By David Denny
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States and coalition air forces have in recent days been seeking out troop concentrations of Taliban and al-Qaida fighters, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said October 22.

Rumsfeld told reporters at a Pentagon briefing that the United States is "happy and eager and willing to do what we can to help seek out and destroy the Taliban and al-Qaida forces." He said the U.S. is, and has been, ready to have the anti-Taliban alliance forces move, both north and south.

Asked whether the air attacks on ground forces were timed to allow the anti-Taliban opposition to capture the Afghan capital of Kabul before the onset of winter, Rumsfeld said the reason for the attacks "is to destroy Taliban and al-Qaida forces."

Also at the briefing, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Richard Meyers said air strikes on October 21 focused on eight planned targets, including Taliban forces deployed and in garrison. About 85 aircraft were used, he said, including about 75 carrier-based planes and the rest long-range bombers.

On October 20, air strikes included terrorist forces and camps among six planned targets, Myers said. About 90 strike aircraft were used, including about 85 tactical jets, primarily carrier-based. The rest were long-range bombers, he said.

Asked what the U.S. policy would be regarding military actions during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, Rumsfeld said he recognized the sensitivities of some participating governments. He added that dealing with terrorists sooner is likely to result in fewer terrorist attacks, and that "history is replete with instances where Muslim nations have fought ... among themselves or with other countries during various important holy days for their religion and it [has] not inhibited them historically."

Humanitarian daily rations continued to be airdropped, said Myers; 52,000 were dropped on October 20, and an unannounced number October 21. The total to date is about 700,000 daily food packages, he said.