November 14, 2001 Diary: America Strikes Back

Foreign aid workers freed
Thursday, November 15, 2001
U.S. commandos carried two American women and six other relief workers to safety early Thursday, flying them to freedom in Pakistan after months of imprisonment by Afghanistan's Taliban regime, U.S. officials said.

Alliance cements control of Kabul
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
Afghans brought their radios out of hiding and played music in the streets, savoring the end of five years of harsh Taliban rule as the northern alliance marched triumphantly into Afghanistan's capital Tuesday. Diplomats sought U.N. help in fashioning a government for the shattered country.

FBI compiles list
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
By Mike Belt and Mindie Paget

Federal prosecutors and FBI agents have been given names of young, male foreigners to interview as part of the U.S. Justice Department's efforts to stymie future terrorist acts and find new information about Sept. 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.

U.N. outlines plan for transitional government
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
The United Nations called Tuesday for a two-year transitional government for Afghanistan backed by a multinational security force, while world leaders said the world body should have a leading role in the war-ravaged nation's peace process.

Massacres, lawlessness reported in north
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
Hundreds of people died and tons of relief supplies were looted as the northern alliance wrested control of Mazar-e-Sharif from the Taliban, aid groups reported Tuesday while their workers went around the city burying the dead.

Next phase of Afghan war presents greater challenge
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
The next focus of the Afghanistan war — in the south where Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding in caves — could present the U.S. military with a formidable challenge. As the Taliban flee from northern cities, American forces could be drawn toward greater use of ground troops or a guerrilla war — even as the ruling militia retreat in an apparent sign of success for President Bush's plan to "smoke them out."

Bush, Putin pledge to disarm
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin both pledged Tuesday to slash Cold War-era nuclear arsenals by two-thirds, to levels unseen in decades, but remained at odds over American plans to develop a missile defense shield.

World events demand a steady hand
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
By Jim Hoagland
Washington Post Writers Group

The unexpectedly swift battlefield victories of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan come at a golden moment for President Bush, who can make this an extraordinary week of U.S. leadership in world affairs.

Northern alliance consolidates power in Kabul
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
(Updated Wednesday at 4:39 p.m.) The northern alliance took over key symbols of power in Kabul, including the defense ministry, on Wednesday despite a pledge to support a broad-based government. Anti-Taliban forces took control of the eastern city of Jalalabad and battled for control of the airport outside the Taliban stronghold Kandahar, U.S. and Afghan sources said.

Officials on lookout for new anthrax letter
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
Federal officials said Tuesday they believe an anthrax-filled letter that has yet to be found sickened a State Department mail handler, a theory bolstered by traces of anthrax in eight spots in the building where he worked.

Inaction plagues Congress
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
By Robert Reno
Newsday

Another week has gone by and the war on terrorism is no more coherent than is the pursuit of the remedies that could avoid the economic abyss into which the nation may slowly be sinking.

Ex-king urges fellow Afghans to unite
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
(Updated Wednesday at 4:38 p.m.) Afghanistan's exiled king urged Afghans on Wednesday to unite and freely choose their own destiny now that the Taliban rulers have fled Kabul.

Briefly
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
• LAS VEGAS: Parody song a hit
• Manila: Philippines claims victory
• Kansas City, Mo.: Tests at Kansas City find postal facility negative
• New York: Anthrax delays SAT scores, College Board warns

6News video report: Local students thinking more about air travel safety
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
Kim Hall reports on the reluctance of local college students to fly after the events of Sept. 11 and the plane crash in New York earlier this week.