October 8, 2001

Map of Afghanistan shows probable targets as United States air attacks commence

Plans for leisurely Sunday activities are interrupted as air strikes against Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan begin; many television networks adopt all-news format, lighting up screens with fuzzy shadows and ghostly tracer missiles; Americans express fear and support, as they attend sports events, shop and try to maintain familiar routines; photo (M)

Lee C Bollinger, Columbia University Law School graduate, discusses his being named university president; photo (M)

US and Britain launch powerful barrage of cruise missiles and long-range bombers against Afghanistan on October 8 in campaign to destroy terrorist training camps of Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network and Taliban government that has protected it; Pres Bush announces start of military campaign in nationwide televised address; says 'carefully targeted' actions are designed to disrupt use of Afghanistan as terrorist base of operations and to attack military capability of bin Laden organization; says Taliban failed to meet demands to surrender bin Laden, stop supporting terrorism and release foreign aid workers they hold; reiterates warning to nations that sponsor or protect terrorists; address is followed by statement of support from British Prime Min Tony Blair; both leaders emphasize that military campaign is not war against Islam; bin Laden issues own threat in videotape broadcast worldwide; stakes claim to lead all Muslims in fight against America, which he casts as murderer, with Israel, of Iraqis and Palestinians; praises hijackers who staged September 11 attacks on US; vows America will not live in peace until peace reigns in Palestine; Defense Sec Donald H Rumsfeld says bin Laden is not specific target; says initial bombing is intended to create conditions for sustained anti-terrorist operations against his organization; says US is seeking to orchestrate overthrow of Taliban by providing military aid and developing relationships with groups that oppose regime and terrorists they support; reiterates that US is not at war with Islam, noting armed forces have been sent abroad five times in last decade to defend oppressed Muslim populations; administration officials indicate opening aerial campaign can go on for week and will be followed by ground operations by Special Forces units to garner information and hunt down leaders of Al Qaeda network; initial bombardment described; is carried out by 15 land-based bombers and 25 strike aircraft from aircraft carriers; weapons include precision guided bombs; American warships and British submarines fire 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles; witnesses say skies over capital of Kabul are lit up with flashes; say thunderous explosions are heard throughout night; report attacks around cities of Kandahar and Jalalabad, strongholds of radical Islamic regime; Pentagon sends C-17 cargo planes to drop relief supplies of food and medicine for hundreds of thousands of refugees believed fleeing Afghan cities during bombing campaign; photos (M)

Voice of America, remade in 1990's as source of objective data for global audience, is under renewed pressure to promote United States policy in wake of Sept 11 terrorist attacks and US attacks on Afghanistan; Pres Bush has replaced its acting director after State Department failed to stop VOA from broadcasting its recent interview with Taliban leader; Congress weighs bill to create new service, Radio Free Afghanistan; Robert R Reilly, named to head VOA, has pledged to defend integrity of news operation (M)