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CNN Live At Daybreak

Taliban Claims High Civilian Casualties, Low Taliban Casualties

Aired November 21, 2001 - 06:48   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: We have fixed that audio problem. Kathleen Koch with us at the Pentagon -- hi, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Donna -- sorry about that confusion.

KELLEY: Not to worry.

KOCH: In response to some of those items in that press are from the Taliban, numerous points that if we had a Pentagon spokesman here, that they would make, first of all, as to the claims that the Taliban does not have any idea of where Osama bin Laden might be. The Pentagon has always taken claims like that with a grain of salt, since the Taliban has, for numerous years, given aid and comfort and shelter to Osama bin Laden.

As you heard, the spokesman described him as a friend to Afghanistan who is blood for that country. So clearly them saying they have no clues to where he is, is something that the Pentagon would have a lot of doubts about.

Other points, where they discussed the high number of civilian casualties and the low numbers of Taliban casualties, again, not a great deal of faith in those numbers. Indeed, there were even reports over the weekend, in some of the U.S. newspapers, that there was some level of discontent within the Pentagon, especially on the Air Force side, because apparently, at various points in this conflict, they had had Taliban and al Qaeda leaders in their sights and were not able to fire immediately because of concerns of collateral damage. The Pentagon has done everything it can to avoid civilian casualties in this matter, so claims of high civilian casualties, again, the Pentagon doesn't put much weight in that.

And then, again, the claims that this is a conflict that is targeting Muslims that it is against Islam. The United States -- the Bush administration has said from the beginning that this was a war against terrorism, not against Islam, and so again, a lot of problems with what was put forth in this presser -- Donna.

KELLEY: Kathleen, the spokesman for Mullah Omar was saying that they felt that they had enough equipment and strength to defend their two strongholds. The Pentagon, though, is talking about beefing up U.S. forces with Marines and the AC-130 gunships. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?

KOCH: All we know, at this point, is that there are more than 1,600 Marines that are poised on two U.S. warships off the coast of Pakistan. We are being told that they are ready to be brought on shore at any point, but we don't know where, we don't know when, and we don't know exactly what their duties would be. But, yes, the United States is sending clear signals that it intends to give the Northern Alliance opposition forces every ounce of support that they might need to take these two cities, so it may take a bit of time -- Donna.

KELLEY: Kathleen, thanks very much -- Kathleen Koch at the Pentagon.

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