Military

DATE= 11/09/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= AFGHAN / WOLFOWITZ (L)

NUMBER=2-282914

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Pentagon is hinting at stepped up humanitarian aid deliveries into Afghanistan as a concession to the coming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. From the Pentagon, V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida has details.

TEXT: Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz says U-S officials are sensitive to Muslim concerns about military activities during Ramadan.

But he tells a small group of radio reporters at the Pentagon that the campaign against the Taleban and the al-Qaida terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden will continue.

///WOLFOWITZ ACTUALITY///

It is a particularly holy time of year for Muslims but if we had a chance to capture bin Laden or some of his senior operatives, it wouldn't matter to me if it was Christmas, or Hanukah or Ramadan, we have to do it.

///END ACTUALITY///

Still, Mr. Wolfowitz hints at some sort of humanitarian gesture by U-S forces.

///WOLFOWITZ ACTUALITY///

It's a time to concentrate even more than we do anyway, which is a lot on things like humanitarian operations.

///END ACTUALITY///

But Mr. Wolfowitz says the Afghan people suffering under what he terms Taleban oppression are Muslims. He says stopping the war and leaving them under Taleban control will not be doing them a favor. ///OPT/// He likens Taleban activities to atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War Two Germany.

///OPT WOLFOWITZ ACTUALITY///

When we achieve our objectives in Afghanistan and people are able to see clearly what the record of the Taleban regime is, I imagine it's going to look a lot like Europe after the Nazis or Eastern Europe after the Soviet Union. When people are free to talk, I think the story is going to come out our way and very clearly.

///END ACTUALITY/// ///END OPTIONAL///

Mr. Wolfowitz says the United States is working actively to enlist more and more Afghans, both in the north and south, to fight the Taleban and foreign terrorists.

But he denies there is any reluctance or unwillingness on the part of the Pentagon to deploy large numbers of U-S ground troops in Afghanistan. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/MAR