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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

America's New War: Bush Administration Assessing Its Military Options

Aired September 19, 2001 - 20:00   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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, military options. Facing a new kind of war, America extends its reach, building a new alliance and ordering dozens of aircraft to forward bases. We'll go live to the Pentagon, the White House, and the State Department.

A powerful battle group heads out to sea, we'll take you aboard the carrier Theodore Roosevelt, which can launch 75 warplanes of its own. But can all this might be effective against an illusive foe?

The U.S. has other far less visible options for waging war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sometimes we'll never see what may be taking place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We'll go to Fort Bragg for a look at the capabilities of U.S. Special Operations forces. And we'll ask a former Green Beret, are they up to the challenge as America weighs its military options.

Good evening, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Washington. Here's a look at today's latest developments. President Bush will address Congress and the nation tomorrow. The president says he wants to answer many of the questions people have about what the American response will be to last week's attacks.

French president Jacques Chirac was in New York City today to view the work going on there. President Chirac told Mayor Rudy Giuliani the French press is calling Giuliani - quote -- "mayor hero."

President Bush met with the foreign minister of Germany in the Oval Office today as work continues in Washington to build an international coalition to fight the war on terror.

The New York Stock Exchange, meanwhile, went through its second- busiest trading day on record with late buying helping the markets regain some ground. Still, the Dow closed down 144 points at 8,759. The Nasdaq lost 27 points to close at 1,527. The airline industry is still coping with the fallout from the attacks. Today American Airlines announced layoffs. The company is cutting at least 20,000 jobs.

The U.S. anti-terrorism campaign now has a tentative name, "Operation Infinite Justice," and the build up of military forces is under way. Let's go live to CNN military affairs correspondent Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon.

Jamie, tell us about troop movements.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Pentagon sources say within days dozens of combat and support aircraft will be moved to forward bases likely in the Persian Gulf region. Sources say a second wave of deployments could push the total number of aircraft deployed to more than 100. Sources say the planes will move to bases in the Persian Gulf, seen here, where the U.S. already has support facilities in place. Those planes, when they are alerted to go, will be able to confirm that they're being deployed but they will not be able to confirm their destination.

Meanwhile, today in Norfolk, Virginia, the deployment of the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, normally a routine event, today, took on extra significance, as it seems clear that these sailors may be steaming into harm's way. It will be several weeks though before they arrive in the region if in fact, that's where they're going.

Among the first planes to be deployed, as part of this deployment, U.S. Air Force B-1 and B-52 bombers. Sources say that the B-52 is capable of launching air launch cruise missiles, will likely be at a British base in Diego Garcia. That could allow the United States to free up an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf and put more firepower off the coast of Pakistan.

Already, the United States has one aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, the USS Enterprise. The Carl Vincent carrier group is in the Persian Gulf. It could be moved into the Arabian Sea. And as I said, the Roosevelt has deployed. It could also end up in the region, giving the United States - the president more options in terms of carrier-based aircraft within striking distance of targets in Afghanistan.

And one other thing tonight, Wolf, Pentagon sources here confirm that some civilians aides to Rumsfeld are actively advocating, possibly launching strikes against Baghdad in an effort to take out Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. That is a mission that the U.S. military believes has a low probability of success - Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon, thank you very much.

And as it flexes its military muscle, the United States is also depending on the help of other nations. Pakistan is being asked to play a crucial role in any U.S. move against neighboring Afghanistan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN (through translator): America is asking for our support in three main areas - bilateral information exchange, the use of our airspace and third area where they need our support is logistic support.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The decision by General Pervez Musharraf, the leader of Pakistan, to stand with the U.S. has already led to protests in Pakistan, one of only three countries to recognize Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. Acknowledging the risk, General Musharraf says Pakistan is facing one of its most critical periods ever.

Expressing his appreciation for Pakistan's help, President Bush continued his coalition-building efforts today. In meeting with key lawmakers, he announced his plans to address a joint meeting of the Congress and the nation. Let's go live to CNN senior White House correspondent John King.

John, what was reaction to what President Musharraf had to say in Pakistan?

JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The reaction here at White House is that they were elated with what he had to say. Not only did he promise to help the United States, we are told by senior administration officials, Pakistan already providing critical intelligence information. The public promised to allow U.S. warplanes in its airspace, perhaps even to use Pakistani ground installations as staging operations. That was greeted here with optimism at the White House, as well as the statement in public by the Pakistani leader that this was not a war against Islam. At the same time, a very defensive tone, General Musharraf urging his people to choice wisdom over emotion. They realize here at the White House that the longer this goes on, the more trouble the leader of Pakistan might be in at home -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And John, give us a preview, if you can, of what we expect to hear from the president when he address Congress tomorrow night.

