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CNN Live Today

In Afghanistan, U.S. Troops Reporting Mixed Success From Biggest Operation in Five Months

Aired August 26, 2002 - 12:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan, U.S. troops are reporting mixed success from their biggest operation in five months.
CNN's Barbara Starr brings us more from the Pentagon.

Hello, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra.

Well, yes, U.S. and coalition troops, 2,000 of them altogether have now wrapped up a 6-day mission described as possibly the largest mission in Afghanistan since last winter. This is called Operation Mountain Sweep and they moved through eastern Afghanistan looking for Taliban and Al Qaeda, because they had received a number of intelligence reports that Al Qaeda might be moving back into some of these villages. The 2,000 U.S. and coalition troops conducted a number helicopter assaults, and road marches convoys into about seven villages looking for Taliban and Al Qaeda.

One of their key targets was a known Al Qaeda financier, but before they could get to him, this man apparently had advanced warning that the U.S. was on its way, and he reportedly now has fled across the border into Pakistan.

But one of the most unsettling things that happened during this whole operation is U.S. troops moving through one village came across seven women who were reportedly -- who were, in fact, hiding rocket- propelled grenades under their burkahs, those the flowing blue robes that we see most of the women in Afghanistan still wearing. A source we spoke to earlier today said that the U.S. soldiers would not have known that these women were hiding weapons under their burkahs, except for the fact that local villagers pointed it out to them.

They also found a number of large weapons caches throughout the area and captured 10 suspects who they are now question to go see about their ties to the Taliban and Al Qaeda -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, back here at home, the Reservists that may have to stay on active duty. What do you think, Barbara? Is it another sign that possibly we are stepping up for a war?

STARR: Well, what has happened, since September 11th, 75,000 Reservists and National Guard were called to active duty. They were called under a program tat would allow them to stay on active duty for two years. Most of the time the people called to active duty are released and they go home within 12 months, but now, Congress was notified about 14,000 Air Force Reservists and National Guard troops will stay on duty for that second year. And what's going on here, these are high-tech specialists in communications security and supporting the combat air patrols over the United States. There simply are not enough people to do that mission, so about 14,000 of them are expected to spend another 12 months on active duty -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: That is a long order there. Barbara Starr, thank you.

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