09 October 2001
Rumsfeld, Myers Say Allies Control Afghan Skies
(U.S. defense leaders brief on targets struck, food delivered) (490)
By David Denny
Washington File Staff Writer
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman
General Richard Myers said October 9 that the United States and its
military allies taking part in air strikes on Afghanistan now have
control of the skies above that country.
"I think essentially we have air supremacy over Afghanistan," said
Myers, an Air Force general.
Briefing journalists at the Pentagon, the two defense officials gave
details on the so-far successful military bombing and humanitarian aid
campaign that is now into its third day.
"We're moving along well toward our goal of creating conditions
necessary to conduct a sustained campaign to root out terrorists and
to deliver the humanitarian relief to the civilians of Afghanistan as
we are able," Rumsfeld said.
Responding to questions on whether the bombing campaign would also
include close air support to anti-Taliban forces who say they are
planning to launch ground attacks soon, neither official would rule
the possibility in or out. "Let there be no doubt, those elements on
the ground -- the tribes in the south, the Northern Alliance, elements
within Taliban that are anti-al Qaeda -- we're encouraging them. We
would like to see them succeed.
"We would like to see them heave the Al Qaeda and the Taliban
leadership, that has been so repressive, out of that country. Don't
make any mistake about that," said Rumsfeld.
Both officials provided details on the operations carried out during
the night of October 8 in Afghanistan. Rumsfeld said several terrorist
training camps, all but one airfield, anti-aircraft radars and
surface-to-air missile launchers were struck in the attacks. Myers
said the strikes were made on a total of 13 targets, and were carried
out by five-to-eight land-based bombers, 10-to-15 strike aircraft, and
by 15 sea-launched cruise missiles.
"Not a lot is left of their ... land-based communication system,"
Myers said. But Rumsfeld had noted earlier in the press briefing that
the damage inflicted is not permanent. "The runways that are damaged
are not permanently damaged, either. I mean, anything can be repaired,
and they can bulldoze in and fill it over some period of time. But all
of it adds costs, all of it adds time, and all of it puts pressure on
them," he said.
In addition, 37,500 more food packages were airdropped into the
country, duplicating the humanitarian drop made on the previous night.
Responding to a question suggesting the airlifts were "woefully
inadequate," Rumsfeld agreed that the "preferred way to deliver food
is not from the air, it is from the ground. ... And to do that, one
has to create a situation on the ground where that's possible."
(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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