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American Morning

America Strikes Back: Foreign Militaries, Governments Support War Effort

Aired November 02, 2001 - 10:26   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: Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary, will head overseas soon, and now we are getting more indication as to where he will go, specifically, on that visit.

Here is Jonathan Aiken, live at the Pentagon this morning.

Jonathan, what do we know?

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, yesterday, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld was somewhat reluctant to release his itinerary, and then we are being told by the Pentagon just where it is he will be flying to once he goes wheels up, a little later today, from Washington. His first stop is going to be Russia, where he is going to be meeting with the defense officials and Russian leaders. He will brief them on the situation on U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. Then he will be moving to countries in the region. He is going to be visiting several: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India, and then it's back home, an effort to shore up support for U.S. efforts and also to brief countries in the region as to exactly what has been going on.

We can tell you, Bill, that what's been going on in day 27 of these U.S. strikes in Afghanistan has been heavy bombing once again of those Taliban forces that are dug in in the areas north of Kabul. These are the forces that are going head to head with Northern Alliance troops, and that has been the focus of B-52 attacks. You see some of the activity going on in the skies over Afghanistan here.

There has been some question about the targeting of these Taliban troops, these B-52 bombs a little less precise that some of the nose cone video things that we have been accustomed to seeing from these various raids. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said yesterday the targeting would be enhanced with more special operations forces on the ground in Afghanistan. There are about 100 there now. Mr. Rumsfeld said, yesterday, he would be more than happy to quadruple that number. They can help to coordinate U.S. ground strikes through either ground intelligence or doing reconnaissance missions, or something more direct, such as laser targeting.

While Rumsfeld says he would be happy to get these troops in there, he also admits getting that getting them in will not be easy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Recently, ground fire was a situation that prevented someone from getting in, some team from getting in, but we have a number of teams cocked and ready to go. It's just a matter of having the right kind of equipment to get them there and the landing zones in places where it's possible to get in and get out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AIKEN: We're told, Bill, that there is some more support coming into the United States for its efforts in Afghanistan. Britain has committed all of its aircraft carriers and more than 4,000 special forces troops to the effort. And the United States is told by both Turkey and Azerbaijan that their airspace will be available to U.S. planes as they conduct sorties over Afghanistan, to give U.S. forces a shorter route, from Europe and Turkey, to reach targets in Afghanistan -- Bill.

HEMMER: A lot moving over there.

Jonathan thanks, Jonathan Aiken, at the Pentagon.

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