U.S. commanders call Sunday raids success

Associated Press WriterABOARD THE USS ENTERPRISE (AP) -- U.S. commanders on Monday reviewed their bombing raids on Afghanistan, showing video clips of battle damage taken by infrared cameras aboard F14 and F18 fighters. The runs had a "very high success rate," they said.

After flying about 70 sorties, pilots reloaded their weapons for possible further strikes. Tomahawk missiles also were fired from cruisers in Sunday night's strikes, which the admiral of the USS Enterprise battle group in the Arabian Sea said primarily targeted air defenses.

The military made "extraordinary efforts" to limit collateral damage, the admiral told reporters Monday. "Our objective is to terrorize the terrorists."

The U.S. military, describing the battle as unique from past wars, is keeping security extraordinarily tight, not allowing any members of the U.S. forces to be fully identified; some can be identified by first name only.

The captain of the USS Enterprise said the infrared camera images showed a "very high success rate in hitting our targets," with one strike deeply penetrating an underground target that he would not reveal. The captain said the pilot involved in that strike told him the hillside opened up with small arms fire immediately afterward.

Referring to another image, he said it showed the bombing of an anti-aircraft missile storage site. The initial explosion was followed by a second explosion that sent at least one missile from the site into the air.

The captain said return fire also came in the form of one SA3 and shoulder-fired unguided missiles, which he described as "stupid missiles."

The captain of the USS Philippine Sea, a guided missile cruiser with the Enterprise battle group that fired four Tomahawk missiles on Sunday night, said "things went pretty smoothly."

"As far as what's ahead, I think the military action last night created a more favorable condition to pursue terrorists, at the same time allowing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people," the Philippine Sea captain said.

The 15 hours of flight operations had begun with an announcement over the aircraft carrier's loudspeaker: "To our air wing, godspeed."

The Enterprise is the flagship of a battle group that includes about a dozen ships and 7,500 personnel. It was just two days into its trip home from the Gulf when the terror attacks on the United States hit. It quickly turned around.

On the Enterprise flight deck Monday, pilots were reloading their weapons should further strikes be ordered. Some of the bombs carried scribbled reminders of the victims of the Sept. 11 terror strikes on the United States -- "NYPD" and "FDNY" and "4WTC" -- for those who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center.

One said "Doug Cherry Jr., 9-11-01." A Douglas MacMillan Cherry of Maplewood, N.J., vice president of the professional services group Aon Corp, has been reported among the dead from the World Trade Center.

Aboard the USS Philippine Sea, sailors and officers also seemed to accept they were in for more action. Four Tomahawk missiles fired on Afghanistan Sunday night came from the cruiser.

The executive officer of the Philippine Sea urged officers Monday morning to "encourage your folks" and keep training.

"It's not over," the executive officer, E.J., from Austin, Texas, told the officers aboard. "Yesterday was merely one more step of many, many steps along a long, long road." She wrapped up the brief meeting with a crisp "well done."

Lt. Patrick, the Philippine Sea's chaplain from Annapolis, Md., said the strikes improved the mood of sailors who previously felt powerless.

"There was a sense of something being done -- they had a small part to play," the 36-year-old southern Baptist minister said.

Ensign Andrew, 23, of Clinton, N.J., said he'd received about 35 e-mails immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States from family in the New York area and friends around the world.

"I was very happy to hear my family was fine. Then, once I knew that, there was no place I'd rather be than here. If I wasn't in the Navy, I would've enlisted," the ensign aboard the Philippine Sea said.

Seaman Wayne, 21, of New Orleans, with deck division, said he expects action to go on for quite some time. "I think it's about time we retaliated. We're justified for anything we do," he said.

The chaplain, 36-year-old Patrick, said he also was "hoping God would be with the people" on the far end of the Tomahawks.