18 October 2001
Myers Says Coalition Airstrikes Are Degrading Taliban Forces
(U.S.-led strikes hit a dozen targets October 17) (310)
Washington -- The U.S.-led anti-terrorist military campaign -- now in
its second week -- has made progress in destroying or severely
degrading Taliban infrastructure, setting conditions for future
military operations, and furthering humanitarian relief efforts, says
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers.
Myers, an Air Force general, said at an October 18 Pentagon briefing
that airstrikes were conducted October 17 against more than a dozen
target areas in Afghanistan, including terrorist camps and forces,
Taliban military facilities, airfields, troop deployment and garrison
areas, and command and control centers.
The coalition airstrikes were led by aircraft carrier-based warplanes,
a few F-15 Eagle strike fighters from regional airbases, some
long-range bombers, and AC-130 special operations gunships, he said.
In addition, four more C-17 cargo jets dropped approximately 53,000
humanitarian daily ration packets to Afghan refugees, he said. The
U.S. humanitarian food effort to date has accounted for 450,000 food
ration packets being airdropped to starving Afghans, he said.
Myers said the U.S. military dropped leaflets in two separate
locations in northeastern Afghanistan, as well as continuing aerial
radio news broadcasts.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during brief remarks that the
coalitions formed to battle global terrorism are not showing signs of
unraveling. "There is no single coalition in this effort. This
campaign involves a number of flexible coalitions that will change and
evolve as we proceed through the coming period," he said.
Rumsfeld also said that thus far there are no accurate estimates of
casualties from Afghanistan. He said nearly every estimate coming from
the Taliban has been exaggerated.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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