Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Bombing Continues in Afghanistan

Aired November 02, 2001 - 06:01   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, right now let's check in with our Matthew Chance. He's near Bagram, Afghanistan where that air base is and that's been getting some heavy U.S. airstrikes. Matthew checks in right now live. Matthew, what's the latest? Have you been observing any airstrikes of late or what?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of activity in the skies over Afghanistan within the last few hours, Leon, particularly in this area of the Shamali Plains overlooking the front-line positions where the Taliban forces face off against those of the opposition Northern Alliance.

From our advantage point here, we've been able to see those planes roaring across and drop their bombs on those front-line positions, seeing the plumes of black smoke billow high into the sky. What we can't confirm, though, from our rooftop position here overlooking those front-line positions is exactly what's being struck.

Now you mentioned earlier, rather Northern Alliance commanders saying they're passing on detailed intelligence information -- U.S.- led coalition information on troop concentrations and tank and artillery batteries. Local people here say the hill that's been stuck over there repeatedly over the past hour or so, there's a network of tunnels and caves where there could be Taliban forces holding out.

Now, and I want to add also, that despite this bombardment, there is no sign yet of any push by the Northern Alliance towards Afghan capital Kabul. They're still holding their defensive positions, even though Northern Alliance officials say that they're bolstering their troop presence here on the frontlines north of Kabul, moving in literally thousands of additional fighters with weapons and new uniforms to, as I say, bolster those front-line positions.

Still no green light, though, still no order from the political leadership of the Northern Alliance to push on the Afghan capital. Watching it very closely, though, Leon. Back to you.

HARRIS: All right, Matthew Chance reporting live this morning from the Shamali Plains of Afghanistan. Thank you very much.

Catherine.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go now to the Pentagon in Washington where CNN's Ed Lavandera is standing by with the very latest on the strategy behind the U.S. airstrikes that we just heard Matthew talk about. Good morning.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Catherine. Folks here at the Pentagon not really holding back to describe what the purpose of that heavy bombing is intended to do. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld saying on Thursday that quite -- quote -- to quote him -- to put it bluntly -- "the purpose of those bombs is to kill people".

Eighty percent of the U.S. airstrikes at this point are aimed at the Taliban frontlines. The latest video images also showing attacks on the elaborate cave system in Afghanistan. This is part of the other aspect of this bombing campaign. It's believed Osama bin Laden has been hiding in these caves for some time.

There's also been some very passionate words coming from the Pentagon. Donald Rumsfeld opening Thursday's press briefing with words directed at Americans and critics of the military strategy. The military campaign is only 25 days old, he says, be patient and be confident that the work will be done.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The clip is from the weapons display of the -- days or weeks, but years in the making. The terrorists were painstaking and deliberate and it appears that they may have spent one or even two years planning their activities. There's no doubt in my mind that the American people know that it's going to take more than 24 days to deal with this very difficult problem.

I also stated that our task is much broader than simply defeating Taliban or al Qaeda. It's to root out the global terrorist networks, not just in Afghanistan, but wherever they are, and to ensure that they can not threaten the American people or our way of life.

This is a task that's going to take time. Victory will require that every element of American influence and power be engaged. Americans have seen tougher adversaries than this before and they have had the staying power to defeat them.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

LAVANDERA: Secretary Rumsfeld leaves later today for Russia, and he's also expected to visit four other countries in the region as well, but those countries yet haven't been announced as to where he will be going. But of course, the purpose of the visit is also to shore up the coalition in the region and make sure that it remains strong and quite evidenced is clear that that is quite high on the Bush's administration priority list.

Ed Lavandera reporting live from the Pentagon. Catherine back to you.

CALLAWAY: And Ed before you go, CNN's Matthew Chance reporting this morning inside Afghanistan that the Northern Alliance commanders have told him that they are passing on information to aid in the bombing along the frontlines. Any comment from the Pentagon on that?

LAVANDERA: Well the Pentagon says that up to this point the best work that is being done on the ground up until now is from forces on the ground. Specifically when asked yesterday about this, the secretary of defense speaking mostly about the U.S. forces -- the special troops that are on the ground, helping pilots find targets to hit on the ground, but clearly information from any point that they suspect that is strong information and credible information we can gather from yesterday's press briefing that the U.S. military using that to its advantage.

CALLAWAY: All right, Ed Lavandera at the Pentagon. Thanks Ed.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com