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--> --> U.S. ground troops aiding air campaign versus Taliban WASHINGTON (AP) - American soldiers are in Afghanistan advising anti-Taliban forces and helping guide bombs to their targets, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said as he prepared to visit the region this weekend. The Pentagon has informed the White House that Rumsfeld intends to call up more than the 50,000 troops he initially thought would be the most needed for the campaign in Afghanistan and homeland defense, said Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke. She didn't give a new number, but under an order signed by President Bush shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, up to 1 million could be activated. Rumsfeld will travel to Moscow to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, then visit leaders of several countries surrounding Afghanistan to shore up efforts in the war against terrorism, the Pentagon said today. "The initial reason for the trip is to go to Moscow and see Ivanov to talk about the war on terrorism, to talk about the (Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty) to talk about the broader way forward with Russia," Clarke said. She didn't name the other nations he would visit on the trip, which begins Friday. Meanwhile, warplanes launched heavy bombing raids today on Taliban front line positions north of the Afghan capital. Witnesses said it was some of the heaviest bombing of the front line yet, with at least 11 bombs striking Wednesday morning. Rumsfeld acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that U.S. special forces are in Afghanistan. "Because they are there now, the effort has improved in its effectiveness," he said of targeting in the air campaign. Target information supplied by opposition forces has not been exact enough, officials have said. Rumsfeld said a "very modest" number of U.S. forces - less than 100 - are in northern Afghanistan, working with specific units of the loose anti-Taliban coalition known as the northern alliance. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing