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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Marines Continue to Build Presence

Aired November 27, 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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. marines are on the ground in southern Afghanistan. Let's check in with our Ed Lavandera at the Pentagon this morning -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donna, over the past couple of weeks, we've talked a lot about special forces that have been working on the ground in Afghanistan. Well, now that presence seems to be increasing in power, and just the kind of image that it's being able to create for itself on the ground in Afghanistan.

By the end of the day, or during the next 24 hours, more than 1,000 U.S. marines will be on the ground working at an airstrip that has been converted into what is being called a forward base of operations at an airstrip just southwest of Kandahar. Hundreds of marines are already in, and sources say, like I've mentioned, that by the end of the day, more than 1,000 will be in the area working.

The idea is to increase the pressure on the Taliban forces and keep them from moving around the country. And of course, as the marines get closer to Kandahar, they are also able to inflict swift and deadly force.

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DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The highways that connect the north and the south, and the east-west in the southern part, going towards Iran, exits -- or entrances from Iran and Pakistan, can be interdicted from those locations. And it was decided that by that Combatant Commander Tommy Franks that it would be helpful to have a base there from which a variety of things could be done, rather than simply using people in and out of a special operations nature.

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LAVANDERA: Pentagon sources also say that it's likely the marines will start moving closer to Kandahar, but exactly what that will entail isn't being disclosed at this moment. The units that were the first in were the 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units, and they're able just to carry a lot more power than the special forces that we've talked about that are already on the ground inside of Afghanistan.

The mission seems to be going very well. In fact, one of the general -- there were a couple of news crews allowed to go in with the marine units that were allowed in, and one of the generals on the ground there was quoted as saying that "the New York School of Ballet could not have orchestrated a more intricate movement more flawlessly." So the morale seems to be high in Afghanistan -- Donna, back to you.

KELLEY: Ed Lavandera at the Pentagon -- thank you very much.

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