Posted on 09/17/2001 2:44:27 AM PDT by kattracks
The U.S. military is mapping a hit-'em-high, hit-'em-low strategy against Osama Bin Laden and Afghanistan. Military action would involve both coordinated major air strikes and small-unit commando ground raids by U.S. forces already in place in the region, current and former defense officials said yesterday.
The U.S. appeared to gain a wily and determined ally for the military option within Afghanistan — the rebel forces of the so-called Northern Alliance, controlling about 15% of the territory in the forbidding Hindu Kush mountains of the northeast.
The rebels are fierce opponents of the ruling Taliban militia and have a powerful motive for fighting Bin Laden and aiding the U.S. They buried their legendary leader Ahmed Shah Massoud yesterday.
Massoud, dubbed the Lion of Panjshir for his base in the Panjshir Valley, was assassinated last week, allegedly by suicide bombers working for Bin Laden.
The prolonged overt and covert warfare vowed by President Bush to root out the worldwide network linked to Bin Laden would largely rely on swift and deadly special operations squads prepared to use underhanded means of terror against the terrorists themselves, the officials said.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned that conventional warfare guided by rules of engagement and the Geneva Convention was a poor choice for going after an unconventional foe.
"The terrorists who are attacking our way of life do not have armies, navies or air forces," Rumsfeld said. "They do not have capitals. They do not have high-value targets that the typical weapons of war can go in and attack.
"They're in apartments, and they're using laptops, and they're using cell phones, and they are functioning in the shadows, not out in front," Rumsfeld said.
Given the nature of the enemy, the U.S. will seek to engage terrorists with its own unconventional special operations troops trained in deception, demolitions, hand-to-hand combat and operating behind enemy lines, Rumsfeld said.
"They're unconventional," Rumsfeld said of the Navy SEALs (sea, air, land), Army Special Forces and Rangers, Marine Force Reconnaissance and Air Force Special Operations units. "We're dealing in an unconventional time, and we may very well need more of them," Rumsfeld said.
The brunt of operations in the region would be borne by about 30,000 U.S. military personnel already in place to enforce the Northern Watch and Southern Watch no-fly zones over Iraq.
Operations against Bin Laden and Afghanistan would be directed by Army Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, Fla., in charge of military operations in South Central Asia and the Middle East.
"The initial response could be massive, followed by a sustained effort lasting years to attack terrorist organizations and the governments that aid and shelter them," said retired Rear Adm. Stephen Baker, a senior fellow at the Center for Defense Information.
These are some of the forces Bush could call upon in the region when the decision is made to strike:
Air forces: More than 100 land-based F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon strike fighters in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states and at Incirlik, Turkey. Long-range tankers to refuel the strike aircraft, surveillance planes, radar-jammers and AWACs battlefield coordination jetliners are also on station.
Outside the region, he also has available B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, and 85 B-52 Stratofortresses at several U.S. bases to deliver cruise missiles and precision bombs.
Naval forces: Two aircraft carriers and their battle groups currently patrol the Persian Gulf.
The carrier Enterprise has 68 F-18C Hornet and F-14A Tomcat strike aircraft to deliver a variety of ordnance guided by satellites and land-attack missiles.
The 14 ships in the Enterprise battle group include two Los Angeles-class submarines, two Ticonderoga cruisers and five destroyers capable of launching about 500 Tomahawk land attack missiles.
The aircraft carrier Carl Vinson has 70 F-18s and F-14s. Its battle group includes one submarine, two cruisers and two destroyers.
The U.S. also has several guided-missile cruisers and destroyers in the Mediterranean, along with a U.S. Marine ship-based "special operations-capable" reinforced battalion of about 2,000 troops.
Ground forces: The U.S. has about 30,000 special-operations troops, and several special-op units are already with the Gulf forces. But the elite of the special operations units, including the Navy SEALs, number only about 600.
Baker said the elite forces "already have been recalled to a war footing, and could be conducting operations already" in secret.
