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CNN Sunday Morning

American-Born Taliban Soldier Held at Camp Rhino

Aired December 09, 2001 - 10:11   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: In southern Afghanistan, an American accused of fighting for the Taliban being -- is being held, that is, for his own protection.

Pool reporter David Wright has the latest from Camp Rhino.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID WRIGHT, POOL REPORTER (voice-over): John Phillip Walker Lindh is the only prisoner being held at Camp Rhino and his status here is not entirely clear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Walker's a battlefield detainee being held here awaiting additional orders from our headquarters.

WRIGHT: For now the former Taliban fighter, born in America, is being accorded the privileges that an enemy prisoner of war would be entitled to under the Geneva Convention. But that could change if the Pentagon decides he is an illegal combatant, essentially a terrorist, as opposed to a soldier. His status as an American citizen, captured while fighting for a foreign army, also complicates matters.

Military officials here won't say where on the compound Walker is being held, but they're hoping to move him on as soon as possible. The Marines are also building a detainment center on the base to house other potential prisoners, but they insist Camp Rhino will not become a prison camp. These will be temporary accommodations for people the military believes will be able to provide them with useful information about al Qaeda.

The mission of U.S. ground forces here in southern Afghanistan has changed in recent days, focusing more on al Qaeda and less on the Taliban. So-called "hunter-killer" teams carry photographs of the 10 to 20 most wanted, but ordinary Taliban soldiers who agree to lay down their weapons will be free to go. In the mountains of Tora Bora to the north, U.S. warplanes continue to pound possible al Qaeda targets in support of Afghan opposition soldiers on the ground.

(on camera): The Northern Alliance now claims to have driven Osama bin Laden's fighters from the caves there and forced them into nearby forests. As for Osama bin Laden himself, there are unconfirmed reports that he has personally taken charge of the fighting -- that he and 1,000 of his soldiers are dug in at a place called Spin Gar (ph), in the forest there. That's from a Northern Alliance commander speaking to Reuters. Of course, there's no way to confirm that at this point.

David Wright with U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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