September 11 News.com - November 2001 Daily Timeline & Chronology of News Events With Daily Images.

©September11News.com Nov. 1: The FBI announces it has alerted law enforcement agencies in eight Western U.S. states that it has unconfirmed information terrorists may be targeting suspension bridges on the West Coast. Pakistani press sources say the Taliban have arrested 25 followers of tribal leader Hamid Karzai, and plan to execute them. American warplanes attack Kabul for the first time in four days, striking targets in the northern edge of the capital. In a letter sent to Al-Jazeera TV, Osama bin Laden urges fellow Muslims to rise up against the "Christian Crusade." The fear of anthrax spread to the Midwest with a finding of contamination at a Kansas City postal facility.	Taliban in Kandahar
Nov. 2: Homeland Defense Secretary Tom Ridge issues an "indefinite" high alert against an undefined terrorist attack. Hundreds of New York firemen march to Ground Zero in an emotional protest over Mayor Giuliani's decision to scale back the number of workers searching for victims. U.S. B-52 bombers continue carpet bombing front line Taliban troops. Hamid Karzai, previously announced as captured, allegedly escapes the custody of the Taliban. A U.S. special forces helicopter crashes in bad weather in Afghanistan. The injured crew members are rescued by another helicopter on the same mission. The downed chopper is later destroyed by F-14 jets.	B52 Carpet Bombing
Nov. 3: Senior British officials say that coalition forces are about to mount the first significant ground offensive in an attempt to establish a "humanitarian bridgehead" in a corridor from Uzbekistan through enemy positions in northern Afghanistan "in support" of Northern Alliance forces. U.S. jets continue to blast Taliban strongholds on Afghanistan's two main battle fronts. Al-Jazeera TV broadcasts another taped message from Osama bin Laden, in which he warns Arab leaders not to back the efforts of the United Nations. Bin Laden says any Muslim who supports UN initiatives will renounce his faith and will become an "infidel." Read excerpts from the text of Osama bin Laden's November 3rd Al-Jazeera TV broadcast.	Bin Laden TV Nov. 3
Nov. 4: U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld discusses a dramatic enlargement of U.S. troops to be deployed in Central Asia with leaders from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan during weekend talks. Rumsfeld's travels take him over Afghanistan, on a day that coincided with the heaviest bombing of the Taliban front line to date. An Islamic Jihad gunmen opens fire on an Israeli bus in Jerusalem. Amr Moussa, the Secretary-General of the Arab League denounces bin Laden's TV statement, saying he "does not speak in the name of Arabs and Muslims." Egypt's Foreign Minister described bin Laden as being at war with the "whole world."	Burqa & NA Tank
Nov. 5: The U.S. begins attacking the Taliban with the biggest conventional bomb in the air force arsenal. The bomb, known as a BLU-82 or Daisy Cutter, is a 15,000 pound weapon that drops by parachute and explodes just above the ground. The Pentagon releases copies of a leaflet dropped over Afghanistan which urges the people to report the location of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld says there are more commandos in Afghanistan. Rumsfeld said, "we're in four - maybe more" locations. Rumsfeld also disclosed that U.S. helicopters had rescued Hamid Karzai. Anthrax is found in a Pentagon post office.	N. Alliance Troops
Nov. 6: U.S. President George W. Bush issues a warning of a potential threat "to civilization itself" in a satellite speech to eastern and central European countries. Bush added that the coalition must prevent Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. British PM Tony Blair said that the al-Qaeda have "virtually merged" with the Taliban regime, thus negating the chance for negotiations. For the first time since the Second World War, in a cause beyond peace-keeping, Germany commits 3,900 soldiers to the war on terrorism. The Northern Alliance claims the capture of strategic areas near the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. The FBI says the intelligence behind the warnings that terrorists might attack U.S. West Coast bridges was not credible.	Daisy Cutter / BLU82
Nov. 7: British PM Tony Blair flies on the Concorde and meets with U.S. President George W. Bush. At a Washington press conference Blair says, "the strategy has to encompass more than air strikes...there are other operations we will mount." Bush added, "slowly but surely the Taliban is crumbling." The anti-Taliban Northern Alliance claims new victories in the battle for the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. A Northern Alliance spokesman said, "We hope to reach the gates of Mazar tonight." U.S. government officials release a photo of the "We Are Watching" leaflets dropped over Afghanistan. A 911 call from a dying postal worker is released.	"Watching" Leaflets
