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CNN Live Today

In Afghanistan, Contests For Hearts, Eyes and Minds of People

Aired July 17, 2002 - 10:14   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan, U.S. and allied troops appear to have won the battle, but the war goes on. It's a contest not only for territory, but something a little less tangible, the hearts, eyes and minds of the people who ultimately decide the victor.

CNN's Nic Robertson has the latest now from Kabul, Afghanistan -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, really the latest here in the offensive against Al Qaeda and Taliban, that a brigadier general -- Brigadier General Presby Lowskey (ph) from Langley Air Force Base has gone from Bagram air base here down to Kandahar to head an investigation into the deaths and injuries of Afghan civilians in an operation in Orazgan (ph) province in south of Afghanistan about two weeks ago. He will, we understand, be interviewing U.S. troops who took part in that operation. But operations here do continue.

In that very same area in the last few days, U.S. forces have found a of a small cache of weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. But as these missions go out here, coalition commanders are ever mindful of the need to keep Afghans very much in favor with their operations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a dusty lane, Afghans hoping to receive first aid crowd around army medics. Most maladies prove minor and easy to treat. The reason for the roadside clinic, though, to calm villages, following what coalition forces call sensitive sight exploitation missions, searching for terrorists.

CAPT. DAVID YOUNG, U.S. ARMY: It is a way it integrate civil affairs and the regular missions at the same time, because it is allows us to take care of the village and all the population, because they are sometimes kind of scared when all these Army guys are coming in.

ROBERTSON: A new initiative that appears to be winning some favor.

"When the Russians came, they were bad us to," says Abdullah, but we can tell these soldiers are good."

Nearby, a fight breaks out over who should control the lines waiting for treatment. Troops wearily try to keep people apart, as overhead, helicopters back up psychological operation teams, warning villagers to be patient.

For some villages, however, the four-day sold search for Al Qaeda members is raising questions.

"They have taken one of our students," say Ahkmed Shaw (ph). "He wasn't Al Qaeda or Taliban. There's been 20 years of war and personal grudges," says Abdullah John. "That's why someone has said there was Al Qaeda here."

On the edge of the village, security watch, troops spot tanks moving.

The distant tanks, likely owned by a local warlord, but still a potential problem. Commanders call for fighter jets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will put the F-18s over top of them. We'll let them know that we saw them and that it would be a bad idea to do anything. That's it.

ROBERTSON: Within minutes, an Apache helicopter circles the tank in warning. Nothing happens. The incident, however, a reminder for troops how critical local support is for their mission, much of which remains secret to us. These days, with large numbers of Al Qaeda and Taliban seemingly gone or hidden, sensitive sight exploitation missions are more likely to turn up weapons and ammunition than men and documents.

So far in the search here, one compound sealed off, and two men detained, now released. And as long as it goes on, the delicate balance between intrusion and local goodwill will have to be struck.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: And coalition commanders say as long as they believe Al Qaeda and Taliban are still out there in Afghanistan, those operations will continue -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thank you very much.

Nic Robertson, reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan.

You be safe and be well over there, Nic.

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