Military

DATE=11/04/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S AFGHANISTAN (L)

NUMBER=2-282664

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: America's top military officer says more U-S troops have moved into Afghanistan. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports General Richard Myers says there has been an increase in the number of specially trained soldiers working with Afghan opposition forces.

TEXT: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers says additional U-S military teams are in Afghanistan.

/// MYERS ACT ///

Just last night and the night before we put in a couple more teams with opposition leaders. And the more teams we get on the ground, the more effectively we will bring air power to bear on the Taleban lines, and we continue to do that.

/// END ACT ///

During an appearance on the N-B-C television news program "Meet the Press," General Myers said the operation is going according to plan and will not be diverted by the harsh Afghan winter.

/// MYERS ACT TWO ///

We are going to fight right through the winter. The winter is not going to stop us from doing what we have to do.

/// END ACT ///

He went on to say the United States will make sure that anti-Taleban forces in Afghanistan have the supplies they need to survive months of cold, freezing rain and snow.

/// MYERS ACT THREE ///

We are re-supplying the opposition with ammunition, with food, with blankets, and we hope - in the not too distant future - with cold-weather gear. The fighting forces on the side of the opposition and on our side will be much better prepared for winter than will the Taleban.

/// END ACT ///

In a subsequent broadcast interview with A-B-C's "This Week," the operation's commander - General Tommy Franks - said the goal is to keep constant pressure on the Taleban and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization. He said it is important to focus on the overall aim of the operation.

/// FRANKS ACT ///

...and that is the destruction of terrorist networks inside Afghanistan who have global reach, and the illegitimate government that harbors them.

/// END ACT ///

Both generals also took strong issue with a report in New Yorker Magazine that said 12 U-S soldiers were hurt last month in a raid on Afghanistan. They said there were injuries related to parachute jumping, but no one was wounded by enemy fire. (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/RAE