Special operations troops aboard U.S. carrier

WASHINGTON -- Special operations troops capable of clandestine warfare are aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean awaiting a call to action, military officials said Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that the military portion of America's response would rely heavily on special operations forces. He and other U.S. officials have refused to discuss details, including timing.

While U.S. warplanes have struck targets across Afghanistan for 11 straight days, there have been indications that preparations for using such troops are moving ahead.

Helicopter-borne special operations forces were put aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the Indian Ocean several days ago, said officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

No details on mission

The officials, who offered no details on the mission, cautioned against the interpretation that these troops were necessarily about to enter combat.

President Bush, traveling to a conference in China, said the war on terrorism may take a long time.

"You mark my words: People are going to get tired of the war on terrorism. And by the way, it may take more than two years," he said in an interview with Asian news editors.

U.S. military radio broadcasts into Afghanistan by Air Force EC-130E Commando Solo aircraft are warning the ruling Taliban they will be destroyed not only by U.S. bombs and missiles but also by American helicopters and ground troops.

"Our helicopters will rain fire down upon your camps before you detect them on radar," one message says in two of the local Afghan languages, according to transcripts provided by the Pentagon.

"Our bombs are so accurate we can drop them right through your windows. Our infantry is trained for any climate and terrain on earth. United States soldiers fire with superior marksmanship and are armed with superior weapons," the message says.

The Pentagon has not acknowledged the presence of any U.S. ground forces in Afghanistan. Officials have said for weeks that troops would be needed to root out leaders of bin Laden's al-Qaida network.

Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem, deputy director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday that the Taliban's air defenses are now so weak that U.S. strike aircraft are attacking with impunity.

New U.S. targets

With less concern about surface-to-air missiles, U.S. pilots are being directed to areas where U.S. war planners believe tanks and other mobile targets as well as newly discovered fixed targets such as ammunition warehouses are most likely to be found.

Airborne forward air controllers are verifying these targets and calling in strikes by Navy warplanes, Stufflebeem said.

The admiral said this did not mean there are "free fire" zones over Afghanistan where pilots may shoot at any military target they see. Pilots must get clearance from the forward air controller before attacking, he said.

U.S. commanders now believe Taliban air defenses have been neutralized, Stufflebeem said.

"I have not seen any reports that they are returning fire on our aircraft," he said. "Their ability to respond is falling away."

Stufflebeem described the strategy of the air campaign as forcing the Taliban to collapse from within.

"We are systemically pulling away at those legs underneath the stool that the Taliban leadership counts on to be able to exert their influence and power," he said.

Tuesday's attacks were carried out by 85 carrier-based strike aircraft such as F-14s and F/A-18s; five land-based bombers such as B-1Bs and B-52s; and fewer than five AC-130 gunships, used in Afghanistan for the first time on Monday.