Nov. 8: U.S. air strikes reportedly kill 85 Islamic militants and a Taliban commander near Mazar-e-Sharif. U.S. commander, General Tommy Franks, said a "big fight" was continuing for the strategic northern stronghold. The fall of Mazar, with its supply routes and large airfield, could trigger the arrival of U.S. ground forces for a northern bridgehead. President Bush tours the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, and in a nationally televised speech he said "This great nation will never be intimidated." Bush closed with, "My fellow Americans, let's roll." Go to President Bush in Atlanta for the full text and images of his November 8th speech.	Kandahar Bombing
Nov. 9: In the biggest victory of the month long war, anti-Taliban forces capture the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Taliban officials in Kabul confirmed they had lost control of the strategic city. The northern Alliance said the attack began at 7 a.m., with troops and tanks first taking the airport, and then capturing the city center by 6 p.m. Reports of casualties are 90 to 250 Taliban and 12 Alliance, and 200 - 500 Taliban prisoners. President Bush meets with Indian PM Vajpayee in Washington. Anthrax spores are found in four New Jersey postal facilities.	Vajpayee & Bush
Nov. 10: The Northern Alliance says that Mazar-e-Sharif "is quite" and "the Taliban are gone." Taliban military officials said, "We did not want to risk our soldiers or have the city destroyed, so we left.'' U.S. warplanes, including B-52 bombers, strike Taliban positions in areas north of Kabul. A Northern Alliance commander says an attack on Kabul will begin in three days. U.S. President Bush tells the UN that all countries share an urgent obligation to battle terrorism. "For every regime that sponsors terror, there is a price to be paid and it will be paid ... the time for action has now arrived.'' After receiving a scolding from Saudi Arabia, Bush continues to reject a meeting with Yasser Arafat while the two are in New York for Bush's UN address. Pakistan's largest newspaper publishes an interview with Osama bin Laden. "If America used chemical and nuclear weapons against us, then we may retort with chemical and nuclear weapons. We have the weapons as a deterrent," claims bin Laden. When asked where he allegedly got the nuclear weapons, bin Laden replied, "Go to the next question.'' A video from late October shows Osama bin Laden saying the WTC was a "legitimate target", and the hijackers "were blessed by Allah." Go to President Bush at the UN for the full text and images of his November 10th speech.	Northern Alliance
	Bush Speaks at UN
Nov. 11: Leaders of several countries join U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and President George W. Bush for a memorial service honoring countries who had casualties in the WTC attacks. The two month anniversary of the September 11 attacks falls on a day most of the western world remembers their war veterans (U.S. - Veterans Day, Canada/UK - Remembrance Day). Despite the U.S. advising the Northern Alliance not to attack Kabul, Alliance forces continue to make advances in Northern Afghanistan, and move towards the capital city. Taliban militiamen ambush an Alliance convoy killing three journalists. View Ground Zero on Nov. 11th.	Bush & Annan WTC
Nov. 12: American Airlines Flight 587 flying from NYC's Kennedy Airport to the Dominican Republic crashes into a residential neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., only minutes after takeoff. All 260 passengers and crew are killed, and six people on the ground are missing. Flight 587 left the airport at 9:14 A.M., over 70 minutes late. The early indications lead NTSB investigators to announce the likely cause was mechanical failure, and not another act of airline terrorism. Eyewitnesses say that the engines and other plane parts appeared to have exploded and then fell off prior to the crash. The engines are found blocks from the main crash site, and the tail section is retrieved from the waters in Jamaican Bay. President Bush tells the American people, "New York people have suffered mightily, they suffer again, but there is no doubt in my mind that New Yorkers are resilient and strong and courageous people and will help their neighbors overcome this recent incident." When NY Mayor Giuliani heard of the plane crash he said, "Oh, my God. We are just being tested one more time and we are going to pass this test too." Ironically the plane crashes into a neighborhood where many firefighters and policemen lived, and who were involved in the September 11th WTC rescue efforts. The community where Flight 587 crashed had already lost over 70 people in the WTC attack weeks before. Taliban forces unexpectedly desert the capital of Kabul at dawn, after a series of stunning military victories by opposition forces in the north over the past several days. Residents of Kabul were seen shouting and cheering as the Taliban departed in columns and vehicle convoys heading south. Images of western soldiers were seen with Alliance fighters on the Kabul front lines. The Alliance now claim control of over 50 per cent of Afghanistan. Reports indicate that up to 600 Taliban supporters were executed after the Alliance takeover of Mazar-e-Sharif. The U.S. and the United Nations speed up the efforts to form a new government in Afghanistan.	Flight 587 Crashes
