Summary

GATES DOD Pool Note for Sec. Gates VIP trip to Djibouti, Afghanistan, Iraq and Bahrain - December 2 - 9, 2007 * Pool Note From Pool Producer Mike Mount * ** MATERIAL UPCOMING ON 1:30PM ET FEED ** ISAF Briefing with regional commanders. B-roll of suicide bombing aftermath on Airport Road in Kabul, Afghanistan. We are told there are 2 Afghans dead, 15 wounded. (video of aftermath only) Helicopter flight B-roll. Secretary Gates tour of the Kabul Military Training Center. Tour from Ministry of Defense Chief of Staff, General Bismullah Khan. Tour and briefing at Khowst Provincial Center. Tour of the Tirazye District Center and meeting with local tribal leaders. Photo spray with Afghan Ministry of Defense, Wardak and Secretary Gates. Photo Spray with President Karzai and Secretary Gates. Press Conference with Secretary Gates and President Karzai NBC Material We were also able to ask Pool Producer Mike Mount about the first few paragraphs of a New York Times article this morning. Although Mike was not able to file a complete report before we lost him on the satellite phone, he confirms the quotes and context are accurate and did happen aboard Gates' plane. The quote is attributed to a "senior Defense Department Official, aboard Mr. Gates Plane." KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 3 -- American military and intelligence officials are detecting early signs that Al Qaeda may be increasing its activities in Afghanistan, perhaps even seeking to return to its former base of operations, a senior Defense Department official said Monday. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Kabul late Monday for meetings with government leaders and military commanders to discuss how to speed economic and political development at a time of increasing violence. The senior Defense Department official, aboard Mr. Gates's plane, said, ''We are seeing early indicators that there may be some stepped-up activity by Al Qaeda.'' No details were offered. The official cautioned, ''It's pretty hard to pull trends out of a few indications,'' but added that even tentative evidence of increased Qaeda activity in Afghanistan ''is something we are concerned with.'' The official spoke on standard rules of anonymity to discuss intelligence on Al Qaeda and Mr. Gates's agenda before the secretary's third trip to Afghanistan during his first year in office.