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American Morning

Officials Hoping to Find Out Whether Al Qaeda Leaders Killed in CIA Missile Strike

Aired February 07, 2002 - 09:05   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: A U.S. military operation is under way in Afghanistan right now. American officials trying to reach an area in the Tora Bora region. Daryn was talking about this a couple of minutes ago. Officials are hoping to find out whether or not key Al Qaeda leaders may have been killed in a CIA missile strike in that area earlier this week. Among the dead, according to one report this morning, is a tall man who was clearly in a leadership position. The latter course is fueling speculation that, perhaps, perhaps Osama bin Laden may have been among those who was killed in that strike.

We turn now to CNN's Martin Savidge who was on ground in Kandahar to get the latest on this story.

This is intriguing stuff, Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's very intriguing stuff, Jack, but the frustration at this particular point is there is no word from ground forces that reportedly have been inserted into that area as to what they may have found as a result of Monday's attack as a result of CIA aircraft. There is an ongoing operation. When we talk to military officials here, they simply say they have no knowledge and no comment about what is happening on the ground there.

It all began, as you pointed out, on Monday with that CIA aircraft, aircraft which is known as a Predator, an unmanned aircraft, that was apparently flying surveillance in the region. It identified a small convoy of vehicles, civilian vehicles, and was somehow able to ascertain, at least the CIA believes, that they were Al Qaeda vehicles with a number of Al Qaeda leaders inside. At that time the CIA notified the Air Force looking to see if they could call airstrikes. No aircraft in the area that could do that. The Predator, it turns out, had a hellfire missile that is onboard, and it was launched. Now that's anti-tank missile, laser guided. It went right into the convoy and apparently struck a target, and a number of people were killed or severely injured.

It's just not known who. And that's where the ground forces come in.

But the weather had been so bad in the region, they could not get them in there until today. So we still don't know what they found. There are a lot of people who would like to know at this very moment -- Jack. CAFFERTY: I bet there are. On another subject, Marty, what can you tell us about the resumption of the transfer of detainees to Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba? We understand that's under way again.

SAVIDGE: That's right. It began last night. It would have been about midnight our time. That would have been 1:30-2:00 your time, Eastern Time in the afternoon. As you know, there has about a two- week pause in that operation. Last night, it seemed to be business as usual. The aircraft, a C-17 was being loaded, starting around 11:00. We could not see clearly.

We weren't allowed to photograph in any way, shape or form. We were allowed to go out and observe. But from a distance of about 200 yards, in almost complete darkness, you did see a column of soldiers, and it did appear to be a number of about 20, maybe 25 detainees that were led aboard the aircraft wearing jumpsuits. After that, the aircraft prepared to depart. But just before it did, we saw flares light up the perimeter. That was of some concern.

But it turns out they were only testing the mortar positions there. It was totally unrelated. The C-17 then took off and disappeared into the blackness. Next destination, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- Jack.

CAFFERTY: Martin Savidge on the ground in Kandahar.

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