Special Forces Open Ground Campaign

The U.S. Special Forces have begun the ground phase of war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

▼ Special Force Operation

Quoting U.S. defense officials, the Washingtonpost reported that the U.S. Special Forces were operating in southern Afghanistan in support of the CIA`s effort.

This newspaper evaluated, ``The number of U.S. personnel on the ground is just a handful now and is unlikely to ever resemble the large conventional forces assembled in the Persian Gulf War a decade ago. But their presence marks a turning point in only the second week of the conflict.``

The defense officials said that the new Special Forces mission in southern Afghanistan was designed to expand an ongoing CIA effort to encourage ethnic Pashtun leaders to break away from the Taliban militia.

And they declared that additional Special Forces were likely to be deployed soon, and could take on other missions such as reconnaissance, target designation for aircraft and, on rare occasions, direct attacks on Taliban or terrorist leaders.

Regarding the ground operation of U.S. Special Forces, the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) reported yesterday that the Iranian reporters witnessed the first-hand American troops taking on the mission around the city of Harat which is in southern Afghanistan.

A western diplomatic source in Islamabad also said that ``the American and British soldiers are taking on the mission to secure the information and the human resources.`` reported AFP.

▼ Cooperative Operation with the Northern Alliance Opposition Group

While the Special Forces launch a military action in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. has prepared in northern Afghanistan for joint operation with the Northern Alliance opposition group which has quarreled against the Taliban.

Sources with the Northern Alliance opposition group said yesterday that U.S. military officers arrived on Wednesday aboard two helicopters to hold meetings with Gen. Rashid Dostum, reported Associated Press.

Regarding the U.S.`s ground campaign, the Taliban said, ``We have readily been prepared to hit back and we will take the continued bombings as an opportunity to revenge.``

▼ Proliferation of Anthrax Fears

As the additional anthrax cases were found on 18th, the anthrax patients increased to 7 including 1 death in the United States. A woman who works in the office of Dan Rather at CBS News and two post workers in New Jersey have tested positive for the skin form of anthrax.

The total number of persons tested positive for anthrax amounts to 40.

With anthrax outbreak in four members of a family in Kenya, the unresolved anthrax scare is spreading around the world as the suspicious packages were delivered to the French House of Representatives, the U.S. Embassy in Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun, and the U.S. companies in China.

Han Ki-Heung eligius@donga.com