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CNN Live Saturday

Several Security Breaches Take Place at Kandahar Airport

Aired January 26, 2002 - 22:01   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: Let's go first now to Afghanistan tonight for an update on the developments in the military campaign, including a series of security breaches today at the U.S. Army base located there in Kandahar. That's where CNN's Martin Savidge is. He's joining us with the very latest -- Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Catherine. You're right. There was a little bit of excitement here at the Kandahar Airport last night, especially out around the perimeter. It began shortly after sunset, around 6:00 p.m. when patrols from the 101st Airborne out by the runway spotted an individual apparently trying to get on the base, climbing under the perimeter wire. He was quickly apprehended and taken away for questioning.

Then about four hours later, or actually an hour later, using thermal imaging, the soldier spotted four other individuals that were moving around, about a mile outside of the perimeter. Patrols were quickly sent out. And they, too, were apprehended and brought in for questioning.

While that was going on, 81-millimeter mortars were pumping illumination flares into the air, lighting up that perimeter. Soldiers could be seen moving about with flack (ph) jackets and weapons at the ready. The entire base went to full alert. Helicopters went up in the air, sweeping over the perimeter. And transport aircraft awaiting to take off were told to hold on the ground. No one flying when there was a potential threat out there.

After the dust all settled, it turned out the man coming under the wire was high on drugs. He is still being held. The four other individuals, it turns out, were children that were looking for firewood. And they were quickly released.

So it shows you that security is an issue, a big one still, here at the Kandahar Airport. It's an issue for the entire nation of Afghanistan. And to that end, more security forces continue to arrive in Kabul. The latest arrivals were Spanish soldiers. They came into that city with all of their equipment. And they are now part of a growing force of international security people that are there on the scene.

As they came in though, you mentioned Hamid Karzai, the interim leader of the Afghanistan government. He was on his way out of Kabul. He is heading now to Washington, D.C. He'll meet with President Bush. He'll also meet with members of Congress. It's expected that Mr. Karzai will actually be in the audience when President Bush delivers his state of the union address on Tuesday. He will then move on to New York, to meet with representatives of the United Nations.

The big issue still for him to talk with the U.N. about is how in the world is Afghanistan going to rebuild itself after the horrible scourge of nearly two decades of war? One of those talking about that was Andrew Natsois. He is with the USAid Administration. Here's what he thinks the future could hold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW NATSOIS, USAID ADMINISTRATOR: If we move rapidly in this reconstruction program, which we're prepared to do and get people back to work, then I think the attraction to militias and weapons and all will disappear fairly quickly. The economy is what it's all about. And the economy means the agricultural system and the markets, getting public services back up and people with money in their pocket.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: In order to have a strong economy, first you have to have security. And you have to get rid of the Taliban and al Qaeda network. That process is still ongoing. Catherine?

CALLAWAY: Marty, I know you've spoken with many members of the troops there. Certainly no indication at all that they have relaxed at all, that this is certainly not while it might be a calmer situation, less volatile than it has been in the past there?

SAVIDGE: Well, the situation has improved the number of probes, that is people apparently trying to figure out the defenses here. The airport has reportedly gone down somewhat. We've also had a transition of troops. The Marines now pretty much are done at the Kandahar Airport. The 101st moving in.

The soldiers of the 101st though are anxious for a fight. They would like to push their defenses far out from the airport. They would like to take on the Taliban and al Qaeda themselves. They're very anxious to do that, Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, Marty. Martin Savidge joining us from Kandahar. Thank you, Martin.

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