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CNN Live At Daybreak
Top Pentagon Official Visits Turkey Today
Aired July 16, 2002 - 06:33 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The No. 2 man at the Pentagon is in Turkey today, drumming up some support for a military attack against neighboring Iraq. Paul Wolfowitz is fresh from a visit to Afghanistan, and our Nic Robertson is in Afghan city Mazar-e-Sharif with details on the Wolfowitz visit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 8:00 a.m. in Bagram Air Base, handshakes and awards set the tone, the deputy defense secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, spends time with troops, a day in Afghanistan in part to boost coalition morale.
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: Come on, you can do better than that.
ROBERTSON: In part, to deliver a progress report in the battle against al Qaeda...
WOLFWOWITZ: What's been accomplished in Afghanistan is not only to deprive them of their sanctuary here, it's not only to have taken out maybe half of the top al Qaeda leaders.
ROBERTSON: ... in part also to listen...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are we currently planning any operations in Iraq?
ROBERTSON: ... and answer.
WOLFOWITZ: We have a problem, and we are not going to wait forever to solve it.
ROBERTSON: By noon this busy day, and in Kabul for lunch with Afghan leaders offering support.
WOLFOWITZ: Our discussions centered most of all, I believe it's fair to say, on the importance of training and developing the Afghan National Army.
ROBERTSON: By mid-afternoon, speeding north by plane to Mazar-e- Sharif to calm recently fractious regional leaders...
WOLFOWITZ: It is very important to try to control the level of violence in northern Afghanistan, because it's beginning to cause serious problems.
ROBERTSON: ... and finally, just before dusk at a Jordanian field hospital...
WOLFOWITZ: This is for you for good luck.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: Thank you.
WOLFOWITZ: Oh, my!
ROBERTSON: ... boosting Afghan and coalition cooperation, taking time with a sick Afghan child.
(on camera): While the immediate benefits of Wolfowitz' visit are unclear, Afghan officials report they are happy with the United States contribution towards the Afghan National Army, and say they look forward to its speedy formation, helping reduce the power of regional warlords. For his part, Wolfowitz leaves with a clearer view of Afghanistan's intricate political landscape.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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