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CNN Live Today

Decision Expected This Week on Whether or Not to Send U.S. Forces into Yemen

Aired March 12, 2002 - 12:55   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A U.S. military official telling CNN the decision expected this week on whether or not to send U.S. forces into the country of Yemen. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues attacks on pockets of Afghanistan, specifically Operation Anaconda. The Pentagon has briefed, and Barbara Starr was there to hear it all.

Barbara, good afternoon.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.

At the Pentagon, officials are still not ready to say that all of the fighting in eastern Afghanistan is over. Airstrikes are continuing. But sources say that there is perhaps as few as 200 of the estimated original 800 to 1,000 Al Qaeda fighters up in those hills and mountains in eastern Afghanistan.

The words of the Pentagon were that Operation Anaconda is winding down, and mopping up, especially in the mountainous region that is of particular interest to the military. This region -- you see it here -- is known as the "whale back" for how it appears to U.S. pilots from the air.

Here's what General Rosa, one of the briefers, the operations briefers, had to say earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. JOHN ROSA, U.S. AIR FORCE: The heaviest of fighting, we have seen in the early days. The last 72 hours, it's been more sporadic, focused on smaller pockets of Taliban and Al Qaeda. But in area this big and this diverse, with as many caves, I would say that there is still work to be done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

And plenty of work has been done. John Rosa estimated that over 2,500 weapons have been dropped in the 10 or 11 days of the fighting. Pentagon sources say it is now possible small numbers of Al Qaeda fighters have escaped this region into southern Afghanistan, or possibly even across the border east, into Pakistan.

But military officials are already turning their attention to other pockets of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Intelligence and reconnaissance is being gathered about several pockets, and officials say as soon as they know exactly what they are dealing with, there is the possibility of additional U.S. military action.

In related matters, as we have said, the Pentagon is getting ready to finalize orders that will send U.S. troops, a small number of U.S. troops to Yemen. These will be 40 to 80 troops in the initial deployment. They will go there to train and equip the Yemeni military, which is poorly equipped, to deal with hunting down terrorists in their own country.

But Pentagon sources are now indicated that train-and-equip mission could possibly grow into a mission of advise and assist, and that means that U.S. forces could become more deeply involved in Yemen, possibly helping the Yemenis plan missions, advising them on tactics to go after the Al Qaeda and Yemen.

Already, a team of 20 U.S. military officials are in Yemen, looking at some initial planning -- Bill.

HEMMER: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks.

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