-Caveat Lector-
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020601-74768506.htm
June 1, 2002
U.S. nabs cache of portable missiles
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
U.S. military forces in Afghanistan captured a cache of 30 anti-
aircraft missiles, Pentagon officials said yesterday as a new
American general took control of the U.S.-led campaign there.
The missiles were described as a Chinese-made version of the
SA-7 surface-to-air missile, said officials who spoke on the condition
of anonymity.
Disclosure of the missile cache comes as the U.S. intelligence
community obtained information that Islamic terrorists have
smuggled shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles into the United States,
including SA-7s and U.S.-made Stinger missiles.
The FBI issued an intelligence alert May 22 warning airlines and
law enforcement agencies about the missile threat, but said it has
no evidence that al Qaeda is planning attacks against U.S. aircraft
using portable missiles.
Meanwhile yesterday, the campaign's new leader, Lt. Gen. Dan
K. McNeill, acknowledged in an interview with the Associated Press
that the hunt for elusive al Qaeda and Taliban fighters has gotten
tougher.
Gen. McNeill said he might have to adapt his tactics if Pakistan
pulls out of the search. The threat of war with India has prompted
Pakistan to say it will withdraw troops patrolling its side of the
Afghan border � a move that would effectively give al Qaeda and the
Taliban a refuge in Pakistan's western tribal region.
Many, if not all, of the top remaining al Qaeda and Taliban
leaders are thought to be in Pakistan. Those left in Afghanistan are
avoiding battles, blending into the population, hiding in the rugged
mountains, and moving back and forth across the porous border.
Outside the eastern Afghan city of Gardez yesterday, U.S. troops
killed three of their Afghan allies in a firefight that broke out when
both sides separately moved in on a compound mistakenly thought
to be a hide-out of Taliban and al Qaeda leaders, a U.S. army
spokesman said.
Two Afghan anti-Taliban fighters were also wounded in the
exchange at the walled compound, Col. Roger King said.
"We had no way of knowing they were there," Col. King said of
the allied fighters. "These other forces were injected into the area
without coordination."
There were neither al Qaeda or Taliban in the compound, and no
Americans were injured.
U.S. Army Special Forces troops discovered the missiles in
southeastern Afghanistan. They were identified as HN-5s, the
designation for Chinese-made SA-7s.
U.S. intelligence officials said there are fears that portable
missiles could be used against commercial aircraft.
"Given al Qaeda's demonstrated objective to target the U.S. air
industry, its access to U.S. and Russian-made [man-portable air-
defense] systems and recent apparent targeting of U.S.-led military
forces in Saudi Arabia, law enforcement agencies in the U.S. should
remain alert to the potential use of man-pads against U.S. aircraft,"
a U.S. official said.
The intelligence reports on the portable missiles were based in
part on statements by Abu Zubaydah, the captured al Qaeda
organization operations chief who has been providing intelligence on
the group.
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