	AA 587 Tail Section
	Alliance Enter Kabul
Nov. 13: U.S. coalition forces narrow the search for Osama bin Laden as the Taliban continue to abandon swathes of territory. A U.S. official said, "Things are not looking good for the Taliban at the moment." Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's radio commands to his fighters hinted at massive chaos within their ranks. Omar reportedly said, "I order you to completely obey your commanders. Omar added, "Any person who goes hither and thither is like a slaughtered chicken." Former South African President Nelson Mandela meets with U.S. President Bush and expresses "grave concern" that the President will not meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. President Bush and Russian President Putin meet in Washington to discuss the slashing of their nuclear weapons arsenals. Bush spoke to reporters after their three hour meeting, saying, "Together, we're making history as we make progress, we're transforming our relationship from one of hostility and suspicion to one based on co-operation and trust." Putin added, "We no longer have to intimidate each other to reach agreements."	Kabul In NA Control
Nov. 14: In the haste of the Al-Qaeda departure from Kabul, documents are left behind clearly indicating Osama bin Laden's network is actively attempting to develop nuclear devices. The Taliban's birthplace and final stronghold comes under attack as the Northern Alliance's lightning sweeps across Afghanistan reach Kandahar, where rebels reportedly captured the airport. The investigators of the crash of Flight 587 suspect that the plane took off sooner than approved and may have been caught in the "wake turbulence" of another plane. U.S. President Bush plays host to President Putin at Bush's 640-hectare Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford Texas.	NA Takes Territory
Nov. 15: Eight aid workers, held captive in Afghanistan since August for teaching Christianity, are flown to Pakistan by U.S. Special Forces after being abandoned by the fleeing Taliban. The captives feared the Taliban were preparing for their executions, and called their rescue "a miracle." The Northern Alliance claim the capture of senior Taliban officials. A U.S. official said, "We may have come into possession of some Taliban leadership." U.S. warplanes strike the Taliban lines around Kunduz. In the southern city of Kandahar, the Taliban continue the fight with Pashtun tribal guerillas aided by U.S. Special Forces. In an ominous threat to the United States, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar tells BBC Radio, "The plan is going ahead and, God willing, it is being implemented. But it is a huge task, which is beyond the will and comprehension of human beings. If God's help is with us, this will happen within a short period of time. Keep in mind this prediction." Omar also admitted that 80 per cent of Afghanistan's territory had been lost. The commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, General Tommy Franks said, "We are tightening the noose. It's a matter of time." Presidents Bush and Putin conclude talks without an agreement on reducing nuclear stockpiles or the future of missile defense systems and the ABM treaty. Russian President Putin flies to New York and tours Ground Zero with NY Mayor Giuliani. Colin Powell agrees to get involved in Middle East peace talks. Flight 587 investigators say the flight data recorder indicates the A300 jet had two "wake encounters" during the three-minute flight. The FAA prepared to order inspections for all Airbus A300s, focusing on the tail. United Airlines announces it will place Taser stun guns for their pilots in the cockpits of their 500 plane fleet.	Aid Workers Freed
	NA Tank in Kabul
	Bush/Putin in Texas
Nov. 16: U.S. air strikes reportedly killed Mohammed Atef, a key lieutenant to Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network. Atef was a close personal friend of bin Laden, and Atef's daughter was married to bin Laden's son. An Iranian radio report claims Osama bin Laden has slipped into Pakistan. Pakistani officials say this claim is "preposterous and "mischievous", and U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld responded, "I suspect he is still in the country." U.S. jets strike sites in Kandahar and Kunduz while Mullah Mohamad Omar hints at an agreement to pull out of Kandahar. Pentagon sources said it was still unclear who controlled parts of Afghanistan, and there were ongoing battles with pockets of Taliban forces in Jalalabad and Ghazni. The Northern Alliance leadership warns British forces that it does not want foreign forces in Kabul. The Northern Alliance began broadcasting on Radio Kabul, and have occupied the important government offices including the defense, interior, and foreign ministries. Muslims around the world recognize the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. The U.S. Congress approves a federal takeover of air security, and National Guard troops will soon screen bags until mandated screening machines arrive. A man running through security, to catch a flight, causes chaos and turmoil at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport, and the world's busiest airport is shut down for over three hours. Investigators find an anthrax tainted letter addressed to U.S. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy. The letter is found in a quarantined batch of unopened Capitol Hill mail. The handwriting on the letter is similar to to the letter sent to Tom Daschle.	Laden & Friend Atef
