Two U.S. Navy S3-B Vikings are launched at the same time from the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea, November 11, 2001. At left is a row of F/A-18C Hornet fighter-bombers that were launched against Taliban targets a short time later. REUTERS/Dave Martin-POOL - Nov 11 8:51 AM ET

The rout is on! The hardest thing may be to refrain from being merciful. These times require a cold heart.

Bush and Powell's comments regarding a NA advance on Kabul were a gift to visiting Pakistani Pervez, whose ISI created the Talib and put them in power.

The search for Talib "moderates" (gag) to put in power should be allowed to last for about four days. After that, its on to Kabul.

U.S. warplanes pressed ahead with strikes in support of the Afghan opposition, targeting any Taliban vehicle or tank fleeing south toward the capital, Kabul, the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt said Monday.

Somebody tell the Taliban, "SPEED LIMITS ENFORCED BY AIRCRAFT."

"That break was used for swimming in the sea and grilling burgers on the flight deck."

Did they make bacon cheesburgers? Why can we not take the grease and smear it on the warheads. Better yet, have every household in America to donate the grease trappings and dump it on Taliban like a fire fighting plane would water on a fire. Just a thought.

I'm in general agreement with this. There may well be an optimal 'window of opportunity' for the NA to take Kabul. If the US tries to completely deny the NA this, the NA may either go ahead against express US wishes, or hold off and have it turn into a much harder task in the future, which could create its own problems for all concerned.

I'd personally like to see the Bush administration play some real hardball with the UN now - make the UN take on some responsibility for a transitional Afghani govt.

... STRICTLY ENFORCED ...

I'd like to see the Bush administration give the UN an ultimatum - either commit 'peacekeeping' troops (sans US troops) to Afghanistan, or the US pulls completely out of Bosnia and Kosovo.

That'd be win-win for the US, either way, IMO.

Since the Roosevelt left home port in Norfolk, Va., Sept. 19, the crew of 5,500 have had only one no-fly day. That break was used for swimming in the sea and grilling burgers on the flight deck.

Here is a photo of some of them enjoying their one day off.

With the Taliban on the run, it was no time to give the tired aircraft carrier crew a break, he said.

This is a piece of $hit. Tired crew? Or tired reporter?

My son spent 4 years of the TR (CVN-71), including the Persian Gulf during Gulf Storm, and I had the privilege of being on board for a one day cruise out of Norfolk. The guys that I met on that ship were extremely professional and dedicated. I doubt very much that they would admit to being tired - even though they may very well have a right to be.

Of course I was proud of my son. But I gained a very strong respect for the kids who ran that ship. And I doubt that things have changed in the last ten years. They are more than up to the task.

Uh, how many days on the line did they have prior to the day off?

Also, please note that the ATO may have given them some downtime.

Gulf Storm

OOPS!!! Make that Desert Storm.

Uh, how many days on the line did they have prior to the day off?

Also, please note that the ATO may have given them some downtime.

What's your point? My point was that no matter how much they deserved a rest, the crew would press on regardless. I still think that the reporter was tired and didn't really appreciate the dedication of the crew.

As for the Steel Beach party, I'm glad that they were able to have one.

"Over the last few days, we're really starting to see the fruit of that labor," O'Hanlon said, citing the capture of the strategic town of Mazar-e-Sharif by anti-Taliban forces in the north.

But I thought the press all told us we couldn't win this war, that it's too difficult, that the Soviets lost, that winter is coming, that bombing can't win wars, that bombing will just strengthen the resolve of the Taliban, that the Taliban is stronger than we thought, that the Taliban is stronger than we think, that the coalition will be unhappy, that the UN will be unhappy, that peaceful Muslims will be unhappy, that we should give peace a chance and that the WTC attacks were our fault anyway.

What? Was the press wrong?

My first point: regarding the time on the line, if they've been hopping since Day One of this fracas, they're just about worn out.

Second point: if the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) Air Tasking Order (ATO) says "no sorties for TR squadrons today," then the guys have earned a brief rest.

The task of our warriors is to kill our enemies, day and night, until they are ordered to desist. This is glorious duty for which they earn our eternal thanks. It's also very good practice for some harder tasks to come.

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I am told that the "Angel of Death" was responsible for most of that work. By the way she was the first AC-130 used in Afghanistan.....

Great pic, thanks! Hey, these guys average 19 years of age, or so - just think back to when to when we were that age, and all the stuff we were able to do at that age - the raghead game's afoot - pursue, kill - end of story!

Unchain our dogs.