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CNN Saturday Morning News

Rumsfeld Visits Countries Near Afghanistan

Aired December 15, 2001 - 11:04   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld touring some former Soviet state today to talk about their support of the U.S. led war. Jonathan Aiken of the Pentagon though watching things for us this morning again. Jonathan, good morning.

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill. The United States has received a lot of help from the former Soviet state since the war in Afghanistan began on October 7.

The U.S. Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, heading to the region now to show some thanks, to bolster support, and also seek more encouragement for future support of U.S. activities in the region.

Rumsfeld's first stop as he moved through the caucuses, Azerbaijan. He arrived in Baku Saturday, greeted by President Haydar Aliyev. Rumsfeld will also be visiting Armenia, Georgia, and Uzbekistan during his visit.

All of them want to strengthen ties with the U.S. military, and all of them have allowed United States planes to use their air space during the war in Afghanistan. In fact, there are about 1,000 U.S. troops stationed on the ground in Uzbekistan, largely to help with airlifts and humanitarian efforts.

The Defense Secretary also mentioned while he was flying over to the region, he was talking with reporters who were traveling with him, that U.S. Special Forces that are on the ground around Tora Bora have been entering some of these caves that opposition forces claim to have taken, not so much to do fighting, but to look for intelligence information and also to help the United States get some more information about al Qaeda activities.

In fact, the Defense Secretary said that about 50 al Qaeda fighters had surrendered to U.S. and opposition forces over the past two days, and sustained U.S. bombing.

Unrelated to that group, but still somebody the U.S. is very much interested in talking to, is John Walker, that American Taliban fighter who was captured during the battle for Mazar-e Sharif just a few weeks ago.

Until yesterday, Walker was at Camp Rhino, that forward Marine base southwest of Kandahar. He has since been moved from Camp Rhino, and taken to the USS Peleliu, which is stationed off the coast of Pakistan. There U.S. officials say, he will stay at least for a while.

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GEN. TOMMY FRANKS, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: We'll continue to control him on the Peleliu until a determination is made regarding whether we handle him within the military community, or whether he is handled on the civilian side, and that determination has not yet been made. But he is on the Peleliu, safe and being well cared for.

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AIKEN: I should add, too, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld says a small number of al Qaeda and Taliban fighters continue to be in U.S. custody, people that the United States and some intelligence people would like to be speaking to in more depth. And looking for a place to hold them, the Marines who took Kandahar Airport on Friday are now building a detention facility, and those individuals will be kept there until their disposition is known by military officials. Bill.

HEMMER: Good deal. Jonathan Aiken watching the news at the Pentagon. John, thanks.

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