Following are excerpts regarding Afghanistan from the transcript of Powell's briefing:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman (Aboard the Secretary's Aircraft)
released October 18, 2001
PRESS BRIEFING BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL ABOARD AIRCRAFT EN ROUTE TO SHANGHAI

October 17, 2001

QUESTION: Just to follow up, what will you be looking for in terms of contributions to the campaign against terrorism and also toward a future in Afghanistan?

SECRETARY POWELL: As you know, every nation is making a contribution in a way that is appropriate for them. In some cases it is just diplomatic and political support and in other cases it's a contribution of military forces. The Australians made a very strong statement by their commitment of military forces which Prime Minister Howard, I think it was yesterday or today, I can't recall, I'm losing what day we are in. Most of the arrangements that we make like that are bilateral or within the NATO context. I don't know that we have any specific requests to put before any of the nations that will be here that we have not already put before them. I'm not expecting any significant additional announcements of troop contributions or other elements of support that we are not already aware of, but my Pentagon colleagues are hard at work while I have been traveling through south Asia. If something comes up I will be sure to let you know.

....

QUESTION: On a step from A to Z, if A in Afghanistan is this political vacuum that you fear and Z is some sort of functioning parliament, whatever broad-based government you form, I'd like to know what you're thinking about how you get from A to Z?

SECRETARY POWELL: We may see a political vacuum immediately or sort of a deteriorating situation that leads to a political vacuum. And I think what you are going to need, as I said before, is some sort of broad-based assemblage of individuals and leaders representing all aspects of Afghan society who will come together with a common purpose and perhaps using the position of the king as a rallying point and, from that, let them come up with some ideas of how they wish to be governed in the future. Then use the United Nations as the facilitating body that will help them go back into the country. Provide a sense of order and have the UN perhaps perform some interim role as they are organizing themselves and gathering their strength and developing the capability they need to govern themselves.

It's not something that the United States or any other nation is going to be able to dictate. I think it's something that we have to help them with, something that we have to help them get organized, support, and use international bodies as has been used in the past in other situations, Cambodia, East Timor, not that those are models. This one is rather unique. The UN has experience in doing this kind of thing and Mr. Brahimi is quite experienced in this regard as well.

(end excerpt)
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