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American Morning

Marines On the Move in Helmand Province

Aired January 01, 2002 - 07:50   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to Afghanistan and check in on the hunt for fugitive leaders of the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Our Bill Hemmer joins us from the U.S. Marine Base at Kandahar Airport with more on today's military operations -- Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey Marty, thanks again, trying to fill in some holes here. I can tell you last night we noted a substantial increase in Marine activity throughout this base on New Year Eve's and we finally went to bed late last night around 1:30 a.m., 2:00 a.m. local time here.

There was a virtual convoy lined up along the tarmac here. We did not have any details about the operation at that time, but certainly we were aware that something was going down and clearly today the -- I guess you could say the pieces have fallen into place. The Marines do confirm right now an operation is under way involving several hundred Marines in the province of Helmand.

Now in terms of geography, if you want to look at northern and southern Afghanistan, divide it in two, take the southern half -- the southern part of Afghanistan. Two of the main provinces here -- one is Kandahar, also the city of Kandahar and the other is Helmand Province just to the west of there. In Helmand Province, in the northern section of that, there's a small town called Baghran. It is believed many people -- many sources, many reports indicate the strong possibility that Mullah Mohammed Omar may be taking refuge there.

Well what this operation did here for the U.S. Marines basically they did not go that far north into Helmand Province near the town of Baghran, but it was further south from there. We are told that operation still is under way. There are Marines out there at this time and they hope, they say, they hope to get the several hundred -- couple of hundred Marines back here by the morning light of sunlight on Wednesday morning.

Now also getting a bit of information, also about the operation itself. We are told they've been watching this area, a bit of a compound rather, with a complex with several areas and buildings inside -- maybe 14, possibly more. They say they've watched it for some time. It was occupied for awhile, then it was deserted, basically emptied and then in recent days or weeks, apparently, it has been occupied once again and that was the target Marty, of this particular operation certainly trying to go in on the ground and pick up whatever intelligence they may muster with regard to Taliban and al Qaeda leaderships.

So that's what this is all about and again, ongoing Marty and they hope they wrap it up sometime before daylight this time here in daylight in daylight local time, I should say here Wednesday morning in Afghanistan Marty.

SAVIDGE: Bill in the past I think a lot of Americans have thought these sort of operations were conducted by Special Forces, which I'm sure are involved. Why the Marines in particular going out?

HEMMER: Yes good question. We put that to Colonel Frick (ph) of the U.S. Marine Corp a short time ago. He indicates that the size of the area they needed to cover here was not consistent with other Special Forces operations. He said it was much more in line with a Marine operation -- that's indeed what they did, taking Marines here late last night here from the airport.

We are under the belief, though, and under the understanding based on different reporting that Special Forces are still operating in the area north of there and working also along Afghan forces well up around the area of Baghran. That's an operation, we understand, that is still ongoing as well. But -- for as the Marines are concerned, they did this operation, apparently, due to the scope of the complex and the compound that was involved there west and north of here from Kandahar -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Bill, obviously they were gearing up, had their minds being focused on the mission ahead, but was there any noting of the passage of 2001 and the entry to 2002 there?

HEMMER: Well I got to tell you, it was absolutely remarkable how unremarkable last night, New Year's Eve was and today was. The Marines did not stop, neither did the other branches of the military here. You know, we've seen the army throughout the week. They grow in numbers almost on a daily basis, members of the Air Force, as well, and the Navy is here too. And almost remarkable how nobody stopped.

One Marine quoted President Bush as saying, terrorism takes no holiday and we shall neither, and last night around 12:30 local time, they marked the New Year -- they had a rather large explosion, blowing up a lot of munitions, land mines, surfaced air missiles, things they have collected throughout the base here dating back to the Soviet era here, but that was the only recognition, the operation Marty, the only recognition, I should say, of the holiday New Year's Eve coming and going. They haven't stopped.

SAVIDGE: You're right Bill. New year, but the same mission. Thanks very much. Happy New Year to you and ...

HEMMER: Yes.

SAVIDGE: ... to all the Marines there as well. Thanks.

HEMMER: Thank you.

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