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First wave of air strikes a success: Rumsfeld
United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Monday that the first round of US-led air strikes on 30 targets in Afghanistan and airdrops of 37,500 medicine and food packets had been ``successful`` as per initial indications.
United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Monday that the first round of US-led air strikes on 30 targets in Afghanistan and airdrops of 37,500 medicine and food packets had been ''successful'' as per initial indications.
''We do, however, have to understand that it's going to be a very long and sustained effort,'' Rumsfeld said in an interview.
''There's, as I said on Sunday, no silver bullet, no single thing that's going to win this effort for the coalition. But all the aircraft returned safely.''
He termed as ''simply false'' reports from the Taliban that they had shot down US aircraft. ''Much of what they have said over a period of time is false,'' Rumsfeld said. ''These people are terrorists. They are harbouring terrorists.''
He said the Taliban have been repressive to the Afghan people, and it was hardly surprising that many Afghan people opposed them.
All the targets in on Sunday's air strikes were military targets, including airports and runways, surface-to-air missile batteries, terrorist camps and other targets related to the al-Qaida network. Despite the offensive now underway, the al-Qaida was still a threat, Rumsfeld said. ''While they're not a threat in the sense of having an army, navy or an air force, they are very much a threat in terms of international terrorism, not just in the United States, but in many nations of the world,'' he added.
Bureau Report
''There's, as I said on Sunday, no silver bullet, no single thing that's going to win this effort for the coalition. But all the aircraft returned safely.''
He termed as ''simply false'' reports from the Taliban that they had shot down US aircraft. ''Much of what they have said over a period of time is false,'' Rumsfeld said. ''These people are terrorists. They are harbouring terrorists.''
He said the Taliban have been repressive to the Afghan people, and it was hardly surprising that many Afghan people opposed them.
All the targets in on Sunday's air strikes were military targets, including airports and runways, surface-to-air missile batteries, terrorist camps and other targets related to the al-Qaida network. Despite the offensive now underway, the al-Qaida was still a threat, Rumsfeld said. ''While they're not a threat in the sense of having an army, navy or an air force, they are very much a threat in terms of international terrorism, not just in the United States, but in many nations of the world,'' he added.
Bureau Report