The many facets of Operation Enduring Freedom

Eric Schoenborn, Scripps Howard News Service

Published October 9, 2001 at midnight

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In its official summary of Operation Enduring Freedom, the White House describes a campaign on terrorism fought, not so much on the battlefield, but on diplomatic, financial, law enforcement and intelligence fronts. The administration has stressed this point throughout its description of ongoing operations since the September 11th attacks.

In the words of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, "there are things cruise missiles can do. There are things bombers can do -- but there is an awful lot that can be done through the financial system, through diplomacy as well as through covert operations on the ground. And particularly through intelligence gathering."

The Objective

"The ultimate victory in this war is when everyone who wants to can do what everyone of us did today, and that is get up, let your children go to school, go out of the house and not in fear, stand here on a sidewalk and not worry about a truck bomb driving into us, and be able to be free in speech and thought and activity and behavior. And that's victory.''

-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, when asked "how would you define the ultimate victory in this war."

President Bush's War Cabinet

Vice President Dick Cheney

First among equals, Cheney was in charge immediately after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon. Cheney, who has said little publicly since the first days of the crisis, is reported to be siding with Powell's go-slow approach, although he supports action against all nations harboring terrorists. "If you provide sanctuary for terrorists, you face the full wrath of America,'' he has said.

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice

If Cheney is the leader of the pack, Rice is viewed as a close second. She is the team member closest to the president personally, having spent a considerable amount of time at his Texas ranch and weekends at Camp David. While Powell has the title, Rice has the president's ear and an office just down the hall from the Oval Office.

Secretary of State Colin Powell

Having the most military experience of any group member, Powell is also the most reluctant to unleash that power. He promotes the idea of working with other countries, particularly Islamic nations, to assure the success of this initiative. Under the "Powell Doctrine," military force should be used only as a last resort, with public support and a well-planned exit strategy.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

A retired naval aviator, Rumsfeld refused to leave the Pentagon and assisted in rescue efforts Sept. 11. Rumsfeld has emerged as one of the war cabinet's leading hawks. "In this effort, victory will mean crippling the ability of terrorist organizations to coerce and terrorize and otherwise disrupt the way of life of the men and women in the U.S. and our friends and allies around the world,'' he said.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz

The veteran hardliner is in his thirdstint at the Pentagon, is recognized as the most aggressive member of the new Bush inner circle. Wolfowitz was highly critical of the first President Bush for refusing to hunt down Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War. He is now promoting the idea of doing just that, asserting that Iraq is harboring terrorists.

Air Force Gen. Dick Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

A newcomer to President Bush's inner-circle, replacing the recently departed Army Gen. Richard Shelton as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The 59-year-old Kansas native is close to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and previously led the U.S. Space Command. He has combat experience-- 600 hours as a fighter pilot in Vietnam-- and is a two-time winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Also offering input are Attorney General John Ashcroft and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. But neither is involved in the plans for dealing with terrorist Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

The Enemy

The Terrorist Financing Executive Order signed by the President on September 24, 2001, details the the long list of enemies we are fighting in the war on terror.

Terror Organizations: Al Qaeda/Islamic Army, Abu Sayyaf Group, Armed Islamic Group (GIA), Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM), Al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU),

Asbat al-Ansar, Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI), Islamic Army of Aden

Individuals: Osama bin Laden, Muhammad Atif (aka, Subhi Abu Sitta, Abu Hafs Al Masri), Sayf al-Adl, Shaykh Sai'id (aka, Mustafa Muhammad Ahmad), Abu Hafs the Mauritanian (aka, Mahfouz Ould al-Walid, Khalid Al-Shanqiti), Ibn Al-Shaykh al-Libi, Abu Zubaydah

(aka, Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, Tariq), Abd al-Hadi (aka, Abu Abdallah), Ayman al-Zawahiri, Thirwat Salah Shihata,

Tariq Anwar al-Sayyid Ahmad (aka, Fathi, Amr al-Fatih), Muhammad Salah (aka, Nasr Fahmi Nasr Hasanayn), Makhtab Al-Khidamat/Kifah

Sanctioned charities/corporations: Wafa Humanitarian Organization, Al Rashid Trust, Mamoun Darkazanli Import-Export Company

The 5 Fronts

As of October 8, these are the actions taken on each of the described fronts. Military actions are changing daily as the strategy for bringing Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to justice unfolds.

