks for joining us.

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