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CNN Live At Daybreak

Operation Anaconda Shows That War Far From Over

Aired March 07, 2002 - 06:02   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk more about Operation Anaconda now. U.S.-led forces are again pounding al Qaeda and Taliban targets in the eastern Afghan mountains today.

CNN's Brian Palmer joins us live by phone from Bagram Air Base with an update on the operation.

Brian, what can you tell us this morning?

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Carol. Well Operation Anaconda was supposed to take between 24 and 72 hours. According to the U.S. military we are well into day seven now, and the operation is beginning to sort of take on some of its own routines. One element of that routine is a daily press briefing that started now by the U.S. Army given by Major Bryan Hilferty of the 10th Mountain Division, and he gave us an update on Operation Anaconda.

He said the U.S. forces are continuing to press the attack, that there have been multiple kills among al Qaeda and Taliban, but no serious injuries and no deaths among the U.S. or coalition forces. He says that about 100 al Qaeda and Taliban forces have been killed, but he also hastens to add that the U.S. is not into the body count business.

When asked how the U.S. determines who these non-Afghan al Qaeda forces are, he told us this morning that essentially they rely on their Afghan allies to tell them who is who. So their Afghan allies presumably are able to recognize the distinctive features of Chechens and non-Afghan people.

So that was one of the things that he did mention. He also said that the U.S. Army is revised upward their number, their estimate of the al Qaeda forces that they are aligned against. Now this is the forces that they've been fighting since the very beginning, accounts the number of killed. He says that the number is now in the four- digits -- when we asked off camera what that meant, he said well about 1,000.

That number started at about 200, then they said well maybe 400, and after that it went to six to 700. So, this is the new number that they've given us. Also, in another bit of news, he says that when asked whether or not any of these forces have been captured, he said -- quote -- "we have some detainees". So apparently U.S. and coalition forces and their Afghan allies have taken some captives from the opposing forces. He could give us no details on where they are or who they are, but he assured us that they are -- that they are somewhere in custody -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Brian Palmer reporting live for us this morning, telling us 100 Taliban killed, we think. No U.S. injuries reported this morning and that is good news. Thank you Brian.

Operation Anaconda has reminded Americans the war in Afghanistan is far from over. As CNN's Brian Cabell reports, the war's continuation is really brought home by American casualties.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They were seven men who fought and died in one of the fiercest battles of the war, ironically at a time when many thought the fighting was coming to an end. Thirty-two year old Navy Seal Neil Roberts from Woodland, California suffered perhaps the cruelest fate. He fell from a helicopter, then was captured and apparently executed by al Qaeda fighters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every child in America would want to -- would want to be a man like this.

CABELL: Thirty-one year old Army Sgt. Philip Svitak dreamed of joining the military since he was a child. He joined the Civil Air Patrol in high school. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, 26, was a medic on searches and rescues. He, too, leaves behind a wife and two children.

Tech Sgt. John Chapman was a career man. He served 17 years in the Air Force. He was awarded six medals.

Three of the servicemen came from one post Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, Georgia. All were Rangers, the Army's elite.

Sgt. Bradley Crose was only 22 years old, an avid reader, say his friends. Flags are flying at half-staff in his hometown of Orange Park, Florida.

RICK CROSE, BRADLEY CROSE'S FATHER: Brian was a very fine Christian young man. You know, he lived his life to a very high biblical standard. He was also a warrior.

CABELL: One of Crose's best friends was Specialist Marc Anderson, 30 years old. He was a teacher and a coach at one time, but then switched careers and joined the Army.

STEVE ANDERSON, BROTHER OF SPEC. MARC ANDERSON: And tried to think, you know, what I have done that's been so bad that would make somebody want to do this to my little brother?

CABELL: The youngest of the seven, 21-year old Private First Class Matthew Commons, a high school honor student and a soccer player. He started college, but then dropped out to pursue his dream in the U.S. Army.

Seven men, seven servicemen, who lost their lives in battle at a time when many Americans were ready to forget a war that was still raging thousands of miles from home.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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