KING: Well, his National Security adviser, Condoleeza Rice told us tonight the president does not plan to announce any military act. Most White House officials saying they do not believe any military strikes are imminent but they say the president wants a chance to go before the American people to build a broad case against terrorism not just about Osama Bin Laden and strikes against Afghanistan. The president to tell the American people the war on terrorism will be lengthy and costly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: I look forward to the opportunity to explain to the American people, who it is and who would do this to our great country and why. Why would people choose America? Now, a lot of our citizens have got a lot of questions about what has taken place on September the 11th and subsequent to that. And I owe it to the country to give an explanation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Aides already at work on that address, Wolf, 9:00 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow night to a joint session of the Congress.

BLITZER: Just less than 24 - a little bit more than 24 hours from now. Thank you very much, John King.

The president and the secretary of state, Colin Powell, are also pressing Russia for help in the war on terrorism. CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel joins us now to pick up that part of the story - Andrea.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, when it comes to dealing with terrorism, the United States and Russia are literally reading from the same page, as one Russian diplomat told me earlier today. Unlike American citizens, Russians have been dealing with acts of terrorism in Russia for years.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOPPEL (voice-over): Putting disagreements aside for the moment, the Russian foreign minister made clear to President Bush their countries are on the same side in a war against a common enemy: terrorism.

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Even as we speak, the exchanges of information are under way related to the activities of different extremist and terrorist organizations, including in Afghanistan.

KOPPEL: A country the Russians know all too well. In the 1980s, Soviet troops fought Afghanistan's Mujahideen in an unsuccessful grab of the country. Hoping to capitalize on that experience, the Bush administration is looking for Russian cooperation in a number of areas: to share its knowledge in the mountainous, rugged terrain of Afghanistan; to provide intelligence on Osama Bin Laden, his terrorist network and the Taliban militia in Afghanistan; the U.S. also wants Russia to use its influence with countries like Iran and Syria, to end what the U.S. claims is state sponsored terrorism; and to support U.S. efforts to convince former Soviet republics in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to join this international campaign against terrorism.

A senior State Department official said Foreign Minister Ivan Ivanov told Secretary Powell, Russia would not stand in the way of cooperation between U.S. and Central Asia. And in exchange for all this help, what do the Russians want? According to Secretary Powell, nothing.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We talked about all of these items, as we always do -- missile defense, ABM, Chechnya, but they presented no linkages between that and the current incident.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KOPPEL: But what Russia says it does want, Wolf, is to eradicate terrorism even if it means using force. But so far, Russian officials say that the Bush administration hasn't asked it to participate in any kind of military operation or for that matter, to even think about perhaps sending Russian troops back into Afghanistan, Wolf.

BLITZER: Andrea, the secretary, Powell had another visitor at the State Department today, Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. Where does the - where do the Saudis fit into this current coalition-building effort?

KOPPEL: Well, as you know Saudi Arabia is a moderate, Arab state and is really a critical player in building Arab support and Muslim support around the world for this international coalition. And while publicly, you're hearing positive statements, privately, as well, we're hearing at least -- one Saudi diplomat told me they're a 100 percent behind the U.S. but when you listen to the foreign minister in just a moment you'll hear him essentially say that the U.S. must proceed with caution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER: We can't fight terrorism by becoming vengeful. We can fight terrorism by being clear-headed, identify the guilty and pursue their mercilessly until we bring them to justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Reading between the lines here, Wolf, what Foreign Minister Faisal is saying is that he's really concerned that President Bush is a relatively inexperienced president in foreign policy, someone from Texas is going to move ahead like a Texas gunslinger and start firing away before countries like Saudi Arabia are able to prepare their people for the fact that this not a war against Islam; it's a war against terrorism - Wolf.

BLITZER: Andrea Koppel at the State Department, thank you very much.

