Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Government Statements and Transcripts
US Domestic Responses
International Responses
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

October 25, 2001 Airstrikes

Operations

• RUMSFELD-AFGHANISTAN VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- The top U-S defense official says the United States is making progress in its fight against accused terrorist Osama bin Laden and his hosts in Afghanistan. But he admits the task of locating him and his followers is proving difficult
• AFGHAN ATTACKS VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- U-S warplanes carried out more strikes Thursday against targets near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. Taleban authorities say the strikes were very heavy and that a bus was hit in the attack

video footage and aerials of pre- and post-strikes targets used during DoD news briefing
Click on the small image to view a larger version
Footage showing an Oct. 24, 2001, airstrike on a motor transport facility outside Kabul. Visible at the far left side of the screen, are the warehouses which were destroyed by previous airstrikes on Tuesday October 23, 2001. Another building in this expansive maintenance complex is targeted in this video
Footage showing a direct hit on the Taliban's central corps armored vehicle set up in a defensive position to defend against Northern Alliance attacks near the capital area. The target was hit during an Oct. 24, 2001, airstrike	Footage showing an Oct. 24, 2001, airstrike on a wheeled vehicle. Notice the size of the explosion, which indicates this vehicle may have been a munitions resupply vehicle of some type, or a truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher

Defense Policy / Programs

Government Statements and Transcripts

• Transcript: Defense Department Briefing October 25, 2001 25 Oct. 2001-- Myers: "We have responded in the past few days as best we could to Taliban numbers of alleged civilian casualties that have been linked to our strikes, and we've also made every effort to report accurately on the very few occurrences where our weapons have gone astray. And though we are concerned about any number of unintended civilian casualties, to be honest, the one number, the one horrific number that stands foremost in my mind, is the over 5,000 men, women and children that were killed on 11 September, intentionally killed by the terrorists."
• Text: Ashcroft Warns Terrorists That U.S. Will Find Them 25 Oct. 2001-- Ashcroft: "If you overstay your visa -- even by one day -- we will arrest you. If you violate a local law, you will be put in jail and kept in custody as long as possible. We will use every available statute. We will seek every prosecutorial advantage. We will use all our weapons within the law and under the Constitution to protect life and enhance security for America."
• Congress Approves Anti-Money Laundering Measures US INFO 25 Oct. 2001-- Lawmakers target terrorist financing networks
• Transcript: White House Briefing October 25 on Homeland Security Issues 25 Oct. 2001-- "I'm not prepared to tell you today the range of potential actors who could have created as pure and as concentrated and as respirable an anthrax as we are working on and investigating now. I don't know whether it's a large range or a narrow range," Ridge said.
• Text: Customs Service on Anti-Terrorist Finance Initiative 25 Oct. 2001-- The goal of Operation Green Quest is to augment existing counter-terrorist efforts by bringing the full scope of the government's financial expertise to bear against systems, individuals, and organizations that serve as sources of terrorist funding. The initiative will target current terrorist funding sources and identify possible future funding sources.
• Texts: Treasury Officials on Anti-Terrorism Finance Initiative 25 Oct. 2001-- "The same talent pool and expertise that brought down Al Capone will now be dedicated to investigating Usama Bin Ladin and his terrorist network," Dam said.
• Transcript: Powell Discusses Coalition in Senate Testimony 25 Oct. 2001-- Powell: "The answer to the question is: the president has not given up any of his authority. There are no arrangements within this coalition which in any way, shape, fashion or form constrain the president and the exercise of his constitutional responsibilities to defend the United States of America and to defend the people of the United States."
• Fact Sheet: Humanitarian Aid to the Afghan People as of 10/24 25 Oct. 2001-- The United States leads the international community in providing relief aid to the Afghan people inside their country and in the refugee populations in the border areas of neighboring countries
• Text: U.N. Food Agency Warns of Famine in Afghanistan 25 Oct. 2001-- Beyond the immediate food crisis endangering Afghans, the planting season is being disrupted by current instability. The FAO predicts another poor harvest next year and a serious long-term need to rehabilitate the overall national agricultural system.
• Transcript: Rumsfeld Interview with USA Today, October 24 25 Oct. 2001-- Rumsfeld: "There is no way to defend every where at every time against every technique. Therefore you simply have to go after them."
• Fact Sheet: U.S. Military Efforts to Avoid Civilian Casualties 25 Oct. 2001-- U.S. forces are not using chemical or biological weapons in Afghanistan.
• Byliner: "The Century of the Americas: The Impact of September 11" 25 Oct. 2001-- The unprecedented hemispheric cooperation that has emerged since September 11 is contributing to a genuine sense of community among the governments and peoples of our region. We are very conscious of the challenges we face -- and they are serious -- at the beginning of the "Century of the Americas," but also of the opportunity that is before us.
• Text: Federal Reserve's Greenspan on Globalization, Terrorism 25 Oct. 2001-- Greenspan: "Contrary to much current opinion, developing countries need more globalization, not less. Such a course would likely bring with it greater economic stability and political freedom"

