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CNN Sunday Morning

Osama Bin Laden, Gone or a Goner?

Aired November 18, 2001 - 10:18   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: Osama bin Laden, is he gone or a goner? That may depend on who you talk to. Right now, let's talk to the Pentagon and CNN's Kathleen Koch for the latest on the search for the world's most wanted man -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Martin, the Pentagon does not believe that he is gone. They do indeed believe that he is still in Afghanistan, the country that has sheltered him for so many years. That despite some reports that he may have fled into Pakistan.

There are reports in British newspapers. This morning, The Times Of London reporting that not only is he still in Afghanistan but that allies, Untied States and Great Britain, have narrowed the search for him to a 30 square mile area. But the Pentagon is not confirming that but is only saying they believe the noose is tightening around the terrorist mastermind.

Of course, helping in the effort is the increased presence of U.S. Special Forces on the ground, more than 300 of them now. Also, new intelligence captured from an al Qaeda safe house. The Secretary of State, Colin Powell, says that despite these reports that bin Laden might be considering fleeing to another country, that in the U.S.'s opinion no one else will have him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: He is not going to find a safe haven in Pakistan or Uzbekistan or Tajikistan or Turkmenistan or Iran.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: China?

POWELL: I don't even think in China. I mean, I don't think this fellow is going to be welcomed anywhere. He is an outcast. He is murderer. He is a terrorist. The whole world recognizes that, and he is on the run, just as the president said he would be, and we will get him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: The Bush administration is making clear that it will not be satisfied simply with the capture of Osama bin Laden, that the U.S. antiterrorism campaign in the country of Afghanistan goes well beyond that, that according National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Until the Taliban's grip is loosened on the entire country; it's going to be difficult to do what we need to do. And what we need to do is to root out the al Qaeda terrorists. We need to make certain that Afghanistan cannot be a base for terrorist opportunities again, and that's our focus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: There had been some reports and one in "The Washington Post" this morning that the U.S. Air Force was concerned saying that as many as 10 times over the last six weeks it believed that it had top Taliban and al Qaeda leaders in its crosshairs, but was not able to fire on them because they could not get permission in time.

But Secretary of State, Colin Powell, this morning, downplayed that, saying he believed that the United States effort was going well, but there are occasionally these internal disputes but that the U.S. campaign is proceeding forward and that despite, perhaps, these setbacks, the United States believe that they will eventually find Osama bin Laden. Back to you -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Kathleen Koch, thanks very much from the Pentagon.

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