U.S. to go after Osama, Al-Qaeda in a big way

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, OCT. 6. With the first of the troops and air support headed for Uzbekistan under a limited arrangement, the United States is saying that the campaign against the Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden, and his Al-Qaeda organisation will be carried out in `dozens' of other countries and that the present campaign has no overtones of being anti-Arab or anti-Muslim.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, said the U.S. would move forcefully against the Al-Qaeda against ``its head, its headquarters in Afghanistan and its boss, Osama bin Laden.'' He said the Al-Qaeda was located in dozens of other countries and ``we are going after those locations as well.''

The Bush administration has not indicated what kind of military operation is in store for terror camps inside Afghanistan. The only impression is that it will not be a major and prolonged land operation.

Rather, small teams of special forces, already on the ground in Afghanistan, will be assisted in a massive manner when the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, makes the final decision.

Almost on a daily basis the official call is going out to the National Guards and the Reservists; and on Friday, following the limited accord with Uzbekistan, soldiers of a Mountain Division based in Fort Drum started making their way to that Central Asian country. These troops have seen action in the Balkans, Somalia and Haiti.

The Bush administration is making elaborate plans for air- dropping of food inside Afghanistan and Washington is using this exercise to see the Taliban's reaction.

Military specialists are saying that the huge transport planes will undoubtedly come under hostile ground fire besides being challenged by jet fighters.

The U.S. military transport planes involved in the air-drops will have fighter escorts. Further, it is being said that the Air- borne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance planes will be used to direct the transport planes and alert escort jets to a scene of action.

The Pentagon is saying that if the relief flights are attacked, the sites could be `taken out'.

Administration officials say vitamins and minerals will be air- dropped in the interior areas of Afghanistan and will not cover refugees in Pakistan and other bordering countries of Afghanistan. The food packets will be rice-based and has been designed in a way that is sensitive to cultural and religious practices.

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Section  : International
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