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CNN Saturday Morning News
U.S. Military Searches Southern Afghanistan for Taliban
Aired December 01, 2001 - 09:33 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: More now on the military campaign in Afghanistan, where the focus is shifting.
Joining us, CNN's Walter Rodgers, who is part of the journalist pool accompanying U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan -- Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Martin.
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 air base 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 criss-cross the desert checking Afghan cars at night, they must determine who are the real civilians and who is carrying gasoline or perhaps other supplies to the remaining Taliban fighters in this area, some of whom are still believed to have Soviet-vintage tanks and other armor.
The worst enemy most of the Marine infantry battalion will encounter, however, is cold -- bitter December night winter cold to be suffered and endured in fighting holes on the perimeter of this air base. The Marines have other enemies in their fighting holes, isolation and boredom. One Marine sergeant told me one of his major tasks is ranging the perimeter from mortar nest to mortar nest just telling the dug-in Marines the latest basketball or football scores and the latest gains made by the Northern Alliance around Kandahar.
Nearly every Marine with whom I spoke was yearning for a fight, a chance to prove themselves in combat. "Anything is better than sitting in these holes in the desert," one corporal said.
Meanwhile, the supply buildup continues. Many cargo flights continue to go all hours of the night here. Every night they offload more and more supplies. That raises the Marines' combat readiness. Combat is what most of these Marines are waiting for. They did not join the Marine Corps to sit in foxholes and tents with the Taliban not that far over the horizon -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: No, I imagine Walter, they did not. Give us an idea, there has been some criticism of the U.S. military not allowing access to journalists. What sort of access do you have there covering the Marines?
RODGERS: Well, the same access that you have to confront in every military situation. You cannot compromise the location or the size of the unit of any group of soldiers that you're covering. And in the case of the Marines, it's no different, and of course you wouldn't want to do that.
Generally in situations like this -- and I was out on the U.S.S. "Carl Vincent" at sea when the first Harrier strikes were launched, and now I'm with the Marines in southern Afghanistan. It starts out very, very slowly, but what you discover is that as a comfort level is built between you and the officers here, it becomes very, very comfortable and the working level gets more and more accommodating.
And as a reporter, you ask, Can I go out and do this? May I cover this? Increasingly, as they feel more comfortable with you, know who you are, talk to you, then they say yes, and they're very, very good about it. But it takes a day or two to work your way into the system, because obviously you're an outsider, you're not a Marine -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: And Walter, the Marines now feel comfortable with their situation where they are now, that they are fortified and ready to move on if called upon, then.
RODGERS: More than -- we were literally walking from foxhole -- the Marines, of course, call them fighting holes -- all along the perimeter today. These guys are more than ready for a fight. They, as I said, did not join the Marine Corps to sit in their tents or their fighting holes. They would like to go into combat.
It's what every young man wants to do, he wants to test himself in battle, or at least most -- many young men -- and that's why they joined the Corps, and that's what they're waiting for. But again, what they're waiting for is orders, which will not come from the general of their unit here in southern Afghanistan, these are orders that are to be given by the Pentagon at some future date, if indeed they come.
The Marines are capable of playing many roles in this fight to rid the world of the al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, but which role has yet to be specified to them. Thus it is largely a reconnaissance patrol mission they're on at this point and a waiting game -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: All right, Walter, we appreciate your insights. Thank you very much. Walter Rodgers, traveling with the U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan.
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