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CNN Live Today

Some U.S. Troops Being Pulled Back to Bagram

Aired March 12, 2002 - 14:56   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: In Operation Anaconda, the U.S. military estimating fewer than 200 enemy fighters remain in that part of the country. So now many of the U.S. troops there are being pulled out, and back to Bagram. Martin Savidge now, and the homecoming at the airbase north of Kabul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As they have almost daily since the battle of Shah-e-Kot began, giant Chinook helicopters barrel through the Afghan sky, bound for the front, twisting and swerving through mountain passes at over 100 miles an hour, only 30 feet off the ground.

Flying so fast and so low gives the enemy only a few seconds to target a chopper before it's gone. But this time, the hair-raising journey is different.

(on camera): Unlike the last time we went into the battle zone, we pretty much had the helicopter all to ourselves. But, enjoy it while you can, because when we come back it's going to be packed like a Tokyo subway at rush hour.

(voice-over): Just because the chopper is empty doesn't mean the flight is any less hazardous.

(GUNFIRE)

SAVIDGE: After nine days of battling Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in the high elevations of eastern Afghanistan, U.S. and coalition soldiers began pulling out and heading back to base, leaving what they believe to be only small pockets of enemy fighters alive.

Dealing with the resistance that remains in the lower Shah-e-Kot valley will more and more now fall on Afghanistan's own military forces, who have been massing for days just to the north. But even as the coalition soldiers began leaving, U.S. bombers and Apache attack helicopters continue to strike from the air.

(EXPLOSION)

SAVIDGE: The mission moved the war in Afghanistan from out of the shadows of special forces...

(VIDEO GAP)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Well, our apologies there. Martin Savidge reporting there in eastern Afghanistan. Clearly we had a technical problem there. We regret that. We hope to bring you the rest of that story later today, here on CNN.

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