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American Morning

Possible Military Action in Helmand Province

Aired December 31, 2001 - 09:05   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Bill Hemmer is in the southern city of Kandahar with the U.S. Marines. He joins us now, live -- Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Leon. Good evening once again from Kandahar. First things first now. Let's talk about the word we're getting about the potential and possibility for military action right now under way or in the coming days involving Special Forces working in concert with Afghan forces on the ground. The indications we're getting is that northwest of Kandahar in the Helmand province, that there is a strong possibility that activity could take place there.

Now, here at the base there is no official word. They will not confirm nor deny it. The Marines here say they do not want to put anyone's life in peril if, indeed, the word gets out if an operation were under way. Now, why is Helmand province considered to be a target right now?

Well, for several weeks now there have been reports that Mullah Mohammed Omar, the founder of the Taliban about 10 years ago here in southern Afghanistan, may be hiding out, may be taking refuge and may be surrounded by as many as 3,000 men guarding him at this time. Again, that's the word we're getting right now, but no confirmation on that story thus yet.

Also, in addition to this, several hours ago we watched a B-52 flying in the west here, circling overhead in that same direction, but as to whether or not it's connected to that military operation certainly is an unanswered question.

Now, back here on the ground. The detainee list keeps grows by the night. 25 more last night. The total, now, 164. We got a chance to shoot some pictures outside that facility today. As we've been reporting, the Marines are very tight on security for obvious reasons, and what we're hearing from sources on the ground, with regard to questioning, they say they still will not answer the ultimate question as to the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, but sources still stress to us that many of these men are still scared, afraid for their lives, and have been taken into area that they did not anticipate even one week, two weeks, three weeks ago.

We're also told in terms of translation, many times it can be difficult, and plodding and taking time, but we're told through sources that they are willing to be patient and take time, whether it's weeks or months to get the information they need.

Also, that detention facility is expanding by the day. We've seen more tents go up, more lights go up, and more guards surround that facility on a daily basis, and we do anticipate the number, again holding at 164, to increase possibly again tonight, and in the coming days as we enter the new year on January 1st tomorrow.

Let's talk about the cargo planes now. A few moments ago, I mentioned the first C-130 has landed here. Two nights ago, we picked up 34 different cargo flights here at the Kandahar airport. They bring supplies and they bring men and women and they bring the continued effort to try and beef up the base here. Again, the first one is down here. We anticipate possibly dozens more throughout the evening here.

One interesting thing about the people who land here. Many times come in the middle of the dark. It is pitch-black. There is no electricity, and we know the Army is going to be taking over here in a few weeks' time. We caught a sign for the 101st Division trying to give some direction and some guidance for the Army folks who come in here. A meager sign another indication of just how raw things can be.

One final note, that Superstallion that CH-53, the helicopter that had a hard landing late Saturday. The Marines tell us the engineers throughout the day have been working on that. They hope to get that operable later tonight and get it back here flying to the base sometime over the night hours here. Leon, that's it from Kandahar. Much more at the half hour. We'll see you then, and again Happy New Year to you.

HARRIS: All right. Stay a minute, Bill, before we let you go, I want to give the folks who are just joining us this hour an idea of some of the things you mentioned to me earlier about the plans for the New Year's celebrations there. Kind of interesting plan that you guys -- that you've heard about there on the ground.

HEMMER: Yeah. Listen, they anticipate -- they anticipate what they call at "eight zulu," about 12:30 local time, about 30 minutes after midnight local time here, they are going to have somewhat of a pyrotechnics show. The word we're getting, again, details a little secret still, Leon. They find all kind of munitions from the Taliban era, the al Qaeda era, the Soviet era. All kinds of land mines, and every day on about a two-hour basis they blow-up, basically, all these munitions at the south end of runway.

They say they're going to blow-up a few more come the stroke of midnight, or 12:30 or thereabouts, and they might also throw some flares into the operation as well. We'll talk more about that at the bottom of the hour. Let you know what's planned here for the men and women 7,000 miles from home in southern Afghanistan -- Leon.

HARRIS: Good deal. Whatever you get then, is going to be like the little firecrackers we get all wrapped up, and times ten, believe me Thanks Bill Hemmer, reporting live from Kandahar.

HEMMER: I think the M-80's in the neighborhood pool are not going to cut it here.

HARRIS: I don't think so either. They would (ph) laugh at those. We'll check back with you in a few minutes then.

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