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U.S. Army Prepares for Ground Assault in Afghanistan
Saturday, October 13, 2001
(10:55 AM ET)
By Matt Kelley / The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- AP
American soldiers are poised for another phase in the strikes against Taliban and terrorist targets in Afghanistan: action on the ground.

Although U.S. officials won't talk publicly about specifics, special forces are sure to take a prominent role. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested Friday that this week's airstrikes were a prelude to ground action.

"Many of the conventional efforts that you see today are stage-setters for follow-on operations," Myers told reporters at a Pentagon briefing. "Some of those efforts may be visible, but many will not."

After a pause Friday for the Muslim day of worship, the U.S. strikes continued Saturday morning as several earthshaking explosions hit the north side of Kabul.

Military officials have said the airstrikes are becoming increasingly focused on mobile targets, such as convoys of troops for the Taliban, the militia that is sheltering suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network.
(More: The Nando Times News Source)
2001 © AP Online

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