	Ramadan First Day
	Anthrax to Leahy
Nov. 17: The LA Times reports that Osama bin Laden built a shadow air force using the national airline of Afghanistan, a smuggled U.S. Air force jet, clandestine charters, and the private jets of Middle East dignitaries. Western defense sources say that British and American Special Forces have narrowed their search for Osama bin Laden to a hilly area of just 80 square kilometers in southern Afghanistan. British SAS and American troops are near the southern city of Kandahar to prevent his escape to Pakistan. Former Afghanistan President, Burhanuddin Rabbani returned to Kabul assuming a fragile position as head of state. Rabbani said, "We came to Kabul for peace." Laura Bush spoke in place of U.S. President Bush for the weekly White House radio address. The First Lady said the war was "a fight for the rights and dignity of women."	FA18 / T. Roosevelt
Nov. 18: The Taliban leadership declares that Osama bin Laden is no longer a "guest" and will not have Taliban protection or help. Hundreds of American and British forces continue searching for bin Laden in the rugged mountains of southern and eastern Afghanistan. With bin Laden on the run, American bombers continue pounding suspected safe-houses and caves. Abdul Salem Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, and one of the last Taliban officials said, "I do not know where he (Osama) is," perhaps "he has left Afghanistan." The stepped-up hunt for bin Laden comes as the Northern Alliance agrees to talks with other Afghan factions, on the creation of a broad-based post-Taliban government. Taliban forces in Konduz offer to surrender if the Northern Alliance spared the lives of foreign forces loyal to bin Laden. In Kandahar and Konduz, al-Qaeda forces clash with moderate Taliban commanders. The planned deployment of a full brigade of British troops in Afghanistan stays in doubt as the Northern Alliance continue to disagree with the role of foreign troops.	Zaeef "Osama Left"
Nov. 19: U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld delivers an ultimatum to the Taliban in Kunduz to surrender or die. Rumsfeld said he would do "everything he could to prevent" al-Qaeda from leaving Afghanistan "to destabilize other countries or engage in terrorist attacks on the United States." Rumsfeld added, "My hope is that they will be either killed or taken prisoner." After 800 Taliban forces are killed in in Konduz, and B-52's continue pounding areas near Konduz, the Taliban agrees to surrender under certain conditions, including giving up under United Nations supervision. Pakistan officially severs ties with "whatever is left of the Taliban government." Four international journalists are ambushed and killed by gunmen in a mountain pass on the road to Kabul. The four were among more than a dozen international journalists traveling in a convoy from the eastern city of Jalalabad to the capital city of Kabul. A Kabul movie theater opens for the first time in five years. U.S. President George W. Bush signs the new air security bill federalizing airport inspectors.	Bush Signs Air Bill
Nov. 20: The United Nations announces upcoming talks in Bonn, Germany, to forge a post-Taliban government in Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance agree to attend the Berlin talks. At a conference in Washington, attended by 21 countries to discuss the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Colin Powell said, "We are going to have an enormous obligation ... to not leave the Afghan people in the lurch, and not walk away as has been done in the past." U.S. bombers continue to strike the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, and the Northern Alliance give the Taliban three days to to surrender in Konduz or face a military assault. The Pentagon moves hundreds more U.S. Marines on amphibious vessels to the region to help in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. The U.S. military drops leaflets into Afghanistan offering a $25 million reward for Osama bin Laden and his associates. An elderly Connecticut women is hospitalized with inhalation anthrax.	Reward $25Million
