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CNN Live Today

Operation Anaconda Drawing to Close

Aired March 18, 2002 - 12:27   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: The War on Terror may be far from over, but its largest battle yet is drawing to a close.

Martin Savidge has been covering Operation Anaconda from the Air Base in Bagram. He filed this report a short time ago, with some rather dramatic images from the front lines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is day 17, and Operation Anaconda his now headed for the history books. Just a few hours, the largest operation militarily of the Afghan war campaign will officially come to an end.

But in waning hours, we captured some remarkable footage we want to show to you. This is actually the view from inside the cockpit of a Cobra attack helicopter, courtesy of U.S. Marines, a camera that we were able to put inside, the view looking from the pilot's position, over the shoulder of the navigator and the gunner as they move and bank through the very difficult terrain up there in the lower Shah-e- Kot Valley. You will actually see them launch missiles, missiles that are fired against the remaining positions of al Qaeda and Taliban forces.

The soldiers here on ground call this very high-speed video. You don't see it often, it is rare, and it is very real.

Talking about Operation Anaconda, they were certainly doing that today, remembering soldiers that served with both valor and heroics in early days, especially when the fighting was very heavy, when we were out there watching them. There were a total of five bronze stars that were handed out, and they were handed out by the top man himself, that being Gen. Tommy Franks, the overall commander of war here in Afghanistan. He was very satisfied, saying he was very pleased with Operation Anaconda, and said that he could not put into words the pride he felt for the soldiers that fought as part of that operation.

Martin Savidge, CNN, Bagram, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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