31.   Since then, the United States has sent more warships to the Gulf and speculation about American airstrikes has increased.

32.   Some told of increasingly desperate Taliban fighters moving from house to house, trying to hide among civilians from the fury of American airstrikes.

33.   The Taliban have vowed to defend Kandahar, where their movement was organized nearly a decade ago, despite intense American airstrikes.

34.   Travelers say increasingly desperate Taliban fighters are moving from house to house, trying to hide among civilians from the fury of American airstrikes.

35.   U.S. special forces, backed by American airstrikes, helped northern alliance forces put down the revolt by foreign fighters loyal to Osama bin Laden imprisoned at the fort.