And they'll be asked to play a key role in anti-terror operations, but are they ready? We'll take a behind-the-scenes look at America's Special Operations forces. And, we'll pay a visit to the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, which may be heading in harm's way. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. The military's Special Forces will play a key role in the war against terrorism. CNN's Brian Nelson reports tonight from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where army airborne units are already gearing up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Who are the U.S. military's Specials Ops teams? They are the elite, among them the Navy SEALS, whose name stands for operations on sea, air and land, the Army's Green Beret whose fame was sealed in the hills of Vietnam, the U.S. Army Rangers, often found on the frontlines of many conflicts. In all, almost 47,000, the top two percent of the U.S. military's might.

As the U.S. plans its response, all of these Special Forces units would probably be woven together into one combined operation. For example, the Army Rangers are best known for quick raids and seizing airfields, the Green Beret, their language skills and abilities to train guerrilla trips, U.S. Navy SEAL teams specializing in underwater reconnaissance and demolition and the U.S. Air Force's Special Ops, skilled at getting behind enemy lines, extracting people and re- supplying and the Army's clandestine Delta Force, whose troops are trained for hostage rescue.

How might they all be used?

TOM STANLEY, FORMER SPECIAL OPS SOLDIER: There will be military action in Afghanistan and it would probably start with a bombing campaign to soften up military targets until it soft enough where some U.S. forces can go in, establish some airheads, get some airfields and get some conventional forces on the ground and just to control population mainly and then, get in the mountains and start looking for Bin Laden.

NELSON: Much of their equipment is specially modified to adapt into their specialized roles and can go in behind enemy lines undetected.

RET. GEN. WILLIAM PATTERSON, FORMER SPECIAL OPS COMMANDER: In Special Operations mission, a routine mission, if you're detected on the way to target, you may as well turn around and go home, you've failed.

NELSON: And there has been failure. In Iran, after one helicopter collided with a transport plane, forcing the scrubbing of a rescue mission of American hostages in 1980. And in Somalia, where the U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force lost 18 of their men when their chopper crashed and they found themselves fighting a heavily-armed enemy.

(on camera): If many of these units are gearing up to see action, they're not saying so publicly nor would they. Their trademark is stealth.

Brian Nelson, CNN, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Now, we're joined by a guest with the unique, insider's view of what the military, specifically the Special Operations forces, could be facing. Bob Bevelacqua is a former Green Beret and currently is senior security analyst for Colsa Corporation. Thanks for joining us Bob.

BOB BEVELACQUA, FORMER GREEN BERET AND SECURITY ANALYST, COLSA CORPORATION: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: The fact is there have been spectacular failures, as Brian Nelson just pointed out. Are the Special Operation forces, right now, do you think ready for kind of mission in Afghanistan that they might be asked to do?

BEVELACQUA: Yes, sir, absolutely 100 percent. I think this mission will be tailor made for them.

BLITZER: Why do you say that?

BEVELACQUA: Well, I see a traditional, unconventional warfare fit for what needs to be done in Afghanistan.

BLITZER: You know the Afghanis have had their share of special operation forces, including some of the elite forces from the former Soviet Union. Only today, Boris Gromov, he's a former general of the Soviet Union, he said this about their ill-fated experience in Afghanistan - quote - "I know from my own experience, that sending ground forces into Afghanistan can never come to any good... Sending in troops won't win the Americans any laurels."

Those are - that's an admonition.

BEVELACQUA: Yes, sir and Osama Bin Laden never attacked Russian civilians. America is ready. The United States Army is ready. They have challenged the sovereignty of the United States.

BLITZER: You know a lot of the people -- you know this, I used to be a Pentagon correspondent. For many years, the Special Operations forces were almost a stepchild. The generals, the Pentagon brass wanted to deal with the aircraft carriers, the fancy jets fighters, the armored core of Special Operations was sort of relegated to the sidelines. Do you think there's been a change over the recent years?

BEVELACQUA: Yes, I definitely do. Recent missions in Haiti, applications in Bosnia have shown the benefits of using the personal human touch of having an operator on the ground that understands cultural communication, language ability and the ability...

BLITZER: Well, let me interrupt you. Do you think there's a lot of Special Operation forces who speak languages that they speak in Afghanistan right now?

BEVELACQUA: I know there's a good number of forces that speak Persian Farsi.

BLITZER: That's not in Afghanistan, that's in Iran.

BEVELACQUA: Roger and I do understand that we have the ability to bring in interpreters much the same way we did in Haiti. We had a very small population that spoke Haitian Creole. It's really impressive to see how quick all the forces can pull together linguists in order to supplement your package when you go in. BLITZER: If they go and any time soon, what will be greatest danger you think they're going to face in Afghanistan and dealing with the Taliban, let's say, potentially, and the Osama Bin Laden Al Qaeda organization?

