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CNN Sunday Morning
Window for U.S. Bombing Closing as Ramadan Approaches
Aired October 21, 2001 - 09:00 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.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Somewhat of a let-up is reported in overnight bombing raids, as week three unfolds in the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan.
CNN's Walter Rodgers is just across the Afghan border in Pakistan. He joins us live from Islamabad. Walter, fill us in on the latest from your location.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Jeanne.
What we're now seeing is the crossing -- we're seeing refugees coming across the border. And any bombing across the border in Afghanistan is making the U.S. situation much, much worse than it has been up to this point.
The problem for the United States is the bombing, the perception of bombing of innocent civilians. An increase in civilian casualties. That is causing great problems for the U.S., especially here in Pakistan. There was a major demonstration on the streets of Rawalpindi today. Islamic fundamentalists out on the street, demanding an end to the U.S. bombing. Osama bin Laden clearly the hero in this, the United States the villain.
Making matters worse, are fresh pictures coming across the border of Afghan refugees fleeing the bombing. Those refugees crossing rugged mountain passes, trying to beat the winter snows. Many of them, some 12,000 of them, crossed this previous week, all crossing these mountain passes. Many because they simply cannot get into Pakistan legally as refugees; Pakistan has closed its borders with the United States -- excuse me, Pakistan has closed its borders with Afghanistan. Again, the United States the villain.
Worse for the United States, pictures of Afghan refugees picking through the rubble of towns like Kabul. These used to be the homes of Afghan men, women and children. Now reports of over a dozen civilian fatalities. This is perhaps the worst thing that could happen to the United States, as it tries to build its case for a just war against Osama bin Laden, because at least in the Islamic world, Osama bin Laden is seen to be the man with the just cause, the Americans are perceived to be evil.
Joining me now is a Pakistani analyst, Refat Hussein (ph). Refat, I'd like to begin by asking you: The United States appears to have a public relations nightmare on its hands; is there anything that can be done?
REFAT HUSSEIN, PAKISTANI ANALYST: Well, there are a couple of things that the United States government can do. One is to continue to make the argument publicly that this is not a war against Islam, this is not a war against the Muslim world. This is a war which is being waged against intentional terrorists, and Osama bin Laden being the prime case.
RODGERS: But who's listening?
HUSSEIN: Well, I think the message needs to be broadcast. The message needs to come at the highest level in the United States. And the most important thing, I think, in this imagined strategy, would be to get the key support of the Muslim government and the Muslim states. They should come out and join hands with the United States.
RODGERS: Where are America's friends in the Muslim world, either in the Arabian Gulf or here in Pakistan? Who is speaking up, saying the United States is fighting a just war among the U.S. allies and friends in this part of the world?
HUSSEIN: Well, that's a problem that the United States faces because you have the public sentiment -- the public sentiment's not definitely with these government. And these governments are electing to speak out, you know sort of clearly, on this issue for fear of any adverse reaction at home. So this really complicates the United States' effort to continue to make a very strong moral and ethical case why it needs to be -- this war has to go on.
RODGERS: Upcoming, the holy month of Ramadan, the most sacred month on the Islamic calendar. That's three weeks away. Can the United States bomb up to and through Ramadan, or does it have to stop?
HUSSEIN: I think it has to stop before that time, because the sight of the innocent people, the Afghan Muslims getting killed and about 100 billion people watching that on TV screens is not really going to the advantage of the United States.
RODGERS: Refat Hussein talking with us. Refat is a military and political analyst for the Pakistanis. He is telling us that the United States has a very limited window to continue the bombing against Afghanistan because the holy month of Ramadan is upcoming -- Jeanne.
MESERVE: Walter Rodgers in Pakistan, thank you.
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