The United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan expect increases in the number of enemy forces detained, and are now focusing on how to handle them in as open and transparent a manner as possible, according to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"Whether we hold these detainees in Afghanistan, as we may in some cases; put them aboard ship at sea ...; return [them] to their countries of origin for punishment ...; or whether we bring them back to the United States, which we well may do, we will in every case attempt to do it in the right way," Rumsfeld told journalists at a December 11 Pentagon briefing.

As to how prisoners will be sorted out, Rumsfeld said U.S. and coalition forces have an interest in either Taliban or al-Qaida forces who have useful intelligence information. "We want a chance to talk to them, to interrogate them, to find out what they know," he said.

The United States has less interest in lower-level Taliban forces, said Rumsfeld, and would be content to let a new Afghan government, once established, deal with them.

"With respect to al-Qaida, from the top to the bottom, they're bad folks. They have been doing perfectly terrible things in Afghanistan and around the world, and it would just be a crime if they are let loose..." said Rumsfeld.

The last known bastion of organized al Qaida resistance is in the Tora Bora area, according to General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who briefed along with Rumsfeld. U.S. and coalition air efforts December 10 focused entirely in that area, he said. Armed Taliban elements still occupy small areas of Kandahar, Myers added.

In Tora Bora, Rumsfeld said, opposition forces are continuing to press forward on an al-Qaida-held area that is decreasing in size. The opposition has held in the face of an al-Qaida counterattack, he noted. "It is clearly a major fight," he said. At the border, Pakistani troops are attempting to close escape routes into Pakistan, he added, pointing out that the border's length and porousness make that a difficult task.

Air operations on December 10 also included the use of Commando Solo radio broadcasts, the dropping of leaflets, and the supply of 34,000 additional humanitarian daily rations by two C-17 cargo planes. The total number of air-delivered individual food packages has now reached 2.36 million, Myers said. Also on December 10, relief supplies were moved for the first time across the Friendship Bridge between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.