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U.S. shuts down terrorists' financial networks; Afghan bombing continues

The United States on Nov. 7 began a new round in its war on terror, targeting terrorists' financial managers. Meanwhile, U.S.-backed Afghan opposition forces gained ground against the ruling Taliban militia.

U.S. President George W. Bush announced that authorities shut down the U.S. offices of the al-Taqwa and the al-Barakaat Islamic financial networks

Bush said these networks raised and managed funds for alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda organization. The networks even organized shipments of weapons and provided secure telephone lines.

Bush said U.S. allies agreed to follow suit, and authorities in the United Arab Emirates promptly announced they had seized the assets of al-Barakaat.

In Afghanistan, the opposition Northern Alliance said a series of victories over the last several days had brought it 7 km from Mazar-i-Sharif, a Taliban stronghold.

Control of the northern Afghan town would allow the alliance to link up with U.S. troops based in nearby southern Uzbekistan, cut Taliban supply lines and bring in military aid.

U.S. bombers continued to attack Taliban positions on the strategic battle lines near the northeastern town of Taloqan and north of Kabul.

Bush said Nov. 7 that defenses of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia were crumbling "slowly but surely." Bush also stated that the ongoing military action had "Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda thugs on the run."

Shukan ST: Nov. 16, 2001

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