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CNN Live Saturday

U.S. Marines Safeguard Kandahar's Airport

Aired December 15, 2001 - 18:11   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: If al Qaeda fighters do surrender, some may be held at a detention facility that U.S. Marines are preparing at the Kandahar airport. As ITN's Mark Austin reports, the Marines took the airport without firing a single shot.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK AUSTIN, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In southern Afghanistan, American forces are on the move. This is the biggest tactical deployment since U.S. troops landed in Afghanistan. The purpose: To secure the main airport at Kandahar, an airport which just days ago was at least partly in the hands of al Qaeda fighters.

It will provide a more substantial base for the Marines, both to bring in humanitarian aid and more particularly to launch more thorough search operations against al Qaeda leaders. These troops say they know who they're after.

Before the deployment, platoon leaders made it clear there are plenty of other dangers. And even though much of the fighting may have come to an end, these troops know pockets of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters still lurk, the threat of sniper or suicide attack ever present, and many of these Marines are going into a hostile environment for the first time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fear has its place. Your antenna is up. All your senses are alive (ph). Fear used properly is -- can help us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: X-ray three, X-ray six, black six ...

AUSTIN: The separation is being carried out, say the Americans, with the blessing of Afghanistan's new interim government. Even though the airport has been badly hit by U.S. bombing, it's believed that 4,000 feet of runway is serviceable for military transport planes.

(on camera): I'm moving closer to what was the spiritual home of the Taliban. The Americans, at some risk to themselves, are strengthening their hold on this part of southern Afghanistan. But securing the airport is crucial if much needed humanitarian supplies are finally to get in here.

Mark Austin, ITN, with the American marines in southern Afghanistan. (END VIDEOTAPE)

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