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American Morning

In Eastern Afghanistan, U.S. Wrapping Up Bombing Campaign Against Suspected Al Qaeda Caves

Aired January 15, 2002 - 08:10   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 ANCHOR: Let's turn for a moment once again to the war in Afghanistan. In the eastern part of that country, the U.S. wrapping up a bombing campaign against suspected al Qaeda caves. Farther to the south, near the Kandahar Airport, U.S. troops went into the hills to track down the source of sniper fire, which broke out as the first plane load of detainees was being flown out of there last week.

CNN's Bill Hemmer live in Kandahar with the latest for us. Bill, what brought that bombing campaign in the east to a close? Or what's causing it wind down here?

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. OK, Jack, I'll first talk about the bombing in the east. They say they've absolutely flattened that terrorist training camp that's around the region of Khowst. The Pentagon announcing they flattened 60 structures above ground. They've closed about 50 tunnel and cave entrances. And right now they say they're going to go in there and check out and look for some intelligence on the ground there as the bombing subsided there.

No bombing, by the way, in the past 24 hours. But, really, this follows eight days of intense bombing. And the last three days it was stepped up even one more notch than that. There's also a report now that more could be on the way around this same area. There's one report indicating a dozen or more just like it may be in this part of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Jack, back here in Kandahar, let's talk more about another reminder of just how dangerous this country can be. The Marines said today that late yesterday afternoon they picked up seven unidentified individuals patrolling the perimeter, just a couple hundred yards away for more. The Marines are dug in on a 24-hour basis. They went out to inspect that area, and what they found inside a few abandoned homes: an entire weapons cache. In addition, motor fuses; they found some rocket-propelled grenades, also, tucked in along some -- some crawl spaces underneath these houses. They went in there and blew up these structures and leveled them and got rid of the weapons as well. We heard the explosions here late yesterday in Kandahar.

Also, about several cave entrances, also, were located. There was speculation last week when that sniper fire erupted here -- and the machine gun fire just off the base -- that the intruders may have climbed along some caves and tunnel areas. They imploded those as well, closed the entrances to those caves, and they say that it is no longer a threat in this area. But, again, a reminder of just how dangerous this country can be. And, again, it was last Thursday night when those shots rang out, when the first shipment of detainees were sent out to Cuba. We are told, Jack, another one may possibly go again tonight. Right now, 50 being held in Guantanmo Bay.

CAFFERTY: Thanks very much. Bill Hemmer, live on the ground in Afghanistan. One postscript to that report, there is word now in light of the breech of security around the Kandahar Airport that that perimeter is going to be expanded and moved out farther away from the American troop emplacements.

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