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CNN Saturday Morning News
Unsubstantiated Reports Indicate U.S. Commandos Captured
Aired September 29, 2001 - 07:06 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.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush yesterday saying the United States was in, quote, "hot pursuit" of those responsible for the terrorist strikes. And overnight, reports from the region that perhaps some U.S. Special Forces had been captured in Afghanistan.
For the latest on that development, we turn now to Brian Cabell over at the Pentagon -- Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, initially this appeared to be a major story, and I emphasize the word "appeared." The report was this. It came from Al-Jazeera TV in Qatar, and it indicated that five American commandos, including two of Afghan origin, had been captured in Afghanistan, either by Afghan security forces or al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden's group. The report also indicated that they had been captured with maps and weapons in hand.
Well, the report was out there for a couple of hours. It was on some Internet sites. And then about two, three hours ago, the Taliban denied the reports. An hour later, the Pentagon denied the report, saying only that it wondered how that report got out.
It seemed to make sense, of course, John, because, as we know, just about 243 hours ago, U.S. officials first confirmed that Special Forces teams from the U.S. and Britain were on the ground in Afghanistan. But once again, the report that five American commandos have been captured in Afghanistan, absolutely false, according to the Taliban and to the Pentagon.
KING: Well, Brian, with all that activity overnight, because of this report, obviously reporters and others busy at the Pentagon. But we're two weeks now into this military buildup. What is the mood, what is the atmosphere there at the Pentagon? Still hectic, even in the overnight hours, or are things back to a relative routine?
CABELL: No, I will tell you, it was very quiet last night up until this report broke. In fact, for the first time last night, the first time in 17 days, the press office here at the Pentagon closed down, 8:00 last night. It's reopening at 8:00. Fortunately, there was one man in there, one officer, who was able to look into these reports. But no, the halls here at the Pentagon last night were virtually empty, virtually quiet the entire time.
KING: All right, Brian Cabell at the Pentagon, we'll let you go so you can be outside the door when it reopens at 8:00 this morning. And as Brian noted, yesterday officials told CNN that U.S. and British special forces have begun conducting reconnaissance operations inside Afghanistan.
Kyra Phillips now takes a closer look at the units that might be involved and their possible missions -- Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
Well, before we begin, we want to stress to our viewers that we are not giving any specific information about the movement of any special forces. CNN does not report specifics of imminent or real- time military action.
Now, with that said, our military analysts advise us that any potential action would likely begin with the Army Special Forces Green Berets. They specialize in unconventional warfare and train resistance forces in foreign countries. They're experts in strategic reconnaissance and raids and are required to speak and read at least one foreign language.
Now, the way they would likely enter a potential target area is by way of the Air Force Special Operations command. And this unit was created in 1990 and could be used to taxi troops into the area. They command modified transports, gunships, and helicopters in support of Special Ops forces. Their gunships are armed with a number of cannons, and the Air Force para-rescue teams undergo some of the toughest training in the U.S. military.
All right, we're going to move on. It's all right, John, we're going to go and talk about the -- I know there was a question with regard to the British special air service, and we are going to tell you about them and their -- they are in the area.
Their first mission was in 1941. They conducted desert raids in World War II and took part in the 1980 Iranian embassy raid in London. Now it's one of the world's oldest and most respected special forces units, and their motto is, "Who dares, wins."
John, back to you.
KING: Thank you, Kyra.
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