BEVELACQUA: The biggest threat to a Special Operations unit operating anywhere is compromise. Do not attempt to stick out. You want to hide in the shadows. The biggest threat is being compromised.

BLITZER: And the biggest need is good intelligence and...

BEVELACQUA: Yes, sir.

BLITZER: ... a lot of experts say, right now, there's a lack of intelligence of what's going on in that country.

BEVELACQUA: That is a true statement.

BLITZER: The terrain is quite dangerous as well. Bob Bevelacqua, thanks for joining us. You'll be back.

BEVELACQUA: Thank you, sir.

BLITZER: We appreciate it very much. And when we return, as scheduled, the USS Theodore Roosevelt heads out to sea, but its mission may be anything but routine. Onboard the Roosevelt when it departed was our own CNN's Jeanne Meserve. We'll hear from her live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt battle group left its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, today, headed for the Mediterranean Sea in what's described as perhaps points east. CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us now live from the Norfolk Naval Base, after briefly traveling out to sea with the crew.

Jeanne, tell us how it was.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, they flew the press back here to the Norfolk Naval Base just about an hour ago. This morning, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and six members of its battle group set sail from the port of Norfolk. As you say, the Mediterranean, its first objective. But tonight, onboard that aircraft carrier, F-16 tomcats and F-18 hornets are thundering on and off the decks. They are practicing their takeoffs and their landings and their touch and goes.

Tomorrow, the rest of the air wing will arrive on the Roosevelt. This will consist of tankers and jammers, airborne command and control, and also, helicopters. More than 70 aircraft in all will be on this aircraft carrier. That is its usual compliment but there is little else about this deployment that is routine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ADMIRAL MARK FITZGERALD, USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT: A routine deployment, you have a schedule, you know where you're going, you know what your mission is. Right now, we don't have a schedule. We know we're going to the Mediterranean. Where we go from there, we don't know. And our mission could be anything from drop bombs to provide a safe haven for folks to you know, keeping the sea lines open for the economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: There will be 15 vessels in this battle group. There will be frigates and cruisers and destroyers and submarines. They will carry a wide array of weapons, including tomahawk missiles. They also carry rather 15,000 sailors and the Marines. The Marines are part of an ARG, an Amphibious Ready Group. This can deploy 2,000 combat ready Marines in a short amount of time virtually any place.

Some of those Marines also left Norfolk this morning onboard the USS Baton. It was an emotion moment. There were the tearful and precious good-byes and hugs and tears with family.

Many of these men who are going to sea are very young. On the Roosevelt, the average age is less than 21 and 65 percent of the sailors onboard the Roosevelt are going on first deployment. They are leaving their families. They will be gone through the holidays and they are understandably nervous about the uncertainty of what they will face.

I hasten to add thought that there are many others who we spoke to onboard these ships who are anxious to get out and do their job. They feel they are ready for whatever mission they are assigned. That mission, however, is still something of a mystery.

We are told that the Norfolk will be off the coast for another couple of days as the pilots continue to get certification on their takeoffs and landings and touch and goes - excuse me, the Roosevelt. They then will be heading for the Mediterranean. That's a journey that normally takes about seven days. All told then, it will take them about ten days to get there.

The commander of the battle group told us that they could get there sooner but they have not been given any instructions to go any faster. Where they go after the Mediterranean is still a mystery, we're told to everyone onboard.

Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: OK, Jeanne Meserve, we'll be watching. Thank you very much.

And we'll be back with another look at the latest developments as America considers its military options. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Finally, tonight, here's a quick recap of the latest developments. The Pentagon is sending dozens of warplanes to forward bases in the Persian Gulf region. The order includes fighters but heavy bombers could also go to the region.

A council of religious scholars is meeting in Afghanistan to decide whether to hand over Osama Bin Laden, considered the leading suspect in masterminding last week's attacks.

President Bush will address the nation tomorrow night and Congress to talk about the attacks and America's response.

That's all time we have tonight. Please stay with CNN throughout the evening for continuous coverage of "America's New War."

House Majority leader Dick Armey, Senators Hillary Clinton and John Biden and Queen Noor of Jordan are among Larry King's guests at the top of the hour.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. I'll see you tomorrow night. Until then, thanks very much for watching. "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" begins right now.

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