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CNN Live At Daybreak
Reinforcements To Aid in Operation Anaconda
Aired March 06, 2002 - 05:00 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: U.S., coalition, and Afghan forces keep up their assault on pockets of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in the two mile high mountains of eastern Afghanistan. And Pentagon officials say reinforcements are on the way. U.S. officials say several hundred pro-Taliban fighters remain in the region and it could take at least another week to rout them out.
The remains of seven U.S. servicemen killed in the fighting arrived back in the United States early this morning. These pictures were taken earlier when the seven men were brought to Ramstein Air Base in Germany on their way back home. They died in separate incidents when their helicopters came under enemy fire.
And a report in today's "New York Times" suggests al Qaeda members may be using the Internet to regroup. U.S. officials say intercepted e-mails and new Web sites show the terror group is trying to reestablish communications outside Afghanistan. A senior law enforcement official tells the "Times" at least some cyberspace activity can be traced to a remote and sometimes lawless region of Pakistan.
One U.S. official is calling the eastern Afghan mountains "an awful place to fight a war." Besides nests of al Qaeda and Taliban forces fighting to death, U.S.-led troops must deal with subfreezing temperatures and thin air that makes breathing more difficult.
CNN's Martin Savidge is the only reporter traveling with U.S. troops involved in Operation Anaconda. Marty's crew sent back these pictures just a short while ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three hundred, hey?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found a cave. It's got, it looks like bricks or rocks covering the front portion of it, half of the front portion. Break. The rest of it is open. Break.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go, man. Hurry up. Hurry up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Make sure you get (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where are you at?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) about 100 meters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come over here. Come over here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey, does this (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And where is that? And then eight, nine or eight, you know? So, yes. There just southwest of Dyann (ph) so beware.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from New York, you know. I have friends that were lost in the World Trade Center.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man, I bet that whole ridge is under assault. Look now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire! Fire!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It felt real good to get back for all those lives lost and, you know, let the 101st do its job, the way we were trained to do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's probably about 400, 5,500 meters. To your left you'll see another vehicle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 187's going to air assault in. They're going to move south.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's even further.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Once again, those were exclusive pictures from our Martin Savidge as he accompanied an actual combat mission in Operation Anaconda. Incredibly access, as you could see. Marty's continuing to send in those pictures to us. We'll have more for you later in the hour.
Of the seven U.S. servicemen killed in Operation Anaconda, the youngest was 21 years old, the oldest was 36. They came from such places as Brandon, Florida, Boulder City, Nevada and Joplin, Missouri. A multi-service honor guard met the seven caskets at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. They were then sent to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where they arrived early this morning. At Dover, the remains will be prepared for their return to the families. The seven men died Monday in two separate incidents involving MH-47 Chinook helicopters.
The dead have been identified as Sergeant Bradley Crose, Sergeant Philip Svitak, Specialist Marc A. Anderson and Private First Class Matthew Commons. All of these men from the army. Also, Navy Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts. And from the air force, Tech Sergeant John Chapman and Senior Airman Jason Cunningham.
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