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American Morning

U.S., Coalition Troops Begin To Leave Shah-e-Kot Valley

Aired March 12, 2002 - 09:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: "Up Front" this morning, though, Operation Anaconda. There is one report from Reuters, posted just minutes ago, that Afghan troops have now captured all of the area where they have been battling pockets of al Qaeda fighters in the snowy mountains of eastern Afghanistan.

CNN's Martin Savidge was the first reporter to be taken to the front lines during this deadly battle and has this report on this latest phase of the vicious fighting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As they have almost daily since the battle of Shah-e-Kot began, giant Chinook helicopters barreled through the Afghan sky, bound for the front. Twisting and swerving through mountain passes at over 100 miles an hour, often 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 have the helicopter all to ourselves. But, enjoy it while you can, because when we come back, it will 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)

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 continued to strike from the air. The mission moved the war in Afghanistan from out of the shadows of special forces and into the open battlefield of conventional warfare, providing traditional soldiers, and the American public, something they had rarely seen in the Afghan campaign: Action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we touched down, I got off the bird, I was, like, reality. I could get out here and get shot and die. It was -- it was just different. It's not what I expected at all.

SAVIDGE (on camera): Yes. Do you think it changed either one of you being out here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. It gave me a better outlook on what actually what combat really is. I mean, you get this one image of combat in your head, and then once you get out here, it's almost totally different.

SAVIDGE: Most of the soldiers came to this valley with little or no combat experience. Now they leave as veterans, with a sense of accomplishment.

(voice-over): Morale was high as the helicopters carrying them back from the front touched down. Soldiers greeted one another and shared the relief of returning from the fight unscathed. The "victory in the valley," they called it. Noting the date, exactly six months to the day since the war on terrorism began.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): Operation anaconda is still ongoing, but it's clearly winding down now that it's reached Day 11. Afghan military forces have their campfires lit along many of the ridge fires. An indication they hold the high ground. It's also an indication that many of the coalition forces have begun to return. You see them in the back ground here. Some rest, but won't be for long. Paula?

ZAHN: Martin, what do you make of these reports that the Afghan soldiers have been successful and there's a major retreat on the part of al Qaeda soldiers?

SAVIDGE: Well, there's no question the Afghan forces have been successful, but, of course, it was the coalition forces, specifically, U.S. forces, that paved the way for the Afghans to go in at the very end there. And it always has been a joint operation.

Now, as far as those al Qaeda forces trying to escape to Pakistan. The border there is extremely close. This has always been a scenario that's been taken into account. I can't go into specific detail, but you can bet that there are welcoming parties staged along the way for anyone who might be trying to retreat into Pakistan.

On top of that, the Pakistani military had also put its forces along the border on alert. So, if they think they may be escaping, they could be wrong. Could be dead wrong. Paula.

ZAHN: Martin, the video that we just saw was an -- extraordinary. At the point where the Apache helicopters were launching their volley of fire. How far away were you?

SAVIDGE: Usually they're roaring right over your ahead. Anytime that the Apaches, and they often coming in in advance of troop landings, they sort of clear the areas. So, they're only about, maybe, 20 feet above your head. And then when they decide to launch the Hellfire missiles, which is one thing you can definitely hear. It's a very shocking noise. Almost like ripping fabric as it flies off the rails and then slams into whatever target they're aiming it.

Everything up on the front there is done in extremely close quarters, and you get a bird's-eye view. Maybe too much of one, Paula.

ZAHN: I know, Martin, that you were frustrated many, many weeks ago with kind of the access you were getting to the troops. Are you satisfied now?

SAVIDGE: Well, isn't that the old case of be careful what you wish for? Going from saying that we weren't seeing anything, to suddenly being thrust in the middle of fire fights, right there with the troops. Yes, we were extremely satisfied with being embedded. And the military itself, in talking to them, they say they have been very pleased, because the mission was described accurately, and the soldiers were portrayed and allowed to be seen by their families. We hope that this is a continuing relationship, especially in this war that means so much to the people at home. Paula.

ZAHN: Absolutely. Martin Savidge. Thanks. Giving us a whole new insight into the activity over there.

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