Weather hampering Special Forces

SUMMARY:

U.S. B-52 heavy bombers pounded Taliban troop positions north of Kabul Friday morning, continuing stepped-up attacks. The Pentagon also said weather was hampering efforts to place more U.S. Special Forces troops into Afghanistan.

UPDATE:

The airstrikes by Air Force B-52s began in the overnight hours and intensified at 5 a.m. in areas near the strategically important Bagram Air Base. The bombers could be seen streaking through the skies in high-altitude bombing runs. (Full story)

At a Pentagon media briefing, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem said weather, specifically freezing rain, was hampering efforts to insert more U.S. Special Forces troops into Afghanistan. The United States already has some troops on the ground who are advising the Northern Alliance and working to increase the effectiveness of airstrikes by developing better information on targets. (Full story)

U.S. military officials say an Afghan village hit by American aircraft more than a week ago was a "Taliban encampment" providing support to the al Qaeda terrorist network and was therefore a "fully legitimate target." (Full story)

While cautioning the fight against terrorism isn't an "instant gratification war," President Bush insisted Friday that "we are making good progress" in Afghanistan and the United States. "The enemy is being hunted down abroad and at home," Bush said. "I am very satisfied and the American people should be satisfied with the progress we are making on the ground. (Full story)

Suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden reportedly condemned Pakistan's support of the U.S.-led military campaign against Afghanistan and called on all Muslims to combat "the crusader war against Islam," the Al Jazeera television network broadcast on Thursday. (Full story)

The leader of an ethnic tribe actively seeking to oust the Taliban from power has survived an assassination attempt, the man's brother said Thursday. Hamid Karzai, 43, is the leader of a Pashtun tribe known as the Popalzai.

VIDEO

CNN's John Vause reports on protests organized by the Pakistan-Afghan Defense Council, composed of 12 political parties and religious groups (October 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

CNN's Frank Buckley examines how NORAD, built to monitor missile activity during the Cold War, is now focused on new threats since September 11 (October 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)



		• Summary • Update • Key questions • Who's who • Impact



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RESOURCES

	On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands?

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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.