Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Questions Raised About Scale of Force in Prison Revolt

Aired November 29, 2001 - 06:01   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: A CIA operative is the first U.S. combat death in Afghanistan. His name was Mike Spann and he was killed during a Taliban prison uprising at a Northern Alliance compound near Mazar-e Sharif. Tim Ewart has the story from there.

TIM EWART, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the Northern Alliance surveyed the scene of their crushing victory over the last Taliban fighters in Mazar-e Sharif, there were questions about the scale of force used here. Taliban prisoners in an old fort staged an armed revolt, which were overwhelmed by alliance soldiers, British and American special forces, and aerial bombardment.

Hundreds died, the full death toll is not known. The CIA has confirmed that one of its agents was among those who died here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNARD BARRETT, INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS: We have no idea the number of bodies and because we never had access to the prison, this is one of the subjects of discussion, we do not know how many people were in the prison at that time or what nationality they might be or any of these questions at all, we have no answers there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

EWART: The Northern Alliance commander General Abdul Rashid Dostum insists that the Taliban had been given the chance to surrender, but wanted to fight to the death. You can't say it's a massacre, he said. And this soldier said the Taliban fighters were all foreign and got what they deserved.

Nevertheless, there were calls today for an investigation into exactly what did happen at Mazar-e Sharif. In Kabul, meanwhile, Northern Alliance forces were massing apparently to join an assault on the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in the south.

The city represents the last pocket of Taliban control, but it's believed these troops may be preparing to join American forces already in action around Kandahar.

(on camera): The alliance now controls the hold of the northern part of Afghanistan and events in Mazar-e Sharif have demonstrated in graphic fashion the kind of response the Taliban can expect if they're unwilling to surrender. Tim Ewart, ITN, Kabul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: The father of Mike Spann spoke to reporters after his son's death was confirmed by the government. Johnny Spann talked about his son's service to his country.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

JOHNNY SPANN: He had an extensive career serving our nation, first as a Marine Corp officer and then as a CIA officer. When he decided to leave the military service to work for the CIA, he told me he did so because he felt that he would be able to make the world a better place for us to live. We recall him saying someone has got to do the things that no one else wants to do. And that is exactly what he was doing in Afghanistan.

Mike was a loyal and patriotic American and he loved his country very much. He was a cherished son. He was an amazing brother, a devoted father, a loving husband, and our family wants the world to know that we're very proud of our son, Mike, and we consider him a hero.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

KAGAN: Mr. Spann also criticized the news media for reporting his son's death before it was announced by the government. Spann said if his son had still been alive, such a report would have put his son in danger.

Let's now go to the Pentagon and our Ed Lavandera who has been covering that for us in the early morning hours. Ed, kind of interesting that the first combat death in Afghanistan is a CIA operative rather than a uniformed soldier. It kind of gives an indication of the nature of the battle that's being fought in Afghanistan.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Clearly the -- that's something that U.S. military officials here have been pointing out for the last couple of days that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan remains a very volatile situation.

And there are several developments that folks here will be looking at very closely today. "The Los Angeles Times" is reporting this morning that Ahmed Omar Abdel Rahman, he is the 35-year old son of a Muslim cleric who was convicted of bombing the World Trade Center the first time back in 1993, and he has been captured by the Northern Alliance and is being held at a secret location, and that he could possibly be turned over to the U.S. at some point.

He's an influential figure in the al Qaeda terrorist network. According to the article, he is a active member in recruiting members for the al Qaeda network. Also this comes at a time as the U.S. military is increasing its presence on the ground in Afghanistan. We understand now that about two dozen soldiers from the 10th Mountain Army Division are in northern Afghanistan near Mazar-e Sharif protecting two airstrips, helping soldiers on the ground there especially and also anti Taliban soldiers who are working on the ground there.

We understand there's also a possibility that more soldiers could be moved into Afghanistan to help out in these situations. Of course, this goes back to showing how volatile the situation is on the ground. The Pentagon releasing video yesterday showing that as U.S. Marines were moving in to set up the forward base of operations that was established -- that has been established southwest of Kandahar, where some 1,100 Marines will be operating out of.

They are showing the video that as this mission was undergoing -- getting underway, that a column of Taliban tanks were moving toward a location, video showing how U.S. airstrikes were called in to battle the situation. Of course, U.S. Marines, about 1,100 of them, have been working on the ground and Pentagon says it is there to help increase and improve the timeliness of responses -- response there on the ground and central command in Tampa, Florida also saying that it is likely that the general of this campaign wants to increase the number of forward bases of operations that are working on the ground there.

So clearly a attempt to help soldiers on the ground there as well as the anti Taliban forces that are working on the ground as well. One other note to pass along, as we've mentioned over the last several weeks, the U.S. military has also been engaged in humanitarian relief efforts in Afghanistan and a package that was airdropped in northern Afghanistan landed on the home of an Afghan family killing one woman, injuring one child.

The U.S. military says it regrets this accident and that it is looking into what -- why this happened and it is also saying that it will take whatever measure is necessary to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Ed Lavandera at the Pentagon. Ed, thank you for those reports this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com