US military gears up for endgame

America is considering sending 24 aircraft to Kyrgyzstan

		By Paul Reynolds BBC Washington correspondent

While diplomatic talks continue in Bonn, the US military is concentrating on the prime American objective - the destruction of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and the Taleban.

It is preparing to widen its strike ability by sending combat aircraft to the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, which has a border with Afghanistan.

This would enable the strikes to hit targets in Afghanistan much more easily than from the aircraft carriers it currently uses.

We're going to continue to apply pressure... as we do that, the noose tightens

US campaign commander General Tommy Franks

In an interview with The New York Times, General Tommy Franks, head of the US Central Command, said that planes would be sent in the next few days from the United States, France and maybe other coalition countries.

The French are now becoming very active in this war, and are also sending an aircraft carrier to the region.

More makeshift bases

The New York Times quoted military officials as saying that the US might station a squadron of 24 aircraft in Kyrgyzstan and the French six of their Mirages.

General Franks also said that more makeshift American bases, like the one near Kandahar in the south, which is now called Forward Operating Base Rhino, might be set up inside Afghanistan if necessary.

Marines may set up more 'bases' in Afghanistan

He said: "It could well be that marines could be positioned in any place inside the country... we're going to continue to apply pressure... as we do that, the noose tightens."

Other reports say that a small "rapid reaction force" from the 10th Mountain Division, which has been in Uzbekistan, has been sent to Mazar-e-Sharif to help protect Americans in that area, scene of the bloody uprising and crushing of Taleban prisoners.

All this is part of planning for what the Americans hope is the endgame - the capture (dead or alive) of Osama Bin Laden, the destruction of his network and the complete collapse of the Taleban.

There are suggestions that Bin Laden is hiding in a complex at Tora Bora in mountains south of Jalalabad, used by Afghan fighters against the Soviet Union.

Even if not, it is hard to see how he can remain free indefinitely.