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American Morning

Latest on Three-Month-Old War in Afghanistan

Aired January 07, 2002 - 07:10   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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Halfway around the world, the hunt for the man who may have inspired Charles Bishop continues at this hour. U.S. senators have been told that despite that $25 million reward, Osama bin Laden is likely hiding in Pakistan and the one-eyed cleric, Mullah Mohammad Omar, is thought to have eluded U.S. special forces and fled Afghanistan on a motorcycle. Strange.

For the latest on the three month war in Afghanistan, let's get an update now from CNN's Bill Hemmer, who is live this morning in Kandahar -- Bill, good to see you.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Jack, good evening from Kandahar.

First, let's talk about the latest U.S. bombing, pretty much the most intense bombing we have seen now in about a week's time. Specifically, eastern Afghanistan in the area known as Khost right along that Afghan-Pakistan border. We are told F-16s involved, B-52s involved, as well. In fact, our crew on the ground took some exclusive videotape a short time ago, fed back by way of video phone.

This bombing really started about four o'clock local time Sunday afternoon. It still goes now about 24 hours later. And the Pentagon has warned for some time now that they feared al Qaeda fighters and Taliban fighters may try and reassemble in various parts of Afghanistan. That is possibly the target of this mission that is under way at this time.

With that as a backdrop, let's talk more about Kandahar and the latest on the detainees. You know, we are not allowed inside that facility. That's against the Geneva Convention. But we continue to pick up tidbits about what's happening inside on a daily basis.

We know now and have reported for some time a medical clinic with several doctors set up inside. But what we did not know until now is that several amputations have taken place of al Qaeda prisoners after some combat wounds suffered either in the Tora Bora region or in northern Afghanistan.

Also, in addition to that, we found out this weekend about three days ago brain surgery was actually carried out on one of the al Qaeda prisoners, as well. And as I mention that, it should be pointed out right now the U.S. government, frankly, is facing a very difficult, very sensitive and very top secret operation. How do you move 300 detainees half a world away to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba?

Well, the plans right now are starting to take shape. Again, the planners were thinking about a ship or a plane. The indications we have is by plane one stray shot, possibly in a couple days time, one straight shot to Cuba. But as you can imagine, it is top secret military information, Jack, and if the government could have its way, this would take place probably in the middle of the night with no one having any knowledge -- Jack?

CAFFERTY: All right, Bill, thanks very much.

Bill Hemmer live in Afghanistan.

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