The Diplomatic Front

"America has embarked upon this campaign by pulling together a coalition of like-minded nations who are coming together to condemn terrorism.'' Secretary of State, Colin Powell

Great Britain has deployed troops and submarines.
Australia, France and Germany have pledged troops for an allied operation.
Russia offered to share information and the use of its airspace for humanitarian flights.
China offered to share information.

India offered to share information and pledged support of U.S. actions.
Japan offered diplomatic and military (logistical) support, and assistance to Pakistan.
Australia offered combat military forces and invoked Article IV of the ANZUS Treaty, declaring September 11 an attack on Australia.
South Korea offered military, medical and air and naval logistics support.
United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic relations with the Taliban.
Pakistan agreed to cooperate fully with the request for assistance support.
Secured overflight and landing rights from 27 countries.
Obtained 46 multilateral declarations of support.
NATO invoked Article V declaring an attack on one as an attack on NATO nations opened their airspace for use of allied missions.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously enacted a binding resolution requiring all member states to pursue terrorists and those who support them, including financial support systems.
Uzbekistan agreed to allow U.S, troops to be stationed for search-andrescue as well as humanitarian missions.
Kyrgyzstan has offered the use of its airspace for U.S. operations.
Oman will provide critical staging bases for U.S. operations.

The Financial Front

"We will starve terrorists of funding turn them against each other." President George W. Bush

Adoption of Terrorist Financing Executive Order, declaring a national emergency and giving the Secretary of Treasury power to take further action.
Creation of the Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking Center, a multi-agency task force designed to track and freeze terrorist assets.
Froze approximately 30 al-Qaeda accounts in the U.S. and almost 20 overseas.
Reviewing additional persons and entities for possible inclusion on the Terrorist Financing list.
Froze approximately $6 million linked to terrorists.
Put 27 names on the Terrorist Financing list.
Money laundering legislation being debated in Congress.

The Intelligence Front

"It's not going to be a cruise missile or a bomber that's going to be the determining factor. It's going to be a scrap of information.'' Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

Over 100 countries have offered increased intelligence support.
Approximately 150 arrests and detentions of terrorists and suspected supporters of terrorism in over 25 countries.
Intensified counterterrorist operations with over 200 intelligence and security services worldwide.
Military drones are flying high above Afghanistan collecting operations intelligence.

The Military Front

"One thing is clear, you don?t do it with just a single military strike, no matter how dramatic.''

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

Approximately 29,000 military personnel, 349 military aircraft, 1 Amphibious Ready Group, and 4 Carrier Battle Groups currently deployed in Theater.
Military Reserve units have been called to active duty, as well as several thousand National Guard operating under state authority.
Attacked targets in Afghanistan aimed at debilitating the Taliban's air defense and radar systems.
PsyOps, or Psychological Operations, have been carried out by leaflets and radios being dropped on Afghanistan explaining that the people of Afghanistan are not the enemy.
Also, thousands of single-serving food packets are being dropped for starving Afghan refugees.

Graphic: Kelly Martin, SHNS

The Law Enforcement Front

"Part of a prevention strategy is to identify individuals who are law violators, who are associated with the terrorist organizations, charge them and convict them." Attourney General John Ashcroft

Analyzed 241 serious/credible threats.
Conducted 540 interviews.
Conducted 383 searches.
Issued 4,407 subpoenas.
Arrested/Detained 439 persons.
Approximately 30-plus countries offered support in criminal investigations
Counterterrorism Act, now being debated in Congress, is proposing to ease the restrictions on wire-tapping laws, specifically eliminating court-clearance for sharing of information between agencies.