Military

DATE= 12/18/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHANISTAN U-S (S/L)

NUMBER=2-310987

BYLINE=MICHAEL KITCHEN

DATELINE=KABUL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Top U-S military officer General Richard Myers says if accused terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden is still alive, U-S troops will capture him as they did Iraq's Saddam Hussein. Michael Kitchen reports from Kabul on General Myers visit to Afghanistan.

TEXT: General Myers says he feels confident U-S forces will eventually catch up with the head of the al-Qaida network, blamed for the massive terror attack on the United States in 2001.

/// MYERS ACT 1 ///

If Bin Laden is still alive, and I think most suspect he is, . he will be captured someday, just like we captured Saddam Hussein.

/// END ACT ///

General Myers made the remarks during a visit Thursday to Bagram Air Base, headquarters for U-S forces operating in Afghanistan.

His visit, following a stop in Iraq earlier this week, is part of a morale-building tour, including an entourage of celebrities, such as actor Robin Williams, who performed a comedy routine for the troops.

/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///

General Myers also praised neighboring Pakistan for its role in the fight against al-Qaida.

/// MYERS ACT 2 ///

Pakistan has rounded up and arrested more al-Qaida than anybody else. They have been very effective . from the beginning.

/// END ACT ///

He cited recent Pakistani operations along its border with Afghanistan to flush out militants, including al-Qaida and insurgents using Pakistan as a base to conduct armed attacks inside Afghanistan.

Afghan officials say the majority of these insurgents are remnants of the country's former Taleban regime, overthrown by Afghan and U-S forces two years ago.

General Myers said the Taleban is losing strength and is now conducting guerrilla attacks on Afghan and U-S targets in smaller numbers than six months ago.

Sporadic attacks do continue, however. On Wednesday night, militants burned down a co-ed primary school in Kandahar province and killed a security guard.(SIGNED)

NEB/MK/MEM/FC