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U.S. Casts Dragnet To Snag Al Qaeda, Taliban Leaders
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

There are 221 detainees under U.S. control. There are 200 detainees in Kandahar, eight aboard the USS Bataan, 12 in Bagram and one in Mazar-e Sharif.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
The United States will use whatever resources needed – including special operations forces – to capture the Al Qaeda and Taliban leadership, Pentagon officials said Jan. 2.

"Special operations forces are involved in the search for Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership," said Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem. "They are taking part with anti-Taliban forces. In that regard, they are on the hunt."

Pentagon spokeswoman Torie Clarke said the United States expects to have control of Taliban leader Mohammad Omar and Al Qaeda head Osama bin Laden when they are captured. She said the Afghan interim government, headed by Hamid Karzai, understands the U.S. position.

Clarke and Stufflebeem attempted to clear up confusion about the mission of Marines based in Kandahar. News reports had the Marines specifically searching for Omar. Security reasons are, in part, responsible for the confusion.
(More: DoD News Source)
2001 © The United States Department of Defense.

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