Forces in Terror War
Afghanistan
When the Soviet Union pulled out in 1989, after 10 years of occupation, a long civil war began that resulted in Taliban control over most of the country. Bin Laden fought against the Soviets and returned in 1996. In exchange for refuge, he is said to have helped extend the Taliban's control by directing terrorism against its opponents.
Afghanistan has 45,000 Taliban troops, with some tanks and warplanes
Pakistan
Torn between a secular government and powerful fundamentalist forces, it is in a difficult position. Taliban-Pakistani ties date to the Afghans' war against the Soviet Union, and it has a 1,500-mile-long border with the Afghans. The West, Israel and India are fearful about its nuclear weapons falling under the control of fundamentalists. The government has demanded that the Taliban turn over Bin Laden and has accepted a list of U.S. demands, but it must tread a very fine line.
Iraq
Considered a terrorism sponsor by the State Department, Baghdad is the No. 2 suspect in last week's attacks, after Afghanistan. It harbors terrorist groups and mounts its own operations, the State Department says. Leader Saddam Hussein has offered support to Afghanistan, but any marriage is one of convenience between secular Saddam and the fundamentalist Taliban.
Iran
Described by the State Department as the most active sponsor of terrorism. It harbors the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The State Department says it helps support Hezbollah and provides aid to other groups. It has closed its 580-mile-long border to Afghans fleeing possible U.S. strikes. It has condemned last week's attacks.
Saudi Arabia
A conservative monarchy that harbors Islam's holiest city, Mecca, it has allowed U.S. troops and warplanes to be based on its soil since the 1990 Gulf War, an act that infuriated Osama Bin Laden and spurred him to found his terror group. Many of last week's suicide terrorists were Saudis or had Saudi connections. The government has offered to join the anti-terror coalition.
Saudi Arabia 650 U.S. troops, plus F-15 and F-16 warplanes; six British Tornado warplanes
Kuwait
After finding itself defenseless in the Iraqi invasion in 1990, oil-rich Kuwait has allowed U.S. troops and planes to be based on its soil. The U.S. says Kuwait has been invited to join the coalition.
Kuwait has 3,000 U.S. troops, along with tanks, aircraft and a troop supply depot with heavy weapons; 12 British Tornado warplanes
Uzbekistan
The former Soviet republic has its own problems with terrorists and has offered to help the anti-terror coalition. It has an 85-mile-long border with Afghanistan.
Turkmenistan
Another former Soviet republic and dependent on Russia for aid, it probably would need Moscow's permission to allow action across its 460-mile-long border with Afghanistan.
Tajikistan
This former Soviet republic has had three governments and a civil war since 1991. The government has ruled out any strikes across its 750-mile-long border with Afghanistan.
Turkey
Muslim but not Arab, Turkey is a NATO member and serves as a base for U.S. and British warplanes patrolling no-fly zones in Iraq. Its army has been put on alert in case a U.S. strike sparks protests. Secretary of State Powell has phoned the foreign minister about forming a coalition against terrorism.
Turkey has 2,000 U.S. and British support troops, and numerous F-15, F-16 and Jaguar warplanes
Syria
Labeled a terrorist sponsor by the State Department. A number of groups are based here, including Ahmad Jibril's Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah-the-Intifada, George Habash's Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hamas. Syria also lets Hezbollah operate in Lebanon. However, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has pledged support for the anti-terror coalition, Powell said yesterday.
Egypt
One of America's closest allies in the Arab world, it faces unrest sparked by Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Muslim Brotherhood. Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher has pledged Egypt's full cooperation in the investigation of last week's attack.
Jordan
A close ally of the U.S., but it has a large Palestinian population and fundamentalist pressure exerted by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Sudan
Labeled a terrorist state by the State Department, it harbored Osama Bin Laden from 1990 to 1996. President Omar el Bashir's government has condemned last week's attacks.
Libya
Considered a sponsor of terrorism by the State Department, it has taken steps to repair its image, but maintains links with such groups as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command.
Other Forces in the Region
Richard Whitby
LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!
In God We Trust.....Semper Fi
I like the sound of that....
The soviets could set off a suitcase nuke in the U.S., and never be a suspect given the current climate.
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