Rumsfeld Admits Ground Forces are in Afghanistan: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged Tuesday that a "marginal number" of U.S. ground forces are in Afghanistan to work as "liaison" soldiers with the Northern Alliance and provide better targeting for U.S. airstrikes. "Uniformed military personnel are assisting [the Northern Alliance] with resupplies, targeting and providing the kind of capabilities and information key to improving the effectiveness of the air campaign," Rumsfeld said.