Nov. 21: The U.S. Justice Department determines that all 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks entered the U.S. legally, on temporary visas issued at U.S. consulates in the Middle East and Europe. Speaking to 10,000 cheering U.S. paratroopers of the 101st Airborne in Fort Campbell Ky., U.S. President Bush said, "Afghanistan is just the beginning on the war against terror ... Across the world and across the years, we will fight these evil ones, and we will win." The Taliban agree to give up the city of Konduz. But the Taliban vowed to fight to the death to hold on to their spiritual birthplace of Kandahar. Syed Tayyab Agha, the 28 year-old protege of Supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, said "We will not give any chance to anybody to disturb our Islamic rule in Kandahar." Speaking to dozens of international journalists Agha continued, "You should forget the Sept. 11 attacks because now there is new fighting against Islam. We hope mighty Allah will break America." On the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, Agha replied, "We have no idea where he is, there is no relation now, there is no communication." A 94 year-old Connecticut widow, who rarely left her home, becomes the fifth anthrax fatality. Health officials are confounded by the death and had no immediate clues.	NA/Konduz Province
	Bush - Ft. Campbell
Nov. 22: Despite reports of an imminent Taliban surrender in Konduz, advancing Northern Alliance troops are hit with a sustained volley of Taliban artillery shells. The Alliance responded with a barrage of long-range rockets. As Americans welcome Thanksgiving Day, U.S. forces continue to bomb Taliban front line positions in Konduz. Contradictions continue as Alliance and Taliban commanders, meeting in Mazar-e-Sharif, say both the Afghan and the foreign Taliban fighters will lay down their arms. Amidst the turmoil and confusion, aid agencies in Afghanistan attempt to move in supplies for millions of war weary civilians, as winter draws near.	NA & Taliban Meet
Nov. 23: Amidst sporadic gunfire, advances continue by Northern Alliance forces surrounding Konduz, the Taliban's last stronghold in northern Afghanistan. Contradictory reports continue on whether several thousand foreign fighters, mainly from Pakistan, would give up. Pentagon officials have told the Alliance that they oppose any deal with foreign fighters because many of the foreign fighters belong to the al-Qaeda network. Hundreds of American and British special forces continue undercover operations in search of al-Qaeda members. Referring to the U.S. special forces, a Bush administration official was quoted as saying, "They have killed in the hundreds. There have been no deaths on our side. They're not leaving a footprint. When these guys go to sleep, they sleep on the ground. They don't have a fixed base camp." The Red Cross said 1,500 tonnes of food arrives in Mazar-e-Sharif via Turkmenistan. Anthrax tests on the mail and home of an elderly woman who died from anthrax all prove negative.	NA Prayer Konduz
Nov. 24: More than 1,000 defecting Taliban fighters are embraced by Northern Alliance soldiers on the front lines near Konduz. With the northern Afghanistan city of Konduz on the brink of surrender, the allies focus on the Taliban's spiritual center of Kandahar. According to U.K. news sources, British paratroopers are on 48 hours notice, and will join some 25,000 elite American paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, who intend to encircle the city of Kandahar. A senior Taliban official, Mullah Mohammed Khaqzar, appeared in the capital of Kabul and announced he was defecting. Khaqzar said, "The Taliban did not concentrate on peace."	NA Konduz Road
Nov. 25: Foreign Taliban prisoners overpower their Northern Alliance guards at a prison near Mazar-e-Sharif, triggering a fierce gun battle that killed hundreds and was put down only after U.S. air and ground forces were called in. An Alliance spokesman said the prisoners "were all killed and very few were arrested." Washington officials confirm that a CIA official was wounded in the jailbreak attempt. The Northern Alliance claim to have seized control of Konduz, the Taliban's last stronghold in northern Afghanistan. Hundreds of U.S. marines land by helicopter near the southern city of Kandahar, and are reportedly to be followed by hundreds more from navy ships in the Arabian Sea. In an interview President Bush talked about steps beyond Afghanistan and singled out Iraq's Sadam Hussein. Bush said "Sadam is evil. I think he's got weapons of mass destruction, and I think he needs to open up his country to let us inspect." Bush also cited Syria as a state that needed to "take a hard look at some of the groups in their country." Bonn Germany prepares for UN-sponsored talks with Western diplomats and key Afghani leaders on the make up of the post war Afghanistan government. Burhanuddin Rabbani, former Afghan president and leader of the Northern Alliance, suggested there may be a place for the Taliban in the future Afghan government.	Escaping Gunfire
	Taliban Drive By NA