US Domestic Responses

• BUSH BAHRAIN VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- President Bush is increasing military cooperation with Bahrain
• CONGRESS / TERRORISM VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- The U-S Senate by a 98 to one vote - has given final approval to a bill expanding the authority of law enforcement to crack down on terrorists
• Senate Passes $15,500 Million Foreign Operations Spending Bill USIA 25 Oct. 2001-- Measure approved by 96-2 now goes to conference committee

International Responses

• U-N AFGHANISTAN VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- United Nations officials say they are concerned about the possibility of civilians being killed in large numbers, as territory changes hands between warring factions in Afghanistan
• AFGHAN CONFERENCE VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- Hundreds of Afghan exiles and tribal leaders have wrapped up a two-day meeting aimed at establishing a broad-based government in Afghanistan. The meeting was organized by supporters of the former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah
• AUSTRALIA / TERRORISM VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- Australian Prime Minister John Howard says the carnage of the September 11th attacks on the United States has taken terrorism to an unprecedented level

Defense Industry

• ATK Announces Intent to Acquire Ammunition Business of Blount International, Inc. ATK 25 Oct 2001 -- ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE: ATK) said it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire the ammunition business of Blount International, Inc., Montgomery, Ala., in exchange for ATK stock. Blount International, Inc. is 85-percent owned by affiliates of Lehman Brothers.
• First Production Hawkeye 2000 Aircraft Unveiled By Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman 25 Oct 2001 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) held ceremonies earlier this week to celebrate the delivery of the first new production E-2C Hawkeye 2000 airborne early warning and control aircraft to the U.S. Navy.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 25 Oct 2001

News Reports

• CHENEY TERRORISM VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- U-S Vice President Dick Cheney says the war in Afghanistan has entered a new stage
• POWELL/RUSSIA VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- Russia's response to the September 11th terror attacks have helped improve relations with the United States in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago
• TREATING ANTHRAX VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- U-S government health officials have issued guidelines for treating anthrax
• Israeli Peace Bloc VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- Earlier this week President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Palestinian-controlled territory. But Israeli officials said they would not do so until Palestinian security forces arrested those responsible for murdering Israel's tourism minister last week
• RIDGE / ANTHRAX VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- U-S officials say the anthrax in a letter sent to a U-S Senate office building was more deadly than traces of the bacteria found in New York.
• REVIVING AFGHANISTAN VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- In the war against terrorists in Afghanistan, humanitarian concerns are as crucial as military ones, say U-S officials. They must be pursued together if the war is to be won. But that is made difficult by the many sided nature of the conflict, the many contending groups that somehow have to be satisfied
• U-N / TERROR NUKES VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- The top United Nations expert on disarmament issues says terrorists could possibly obtain a miniature nuclear weapon -- but that it would not be easy
• DIPLOMAT/COUNTERTERRORISM VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- A U-S diplomat and counter-terrorist expert says the international coalition in the war on terrorism is a strong
• US-Canada Border after 9/11 VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- One of the fronts in the war on terrorism is the 64-hundred kilometer long border between the United States and Canada. Attorney General John Ashcroft is calling for tighter controls at border checkpoints. But in many of the small towns along the border, there are concerns about the effect that might have on the local economy -- and on a way of life
• REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: AFGHANISTAN VOA 25 Oct. 2001-- Irris Makler is just back from a month in Afghanistan reporting on the conflict. In this reporter's notebook, she tells what it was like - as a journalist and as a woman -- to live and work in northern Afghanistan.
• Relief Agencies Report Getting Aid Into Afghanistan USIA 25 Oct. 2001-- Say time running out to get in enough before winter