U.S. Advisers Aid Northern Alliance, Build Cohesion
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2001 -- U.S. advisers are helping the
Northern Alliance become more cohesive, Defense Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld said, but the rebels' ground war against
the Taliban will be marked by successes and reverses.
The United States will help the Northern Alliance and other
Taliban opposition groups when and where it can, he told
reporters at a noontime Pentagon press conference. Rumsfeld
said the number of Americans serving with Northern Alliance
bands more than doubled over the weekend, and U.S. Central
Command planners are seeking more opportunities to place
these special operating forces.
These forces help the Northern Alliance with targeting,
logistics, medical assistance and communications. Their
presence has increased the accuracy and effectiveness of
the air campaign.
Rumsfeld, who just returned from a swing through Central
and South Asia, said he was encouraged by the unanimity the
leaders of the region exhibit against terrorism.
"I found it gratifying to hear from leaders of countries
that are not always in agreement with each other, but who
all agree on the basic principle that terrorism has to be
rooted out and that Afghanistan is indeed the right place
to begin doing that," he said.
Rumsfeld visited Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan
and India during the three-day trip. He said the leaders of
the region gave him useful, valuable insight into the
situation in Afghanistan and the humanitarian problems in
the region.
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, briefed reporters on the campaign in Afghanistan.
He said U.S. pilots flew about 100 attack sorties into the
country Nov. 5. Most of the strikes were in support of the
Northern Alliance. The U.S. military humanitarian ration
airdrop effort continued with 34,000 packages dropped from
three C-17s transports. Commando Solo II radio missions
continue, as do leaflet drops.
Rumsfeld said one aspect of his trip was especially
striking. That is that the events of Sept. 11 "have changed
and are changing the world in ways that we really can't
fully know yet." He said nations in the region and around
the world are rethinking relationships, reorienting
policies and realigning priorities.
"For example, the president's decision to waive certain
military and economic sanctions on both India and Pakistan
will likely have an impact in that region well beyond the
anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan," Rumsfeld said.
He said the United States must find ways to shape this new
world. "We need to avoid the tendency to think simply near-
term, but rather to consider how the world will look five,
10, 15 years out," he said. "(The United States) must take
advantage of this opportunity to work with friends, new and
old, to try to help shape that world."
This global effort is not just aimed at defeating
terrorism, "but to help shape a 21st century security
environment in ways that contribute to peace and security
in what is clearly a still dangerous and untidy world."
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