Nov. 26: Tapes are released revealing the last minutes of Flight 93. The hijackers are heard screaming at each other while the sounds of plates and metal trays crash repeatedly against the cockpit door. The hijacker at the controls tried to knock the passengers of their feet by putting the plane into a steep dive. Flight 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the hijackers were rushed by heroes aboard the flight. After a 12 day siege, and summary executions of Taliban soldiers, Konduz is finally in the hands of the Northern Alliance. Several Taliban troops reportedly escaped westward from Konduz. Five hundred U.S. marines fly into southern Afghanistan by helicopter, and seize an airstrip within striking distance of Kandahar, the Taliban's last stronghold. U.S. air strikes pound a convoy of Taliban troops and vehicles near the U.S. desert base near Kandahar. Captured Taliban forces continue to battle with Northern Alliance guards inside a fort in Mazar-e-Sharif. Five American soldiers are injured by an errant bomb that lands near the fort. Over 200 Russian personnel arrive at Bagram airport near Kabul to establish a "humanitarian center." The FBI plans to acquire DNA samples from Osama bin Laden's relatives. Talks on Afghanistan's future continue at a hilltop hotel near Bonn, Germany.	Afghan Talks Bonn
	NA Tanks in Taloqan
Nov. 27: In the bloodiest engagement of the war in Afghanistan, imprisoned foreign Taliban soldiers, in a mud-brick fort outside of Mazar-e-Sharif, are all killed. The death toll includes scores of Northern Alliance soldiers and a CIA operative, who was questioning the Taliban at the time of the prison uprising on Nov. 25th. Speaking at an Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said the U.S. military bombed a compound near Kandahar used by Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network. "It clearly was a leadership area. Whoever was in there is going to wish they weren't," said Rumsfeld. U.S. Army General Tommy Franks indicated the search for Osama bin laden had been narrowed to two key locations. Franks said, "Two areas are very interesting to us, one of them for the leadership of the Taliban ... in the vicinity of Kandahar ... the other is in an area between Kabul and Khyber, to include the Jalalabad area and down toward Tora Bora." Pakistani intelligence officers are sent to Afghanistan to assist in the manhunt for Osama bin Laden. Talks continue in Bonn with at least four Afghan factions, including the Northern Alliance, ethnic Pashtun groups, and those loyal to the former king.	Marines Afghanistan
	Rumsfeld Fla. AFB
Nov. 28: The CIA identifies Michael Spann as the operative killed in the Mazar-e-Sharif prison uprising. Spann officially becomes the first American combat death in the Afghan war. The Pentagon says the Taliban leadership has lost control of their troops. U.S. forces concentrate their attacks on a deep mountain bunker where they suspect Osama bin Laden may be holed up. The bunker is near a complex in Tora Bora. A Pentagon spokesmen said, "We're now convinced this is where he is and where 1,000 or so al-Qaeda fighters with him will make their last stand." More than 150 captured Taliban soldiers are reportedly executed by Pashtun opposition forces in Takteh Pol. In a radio address to Taliban forces, Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, calls on his fighters to "Stick to your positions, and fight to the death." The Northern Alliance tells the UN-sponsored conference in Bonn that there is no need for an international military force in Afghanistan. The leader of the Alliance delegation, Younus Qanooni, said, "We have our own qualified security forces and there is full security in Afghanistan."	Marines Afghanistan
Nov. 29: The Northern Alliance and a group of exiles loyal to the former king, agree to a transitional government to rebuild Afghanistan, until more conclusive talks can be convened in the spring. The Northern Alliance also softened their stance on foreign troops in Afghanistan, saying if the need for help becomes "inevitable" then the Alliance would not oppose an international force. American warplanes continue to bombard the Taliban's final stronghold in Kandahar. The U.S. bombing is described as some of the most punishing air strikes in the war.	Afghan Desert
Nov. 30: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visits Ground Zero with New York Mayor Giuliani. Sharon said, "I can assure you that democracies will defeat the terror." An anti-Taliban force of Pashtun fighters captures a strategic peak near Kandahar's airport without a fight. A Pashtun aid said, "Soon you will hear we are advancing on Kandahar. When we are ready, we will make our way north slowly, and in a week or 10 days, we will have the city." Capture of the high ground near Kandahar would ease access to the city for a contingent of U.S. Marines who set up a base 80 kilometers southwest of Kandahar. United Nations negotiators in Bonn said they are making progress in shaping an initial cabinet of about 20 members and a legislature of 200. The newly formed government would hold power until spring when it would summon a "loyal jirga" (national assembly) to form a more lasting interim government that would hold elections in about two years. At the U.S. Marines forward base in southern Afghanistan, American troops raise a bamboo pole with an American flag and a flag of New York City. The NYC flag was given to the Marines by New York City firefighters to honor the victims of the World Trade Center attack.	Sharon at WTC
	Marines-NYC Flag