Posted on 12/27/2002 3:40:20 PM PST by maquiladora
WASHINGTON -- Approximately 25,000 U.S. troops have been ordered to the Gulf region starting in early January, the latest wave in a deployment for a potential conflict with Iraq, military officials told NBC News.
A decision about whether to go to war is not expected before the end of January, when U.N. weapons chief Hans Blix is scheduled to report to the Security Council, they said Friday.
The United States has warned President Saddam Hussein that he must comply with the latest U.N. resolution calling for complete disarmament or face possible military action.
U.N. inspectors have been back in Iraq since late November and Blix must report on their progress to the Security Council on Jan. 27.
Meanwhile, the United States has been gradually building up its military might in the region. According to U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, most of the 25,000 troops are logisticians, cargo handlers and other support forces.
Their deployment will increase the U.S. military presence to more than 80,000 troops. According to the various invasion scenarios, the United States would need a force of around 250,000 to launch a successful attack on Iraq.
However, tens of thousands of additional forces -- including combat troops and aircraft -- are expected to begin receiving their orders to deploy just after the New Year.
In addition, a large number of forces have been ordered to "prepare to deploy," including a number of Navy ships, officials said.
These forces have not so far been actually ordered to deploy, but have been told to be ready to go. They include:
Two amphibious-ready groups. These are three-ship groups that carry more than 2,000 Marines. At least one of the groups of ships is based in San Diego -- the USS Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group. Within the next week or so, in preparation for possible deployment, these amphibious ships are likely to begin to load ammunition and make other preparations necessary for a long deployment.
The hospital ship Comfort, based in Baltimore, Md., was activated Friday and officials said the vessel is likely to deploy -- with a small crew of fewer than 100 aboard -- in early January. Medics and other hospital staff would link up with the ship once on station. The Comfort is most likely to take up position off of Diego Garcia, the British-run island in the Indian Ocean. The voyage to Diego Garcia could take up to a month.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has had her port visit to Perth, Australia, extended for several days while a decision is made whether it should be sent back to port in California, as scheduled. Officials expect a decision on whether the Lincoln could go still home and make it back when needed early next week.
The Navy has been directed to have four aircraft carrier battle groups ready in the event they are needed for a war with Iraq. They include the USS Constellation, now in the Gulf, and the Harry S. Truman, which is deployed in the Mediterranean.
The additional carriers that could deploy to the Gulf in the event they are needed are the USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS George Washington, which recently returned to Norfolk, Va., the USS Theodore Roosevelt, set to used for training exercises off Norfolk next month, and the USS Kitty Hawk. The Kitty Hawk is based in Japan but can depart within 96 hours of receiving an order.
In addition, additional Air Force aircraft including B1 bombers, F15E Strike Eagles, A10 Warthogs and F16 Falcons have been alerted to possible deployment as soon as sometime in January.
Then we declare him in material breach..
Jan 31---Feb 1st..
/john
New moon is approximately Jan31/Feb01.
Exactly. First new moon after the 27th unless GWB has something really out there up his sleeve and goes off Jan 2. They'll want a few weeks to aclimatize (sp?) the troops.
That's the cynic in me.
Thanks for that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.