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CNN Live At Daybreak

Military Campaign Against Afghanistan Might Not Be on Same Timetable Pakistanis Have in Mind

Aired November 06, 2001 - 06:17   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We are at 17 minutes past the hour. Let's bring you the latest developments in America's campaign against terrorism.

In the military campaign, air strikes are focusing on Taliban front line positions in Afghanistan. On the ground, there are pitched battles between the Taliban and Northern Alliance in the critical area around Mazir-e-Sharif.

In the battle against bioterrorism, the Mayo Clinic says it has a DNA test that can detected anthrax in 30 minutes. Current tests require two days. So far the CDC and FDA have not endorsed the test.

On the diplomatic front, President Bush continues a week of coalition building. About two hours from now he'll make a satellite address to an anti-terrorism conference in Poland. Later this week, he meets with the leaders of Britain, France, India, Brazil and Ireland.

Homeland security was shaken by a breach at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta calls it a dramatic failure. Eight security workers were suspended after a man nearly got on a plan with knives, a stun gun and tear gars.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is back from a trip to shore up the coalition that is battling terrorism. His final stop on a five nation tour was New Delhi. Before he left India, Rumsfeld told the defense minister there that he didn't think the military campaign against Afghanistan would take years. Still, it might not be on the same timetable as the Pakistanis have in mind.

Here's CNN's David Ensor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After meetings with Indian officials in New Delhi, Secretary Rumsfeld told reporters the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan is becoming more effective because more U.S. special forces are now on the ground pinpointing Taliban and al Qaeda targets.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We now have some larger number of teams of people on the ground that are assisting with resupply and humanitarian assistance as well as targeting, and the effectiveness of the bombing is improving every day.

ENSOR: Over the weekend, he said later, two and a half times more American soldiers were deployed into Afghanistan. U.S. special forces are now in four different locations and "maybe more, mostly in the north."

As a result, U.S. bombs and missiles are hitting more tanks and troops as well as bombing shot caves and tunnels used by al Qaeda and the Taliban.

RUMSFELD: Do I think Afghanistan will take years? No, I don't.

ENSOR: Concerning the American helicopter that crash landed in Afghanistan Friday in bad weather and was later deliberately destroyed by U.S. war planes so the Taliban couldn't get it, Rumsfeld said he was in frequent contact from his traveling plane with worried commanders during the roughly six hours that the team on board that helicopter, including four injured men, were on the ground.

One fear was that they might be attacked by Taliban forces. It did not happen. Once the weather cleared, another chopper was able to rescue the four who had suffered back injuries during the crash landing, which was forced by storm conditions.

The Secretary said coordination of the bombing with anti-Taliban forces is improving rapidly. Better communication is inevitable, Rumsfeld said, now that American soldiers and Afghan fighters are "spending evenings sitting around the fire."

David Ensor, CNN, traveling with the U.S. secretary of defense.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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