Military

DATE=10/11/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON / ATTACKS (L)

NUMBER=2-281676

BYLINE=JIM MALONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says ongoing U-S airstrikes continue to target leaders of the Al-Qaida terrorist network and the Taliban government that is harboring them in Afghanistan. The latest on what the U-S Defense Department is saying about the campaign against terrorism now from correspondent Jim Malone.

TEXT: Even as the airstrikes continue, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld was asked by reporters if he thought suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden is still in Afghanistan:

/// 1ST RUMSFELD ACT ///

I am interested in a problem of terrorists and terrorist networks and countries that harbor them all across the globe. And if he were gone tomorrow, the Al Qaida network would continue functioning essentially as it does today. He is certainly a problem. He is not the problem.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Rumsfeld also confirmed that U-S forces are using so-called "bunker buster" bombs in their airstrikes, large, powerful bombs that can penetrate targets buried deep below ground:

/// 2ND RUMSFELD ACT ///

I don't look at all the photography but I have seen several examples where there were enormous secondary explosions that in some cases went on for several hours after targeting underground facilities.

/// END ACT ///

Pentagon officials also showed videotape of some of the attacks on Taleban military targets in Afghanistan including hits on a radio station and a surface to air missile launch site.

In this case, Major General Henry Osman describes video of an attack on the missile site in southern Afghanistan:

/// OSMAN ACT ///

You see the control radar destroyed but the missiles are still in place. We went back on day two and got the missiles. Here is a look at how successful the second strike was. You can see the missiles are no longer there.

/// END ACT ///

Major General Osman says military officials are satisfied with the airstrikes so far and says there are indications that the attacks have disrupted the Al-Qaida terrorist network. He said Wednesday's targets included Taleban troops and antiaircraft sites. (Signed)

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