Two U.S. soldiers from Alpha Company 464 battalion, Second Brigade load ammunition onto M1A1 Abrams on December 15, 2002, in the Kuwaiti desert near the border with Iraq prior to the military exercise. Kuwait is a key U.S. ally in the region and seen as a major launching pad for any attack on Iraq. More than 12,000 U.S. troops are in Kuwait, with many of them taking part in a training exercise in the desert close to the Iraqi border. REUTERS/Peter Andrews
.S. soldiers from Alpha Company 464 battalion, Second Brigade, load ammunition onto an M1A1 Abrams tank in the Kuwaiti desert, near the border with Iraq prior to battle exercise, December 15, 2002. Kuwait is a key U.S. ally in the region and seen as a major launching pad for any attack on Iraq. More than 12,000 U.S. troops are in Kuwait, with many of them taking part in a training exercise in the desert close to the Iraqi border. President George W. Bush's special envoy for 'free Iraqis', Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Sunday Washington did not want a military conflict with Baghdad and urged President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to comply with United nations resolutions. REUTERS/Peter Andrews
Abram tanks move into position for a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002.
A soldier from the 3rd Infantry division beckons to a colleague on an Abram tank, as they prepare for a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002.
Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry division walk across the desert at Camp New York, Kuwait, under the rising sun, as they prepare for a large exercise in the desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002
Abram tanks move into position for a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002.
U.S. Marine Corps field radio operator Sgt. Richard Oh, 22, from Baltimore, Md., a member of the Combined/Joint Task Force and Consequence Management, keeps his face warm during a field training exercise near the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002. Temperatures in Kuwait dropped into the low 40s F (5-6 C) during the night while the task force trained. The exercise tested the task force's response to a simulated chemical attack on the U.S. Embassy as well as their cooperation with Kuwait emergency response forces. (AP Photo/Staff Sgt. Bill Lisbon, U.S. Marine Corps)
Infantry Pvt. John Shuman, 18, from Hoboken, Ga., looks through his binoculars at the start of a large exercise in the Kuwait desert, 20 miles from the western border of Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002. The large exercise is part of the ongoing Operation Desert Spring.
Sgt. Cesar Petriz, left, of Brwnsville, Texas listens as an old Mujahideen fighter narrates his experience in fighting Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 in Mullah Mohammad Khel village in Afghanistan. The U.S. soldiers visited the site for the construction of deep wells as part of their humanitariaqn aid and reconstruction projects. (AP Photo/Pat Roque)
Sgt. Alain Souvenir, center, of Miami, Florida deflects the ball as an Afghan villager tries to catch it during a friendly volleyball match Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 in Mullah Muhammad Khel village, Afghanistan
Lance Corporal Alberto Perez is greeted by his daughter Jasmin (5) and son Zackary (2) upon his arrival at Camp Horno on the Camp Pendelton Military Base near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002. More than 2,200 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned home today after a six-month deployment to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Corporal Seth Edwards gets an extended hug from his wife Angelia upon his return to Camp Horno on the Camp Pendelton base near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002.
First lieutenant Harry Thompson holds his daughter Cathryn (6) and Son Coby (8) as he is welcomed home by his wife Cynthia upon his arrival at Camp Horno at the Camp Pendleton Base near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002.
U.S. Marines carry their gear the last few yards to Camp Horno upon their return home to Camp Pendleton Base, near Oceanside, California, December 14, 2002.