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CNN Live Saturday

U.S. Forces Battle Weather, al Qaeda in Afghanistan

Aired March 09, 2002 - 12:38   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: As U.S. troops in Afghanistan battle al Qaeda and Taliban forces, they're also fighting the harsh winter weather. Photographer Jeff Dites (ph) with Nevada affiliate KRNV gives us a look now at how Marines are preparing to fight in any environment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Training Center we train Marines and sailors how to fight in a mountainous and cold weather environment in both summer and winter. What we're doing today is with a training battalion from Camp Pendleton, California that's up here learning to fight and train in the cold weather environment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you doing, buddy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fine, thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You go skiing here. As soon as you get up here, the two Marines that took off, you're going straight into the fire line, which is a black (UNINTELLIGIBLE) over there. Firing position, forward punch, as soon as you fire, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the next Marine and he goes. Are there any questions?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had the biathlon that we were running, and it teaches the Marines both mobility and then to be able to stop and quickly take a well-aimed shot while they're still (UNINTELLIGIBLE) heavy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As soon as you get it (UNINTELLIGIBLE), take it off (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The three different positions we saw were the standing position, the kneeling position and then laying down in a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) position.

JEFF DITES, KRNV PHOTOGRAPHER (voice-over): Each position has different advantages. The prone position is more stable, but the standing position will get you off a faster shot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) weapon.

DITES (on camera): How did they do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh they did very well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a four-man (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the Marine Corps or in a cold and mountainous environment.

DITES: Is it very comfortable?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would use those words, but they're not bad. I've slept in worse places. We put a white -- what they call fly, over to obviously blend in with the environment. And the same thing with the over whites. We've got escape hatches over here and back over here. You guys are (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you're getting shot at from the front, you obviously don't want to come out the front door. Or if your stove catches on fire and it starts leaking fuel or something, you can toss it out back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got to make a nice (UNINTELLIGIBLE), so watch your speed. Control your skis. We're going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) nice and hard to the left.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This training can be used in any type of environment and any -- anywhere that they may deploy in the world. What's great about the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Training Center is it teaches those Marines to be a tougher Marines and to survive on their own, so matter what environment they go into, they're well trained and ready to fight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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