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CNN Live At Daybreak

Pentagon's Reaction to Northern Alliance's Success in Kabul

Aired November 13, 2001 - 06:47   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to get more with the Pentagon -- or at the Pentagon, rather, with the U.S. response to the Taliban withdrawal of Kabul. Our Jonathan Aiken is there this morning -- hi, Jonathan.

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. I guess the reaction of people in this building would be one of cautious pleasure. Nobody really upset to see the Taliban on the run, but you know that old adage kicks in then. Be careful of what you wish for, because you just might get it.

With events on the ground happening faster than the U.S. is in a position to manage them, it becomes less of a problem for people in the Pentagon; more of a problem for folks over at the State Department and the White House, since the Northern Alliance have shown little proclivity in paying attention to the requests of the U.S. -- excuse -- in other capitals and to please pause before entering the Afghan capital.

Now, having said all of that, reaction from the Pentagon, from the Army Secretary Thomas White, he's pretty pleased at what he's seen over the past 12 hours.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS WHITE, SECRETARY OF THE ARMY: Well, we should remember that the strategic objective is the destruction of bin Laden, the network of bin Laden in the country, and the Taliban government that supported him. So if he's headed west, that's where we're headed as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AIKEN: Well, the fall of Kabul, the third in nine years. It fell in 1992, when the communist government installed by the old Soviet Union fell. And Kabul fell again in 1996, when the Taliban entered the city, forcing some of these same units of the Northern Alliance out. And now, here we are at 2001, and these Northern Alliance elements are coming back in, and it is the Taliban that is on the run.

Now, picking up on what the Army secretary said, there's no indication, yet, whether U.S. air power is following the Taliban, as they move south and west from Kabul down to their stronghold of Kandahar. The natural inclination would be, well, why don't you just go after them? Complications have set in for the Pentagon in the form of those eight foreign aid workers, including two Americans, who are supposedly being held by the Taliban as they make their way south and west -- south and east, rather, to their stronghold in Kandahar -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, Jonathan, a question for you. As the Taliban is being forced out of these areas, don't they become sitting ducks for the Northern Alliance and even U.S. military? Is that even a concern?

AIKEN: Well, they do and they don't. Part of the problem is these eight aid workers. Nobody knows where they are. There are two Americans in that group. The U.S. military somewhat reluctant to go in there with a strong hand unless they know exactly the location of these people and are able to reduce the risk that they're going to be hurt.

Also, consider that the farther south and east the Taliban move, they're moving closer and closer to their stronghold. Kandahar is not only their, sort of the heart of their support, but it's also been their political base for many years. The farther south they move, the more able they are able to gather support around them, and able to dig in, for what the Pentagon fears, could be a long fight in the southern part of the country. The Northern Alliance may hold the north, but the power then, the Taliban is holding to the south, and that's where the problems could lie -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jonathan Aiken, thanks so much.

AIKEN: Sure.

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