Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

America's New War: President Bush Signs Off on Aid to Northern Alliance

Aired October 01, 2001 - 11:03   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The "New York Times," that paper reporting President Bush has signed off on covert aid for opponents of Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. Those groups include the Northern Alliance, operating out of a small corner of northeastern Afghanistan.

For weeks now, CNN's Chris Burns has been tracking their movements. He joins us live now with an update today. Chris, hello.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Well, as night fell here, not far from here, between here and Kabul is the front line, and we heard some shell and machine gunfire going on the last couple of hours. It seems to have died down within the last hour, but we'll have to see what happens this evening.

A lot of tension along that front, because there's been a buildup on both sides between the Taliban, and the Northern Alliance trying to dislodge the Taliban and fight their way to Kabul. But the main action that's been going on in the last couple of days has been in the north.

Among a number of villages up there, where both sides have been battling back and forth to try to gain control, it's been a rather stalemate, but the Northern Alliance claims to have taken one village called -- one town called Kadis, captured 30 Taliban fighters, one commander. They say that 200 Taliban fighters defected, and that 19 commanders also came over to the other side. Of course that can not be confirmed by us, independently.

There's another town called Namak Koh, and that is where the Northern Alliance says that they repelled a Taliban attack, and killed 4 Taliban fighters. This all goes in the context where the Northern Alliance is hoping for U.S. support. If there is U.S. support, they say they can break through this deadlock that's been going on for the last five years since they were expelled from Kabul.

But, consider this kind of nightmare scenario. They get back to Kabul. There -- could break out once again factional fighting, this is why there is a very concerted diplomatic effort right now in Rome to put together some kind of a coalition government that would take over after the Taliban.

Now, today, there was announced by the various factions, including the king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, that they do plan some kind of interim government for two years after the Taliban are dislodged, that they would hold a grand assembly, a Loya Jirga, very soon, in their words; but it's not very clear exactly when or where.

Still, it does show some indication that there is progress. Another development to show that the Taliban are rather concerned about this, is that they announced today that in three provinces they are willing to take in non religious members into their government, that meaning tribal elders. That indicating that they are rather concerned about what's going on in Rome. Bill?

HEMMER: Chris, give us a perspective if you could, frame up the actions of the Northern Alliance there. In the days after the attacks back on the September 11th, it was noted that their activity stepped up militarily. Has it stayed at that pace? Has it gone up or down, or how would you characterize it?

BURNS: It has gone up and down. In fact, about a week ago -- a week ago there was some very, very intense shelling by the Northern Alliance against a buildup of Taliban forces along this frontline that is about 30 to 40 miles north of Kabul. But then it died down. It appears -- they said that they were successful in disbursing the Taliban, and that calmed down. The gains that they had announced in a number of days also died down, in fact there were a couple of towns that it is believed the Taliban has once again taken hold of.

So it does look like, once again, we've reached some kind of a stalemate situation. That has gone on for the last five years, and that is why there is hope among the Northern Alliance that the Bush administration will step in, as some report do suggest, that there could be some help on the way for the Northern Alliance.

There, of course, has to be that concern that if the Northern Alliance does get down to Kabul, that there will be coalition government representing not just the Northern Alliance, but other factions within Afghanistan. Bill?

HEMMER: All right, Chris. Chris Burns there in northern Afghanistan, reporting live with us.

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