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CNN Saturday Morning News

U.S. Marines Move Close to Kandahar

Aired December 01, 2001 - 10:01   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: Now to southern Afghanistan where hundreds of U.S. Marines are braving the bitter cold and are huddling in fighting holes. They're within striking distance of Kandahar and Taliban troops.

More now from CNN's Walter Rodgers, who is a member of the journalist pool accompanying the U.S. Marine forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Marine reconnaissance units are now on their nightly patrol in the southern deserts of Afghanistan. They're searching for any of the remaining Taliban who may try to infiltrate or perhaps penetrate the makeshift desert airbase the Marines have established. They say they are also more than combat ready should the Marines get the orders to take offensive action against the Taliban.

The Marines actual contact with the Taliban so far has been very limited. These mobile light armored units combing the desert are supported by Cobra helicopters. Everyone uses night vision goggles and with something still close to a full moon here, the desert is as bright as daylight to these Marine reconnaissance patrols.

The problem for the Marines remains that the Taliban has integrated itself into the local civilian population. That means that as the Marines crisscross the desert, that's checking Afghan cars at night, they must determine who the real civilians and who is carrying gasoline or perhaps other supplies to the remaining Taliban fighters in this area.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: CNN's Walter Rodgers traveling with the Marines and in the U.S. journalist pool.

Well, the U.S. is denying any of its warplanes in Afghanistan were shot down today by the Taliban. CNN's Jonathan Aiken joins us from the Pentagon with more on that and also the latest from Afghanistan -- Jonathan.

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right Marty, a quick and emphatic denial from U.S. officials to reports from the former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan that a U.S. plane was shot down over Kandahar.

We have a map to show you actually where there is activity in the skies over Afghanistan today, two locations to speak of. In Kandahar itself, heavy bombing reported, especially around the airport. These reports coming from people on the ground. And the other area of concentration for U.S. forces is in Jalalabad, to the eastern part of the country.

There, the focus seems to be in the White Mountains, a rugged area filled with caves and some pretty rugged real estate. It is there that about 600 non-Afghan Taliban fighters and supposedly some members of al Qaeda forces are thought to be hiding out. And U.S. bombing efforts are being concentrated in that area.

And the fact that there is activity going on in those two places, Marty, really confirms and reinforces something that U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on CNN, that while success in the Afghanistan mission is likely to come about, it is not going to come any time soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "NOVAK, HUNT & SHIELDS")

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I can't. The situation is so difficult and I would say that it's not just in southern Afghanistan but throughout the country. It is -- it looks as though it's reasonably settled in the northern and western portions. And it's pretty clear; it's still unsettled in the Kandahar and Jalalabad area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AIKEN: And quickly, Marty, U.S. officials working on reports -- working to verify reports that there may have been some problems in bombing over night, that a village about 30 miles to the south of Jalalabad was hit. Eyewitnesses on the ground say anywhere between 100, 200 civilians may have been killed -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: All right, Jonathan, we hope that's not the case. Thank you very much.

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