U.S. Will Continue Air Raid for a Few Days

The U.S. has carried out massive aerial strikes three times yesterday over Afghanistan that had supported Osama bin Laden and will continue its air strikes for a few days before it sets out the pursuit for bin Laden by the special forces.

CNN quoted the word from an authority of the U.S. Defense Department, ``the U.S. will continue the air strikes for a while and set up a next plan after a review of the air strike results. It will depend on the response of the Taliban.``

The New York Times also reported that, after the aerial strikes which may continue for about a week, the special forces will be mobilized to destroy the terrorist training camps and to collect information about the Al Queda leaders, and chase after them on the foot.

George W. Bush emphasized at his address to the people right after the beginning of the attack, ``this attack against Afghanistan is to destroy the base camps of the terrorists and to strike the military power of the Taliban.`` not against the Afghanistan civilians and other Islam countries.

Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Defense Secretary, also explained that ``the first goal of the air strikes is to disable the air defense artillery system of the Taliban and to destroy the military airplanes in order to pave the anti-terrorist operations in the future.``

Concerning the retaliation terrors by the terrorist organizations of bin Laden, the U.S. called for a high alert in the 50 states and major cities by mobilizing the National Reserve, State Armies, and armed police officers.

NATO decided to hold its highest decision-making organization, the North Atlantic Committee, today to discuss the measures to support the U.S. and the U.N. will also convene its emergency security council meeting today.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom started the first air raid in three places including Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, at 9:27 p.m. (Korean Time; 1:27 a.m. Oct. 8), Oct. 7, and carried out three times air attacks against 6 targets by over 50 missiles and 40 air fighters and fighter bombers until yesterday morning.

The damages done by the U.S. air raids were not revealed yet but the Afghan Islam Press in Pakistan asserted that over 20 civilians were killed by the attack only in Kabul.

The Taliban denounced `the U.S. attack as terrorist act` and declared that they are ready for a holy war. Fueled [by the attack] from the protests of the Islamic circle, many extremist organizations decided to send `warriors` to support the Taliban.

Han Ki-Heung eligius@donga.com