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CNN Live At Daybreak

Afghanistan Just One Battle In War on Terrorism

Aired November 23, 2001 - 06:06   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: President Bush has said that he sees any victory in Afghanistan as just one battle in the anti terror war.

CNN's White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace looks at how other nations who may harbor terrorists could be targeted.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: While President Bush enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and close aides at Camp David, his administration released this new report cataloging past atrocities allegedly committed by Afghanistan's Taliban and the al Qaeda network, including the torture of children, the burning of an entire family, and the massacre of villagers.

White House aides say they want to send a message to the world about al Qaeda, which is believed to have operatives in more than 60 countries. It's another example of stepped-up efforts by the White House to proclaim that a U.S. victory in Afghanistan won't mean an end to the war against terror. Listen to the president Wednesday rallying U.S. troops at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are other terrorists who threaten America and our friends. And there are other nations willing to sponsor them.

WALLACE: The president has not named those other nations, but the next focus could be Iraq with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein believed to be building chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET)., CNN MILITARY ANALYST: If you're serious about terrorism, you must go to Iraq. But you don't have to go to Iraq next and you might not have to go there militarily. There are other means to pursue this.

WALLACE: Such as, putting more financial and political pressure on the country. There is a debate within the administration about whether to pursue military action against Iraq. The White House knows the diplomatic stakes could be high especially with Arab allies.

SHEPPERD: Well you want to make sure that whatever we do is perceived to have allies and support in the worldwide community.

WALLACE: Other potential targets for American attention could include Iran and Syria, countries the U.S. accuses of sponsoring terrorism. While the president prepares the nation for a battle extending beyond Afghanistan, he says the fight in Afghanistan is by no means over and warns the most difficult steps with the most risks for American forces are still to come.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Hagerstown, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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