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CNN Sunday Morning
Powell Travels to South Asia
Aired January 27, 2002 - 07:21 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell is giving new meaning to the phrase "globe trotting diplomat." CNN's Andrea Koppel traveled with Powell on his recent trip to south Asia to diffuse tensions between India and Pakistan and to show the American flag where it is seldom seen. She filed this reporter's notebook on what it's like to cover the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now we're about a minute away from touching down on the tarmac.
ANDREA KOPPELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Three months after Secretary Powell's last trip to Pakistan just ahead of the start of the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan, he's back. Powell's mission this time to diffuse a dangerous standoff between nuclear rivals Pakistan and India.
(on-camera): Judy, that's not exactly the kind that you put in your pocket?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, the kind that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's not what I expected.
KOPPEL (voice-over): For the next week, a small group of 14 journalists will scramble to keep up with Powell across multiple time zones, reporting by cell phone, satellite phone and satellite on what one colleague dubbed, Powell's Magical Mystery Tour, a journey which begins on the tense subcontinent to a devastated Afghanistan. We'll also make a hurried yet historic stop in Nepal where as the highest U.S. official to visit this Himalayan kingdom in 30 years, Secretary Powell will play tourist and visit one of the world's largest Buddhist temples.
(CROSSTALK)
KOPPEL: At each stop, our group is greeted by representatives of the U.S. embassy, people like public affairs officer Terry White, fills us in on the mood in Pakistan.
TERRY WHITE, U.S. EMBASSY IN PAKISTAN: Somebody here has praised that they no longer worry that there's a mole out there every day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So Mr. Powell has a lot on his plate here. He has...
KOPPEL: For many news organizations, including CNN, the appetite for information is almost insatiable.
TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: But it's an important story and the whole world is watching. So for a couple of days I don't get sleep. As long as the bags don't come under the eyes, as long as I can think and continue to communicate, sleep's not very important.
The exercise for me is the Stairmaster.
KOPPEL: CNN veteran Tom Mintier is among the scores of journalists already on the ground in Islamabad.
MINTIER: CNN? Hey, how are you? Where are you?
KOPPEL: Our colleagues provide an invaluable support system for those of traveling with Powell.
(on-camera): In three, two, one - but the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) de resistance is the Secretary of State's cabin.
(voice-over): Within hours after arriving in Islamabad, some of the first stories of the trip have been filed.
(on-camera): It could be another 15 hours before we arrive in Pakistan.
(voice-over): The suite of hotel rooms in the Islamabad Marriott and on the roof, a 34 hour satellite linked to the outside world, it's night and day from what we'll find in Kabul.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're about, right now, about 80 miles away from Bagram.
KOPPEL: The view, as we fly into Bagram air base near Kabul, is breathtaking. Once on the ground, we're reminded that most of Afghanistan is anything but beautiful. From military transport to Chinook helicopters, security is extremely for Powell's visit. Even his time of arrival is a closely held secret.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't had a shower in three days.
KOPPEL: John Kinkanan (ph) is one of a handful of U.S. officials literally camping out in the recently reopened and heavily guarded U.S. embassy where more than a 100 Marines and other officials share three showers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Secretary Powell's visit today shows us that the message of the United States of America...
KOPPEL: Even here at the Palace of the former king, conditions are primitive. In the middle of Powell's press conference with the head of the new interim government, the lights suddenly come back on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I'm at the palace now. KOPPEL: With almost no time to file our stories, some of us seek out a quiet patch of grass to write before we're back on the bus heading to the airport.
For Secretary Powell, another mission complete. By the time we reach Nepal at week's end, lack of sleep has caught up with some of us. But before we know it, it'll be the start of yet another day on the road with Secretary Powell.
Andrea Koppel, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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