Military

DATE=10/15/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON/RUMSFELD (L)

NUMBER=2-281832

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has lashed out at the leadership of the Taleban and the al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan. Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports Mr. Rumsfeld's commented as U-S air-strikes continue for a second week.

TEXT: Mr. Rumsfeld's criticism is sparked by fresh allegations that the U-S air-strikes in Afghanistan may be killing hundreds of civilians.

/// RUMSFELD ACT ///

We know of certain knowledge that the Taleban leadership and al-Qaida are accomplished liars; that they go on television and they say things that we know are absolutely not true.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Rumsfeld tells reporters the Pentagon has good information about where the weapons that are being fired or dropped from U-S aircraft are going. If there are unintended casualties, he says, defense officials admit it as happened on Saturday when a bomb dropped by a Navy fighter missed a helicopter at Kabul airport and landed in a residential area, killing four civilians.

But Mr. Rumsfeld says other cases blamed on the United States may have in fact involved casualties caused by the Taleban or al-Qaida.

Mr. Rumsfeld repeats past assertions that the U-S campaign is not aimed against the Afghan people. He notes the United States is continuing air-drops of humanitarian relief supplies into the country.

Mr. Rumsfeld also discloses that there have now been leaflet drops and special radio broadcasts to underscore the U-S message.

/// RUMSFELD ACT ///

We are working to make clear to the Afghan people that we support them and we want to help free their nation from the grip of the Taleban and their foreign terrorist allies.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Rumsfeld says U-S forces are aggressively targeting Taleban and al-Qaida leaders, troops and facilities.

/// REST OPT ///

But he declines to comment directly on a published report (New Yorker) suggesting U-S forces missed an opportunity to kill Taleban leader Mullah Omar on the first night of air-strikes. (SIGNED)

NEB/BEL/RAE