DEBORAH ORIN
New York Post Online - New York, NY
September 20, 2001 -- WASHINGTON - President Bush ordered U.S. warplanes and battleships on the move yesterday, launching the military phase of the global war on terrorism under the code name "Operation Infinite Justice."
The United States' military might is cleary headed closer to Osama bin Laden's lair in Afghanistan, but the Pentagon, operating under tight secrecy, refused to reveal the exaxt destination or how many combat planes were deployed.
The president tonight will address to the nation about "the battle to maintain freedom."
He'll speak from Capitol Hill at a joint session of Congress.
Bush's action on the military front came just hours after Attorney General John Ashcroft delivered a warning to "foreign governments" supporting terrorists.
"It's pretty clear the networks that conduct these kind of events are harbored, supported, sustained and protected by a variety of foreign governments," he said after touring the Pentagon.
"It is time for these governments to understand with crystal clarity that the United States of America will not tolerate that kind of support."
Bush warned Afghanistan's Taliban leaders to turn over bin Laden and his henchmen, adding, "We're on the case."
The head of the U.S. Navy made the mission clear as he spoke to the 15,000 sailors and Marines who shipped out, destination unknown - but believed to be the Mideast.
"It's time to pick up the mantle to destroy terrorism and remove the cancer," said Navy Secretary Gordon England.
State Department officials said Russia had raised no objections to having the ex-Soviet states play a role.
Some U.S. warplanes will go to those central Asian states, where they'll be on the border of Afghanistan and their missions can be kept secret until they strike, The Washington Post revealed.
"We can put aircraft there where CNN can't film them taking off," one official was quoted as saying.
The warplanes could provide cover for special-forces troops who would parachute in and try to grab bin Laden.
Pentagon officials denied reports that more than 100 planes were deployed, but refused to give the correct number, saying that "would be helpful to no one but potential adversaries."
The aircraft are said to include F-15 and F-16 fighters, B-1 and B-52 bombers, and AWACs surveillance planes.
Related:
