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Retaliation: One month of war

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SUMMARY:

The war on terrorism hits the one-month mark as Kandahar, the home of the Taliban's spiritual leader, was hit with intensive airstrikes.

UPDATE:

U.S. warplanes launched intense attacks on Taliban positions in and around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Wednesday. Witnesses reported massive air activity with what were believed to be AC-130 gunships flying low over Kandahar and facing no return fire from Taliban forces. (Full story)

One month after the first airstrikes, suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden is reputed to remain at large, as are key al Qaeda and Taliban leaders. Anti-Taliban forces have yet to capture a major Afghan city. The U.S.-led antiterrorism coalition is fighting perceptions it is losing the propaganda war. Yet the United States remains optimistic. Just this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reported "measurable progress" in the campaign, and Northern Alliance forces hinted that they may soon be advancing. (Full story)

Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmonov said Wednesday the United States may use two of his country's airfields if they are needed for the military campaign in Afghanistan. He said a U.S. military team is looking at airfields in Khodzhent, Kurgan-Tybe, and Kulyab. (Full story)

The young sons of accused terrorist Osama bin Laden are seen running and playing in a video broadcast Wednesday by the Arabic-language television network Al-Jazeera. Hamza bin Osama bin Laden, one of the four sons in the televised report, is heard saying in Arabic that the Afghan capital of Kabul will not fall in the U.S.-led military campaign, and its citizens remain proud. (Full story)

Pakistan's Foreign Minister has asked the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan not to hold press conferences that malign a third country, a spokesman for the foreign minister said Wednesday. The Taliban ambassador has not responded to the request. (Full story)

The United Nations Security Council is blaming Taliban misrule in Afghanistan for the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country after the Taliban called on the U.N. to help thousands of displaced Afghans who are facing rapidly deteriorating conditions as a result of worsening weather and continued U.S. bombing. (Full story)

Italy will provide a 2,700-strong force for the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan, including naval, air and ground units. Defense Minister Antonio Martino said the majority of Italy's military contribution would be involved in logistical and defensive operations, but added that a limited number might be involved in combat operations. (Full story)

 VIDEO
CNN's Rula Amin reports on reactions by Arab foreign ministers to the latest statements by Osama bin Laden (November 4)

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U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld assures Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf of continued support. CNN's David reports (November 4)

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  •  Summary

  •  Update

  •  Key questions

  •  Who's who

  •  Impact


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KEY QUESTIONS:

What kind of government will replace the Taliban if the religious group is removed as the country's government? (Click here for more)

Where are the Taliban positioning troops and equipment in civilian areas? Does this factor into where the U.S. decides to strike? (Click here for more)

What effect will the support and opposition within Pakistan of the U.S.-led military strikes have on the war against terrorism?

When will the Northern Alliance, the anti-Taliban group that controls up to 10 percent of Afghanistan, begin a ground offensive to take the capital of Kabul? Are they making any progress? (Click here for more.)

What is life like in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, with increasingly intense U.S. airstrikes overhead? (Click here for more.)

How long will the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan last? (Click here for more.)

What is the goal of the U.S. airstrikes over Afghanistan? What is the key to the mission's success? (Click here for more.)

What is the White House doing to prevent al Qaeda from airing what it calls "propaganda" on U.S. media outlets? (Click here for more.)

Who are the key players in the political landscape of Afghanistan, and how could U.S. military intervention affect the balance of power there? (Click here for more.)

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president (Click here for more.)

Osama bin Laden: A wealthy Saudi expatriate living in Afghanistan who U.S. authorities cite as one of the primary suspects in masterminding the attacks. (Click here for more.)

Condoleezza Rice: U.S. national security adviser. (Click here for more.)

Colin Powell: U.S. secretary of state. A former Army general, Powell also served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Click here for more. (Click here for more.)

Gen. Richard B. Myers: Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Click here for more.)

Gen. Tommy Franks: Head of U.S. Central Command. (Click here for more.)

Donald Rumsfeld: U.S. secretary of defense. (Click here for more.)

George Tenet: CIA director. (Click here for more.)

Northern Alliance: A group of former mujahedeen fighters, mainly from minority ethnic groups that oppose the Taliban. The group controls about five percent of northern Afghanistan.

George Robertson: Secretary-General of NATO (and former British defense minister) (Click here for more.)

IMPACT:

The military attacks that began October 7 mark the start of what the Bush administration says will be a lengthy struggle against terrorist organizations worldwide -- one that could take years.



 
 
 
 



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