Military

DATE=11/27/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHAN/RUMSFELD (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-283586

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Despite a series of battlefield victories by U-S and anti-Taleban forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is warning the anti-terrorist campaign inside Afghanistan has entered a difficult and dangerous phase. More from V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: Mr. Rumsfeld hails the progress made thus far in destroying the Taleban and al-Qaida, and in bottling up (confining) their forces in a limited number of areas.

But the Defense Secretary says risks and dangers still exist.

/// RUMSFELD ACTUALITY ///

It's not over. It's going to take some time. It's going to be difficult. It's going to be dangerous. ... People are going to die because of the risks and dangers that exist there.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Tampa, Florida, headquarters of the U-S Central Command -- the military command in charge of the Afghanistan operation -- Mr. Rumsfeld says cities that have fallen to anti-Taleban forces are not necessarily safe.

/// RUMSFELD ACTUALITY ///

There are people in those cities who are hiding, and who are perfectly willing to tie grenades around their bodies, blow up themselves and whoever else happens to be standing around. There are people who have defected, who may redefect. There are people who've gone across borders who may come back across borders. It is a difficult environment for the Americans who are there. It's a difficult environment for the coalition forces that are there. And it's a difficult environment for the opposition forces who are attempting to provide some stability in those villages and towns.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Meanwhile, Army four-star General Tommy Franks, the commander of the Central Command, says U-S forces have identified more than 40 sites inside Afghanistan where al-Qaida terrorists may have been working with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

General Franks says U-S experts have been systematically visiting the sites, and have acquired a large number of samples. But he says it will take time to determine whether there was any serious terrorist work on so-called weapons of mass destruction. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/TW