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.
My guess is very early January. I can't remember for sure, but I think that 1/7/03 is my date in the pool. Go USA!!!!
That would be me. I'm on the USS TARAWA (LHA-1). We've been ready for a few weeks though!
I imagine the Administration has some expert assessment of Saddam's personality. I hope that the person doing this knew his history. Salaam was born in the same small village as Saladin was. Saladin was a Kurd, but some of his many victories were preceded by long mutual truces followed by sudden, lightning attacks. That is how he took Jerusalem.
My bet--Saddam attacks first. Watch out Israel. Watch out aircraft carriers! He may have a an Exocet or two.
My opinion only.
Yeah, but it won't work. They played their hand WAY too early. The entire US Pacific Command now has a good 2-3 months to come up with any number of ways to deal with these putzes, ways that I think will both surprise the living sh*t out of everyone (lots of way-new stuff like EMP-ing the entire pathetic nation before they can even turn on the lights in any missile silo) and also completely eliminate them as even the slightest threat within hours or days. When we're right in the middle of way with Iraq, you can be damn sure we're not going to play even slightly nice with anyone else who chooses that moment to be a problem.
Right here: http://www.defenselink.mil/. You can even subscribe to mailing lists so you'll be the first to know whenever they call up anybody.
Yes.
Will you get it?
No.
If he does, then the war will be over before we even start up the tanks, courtesy of a few nukes from Israel exploding over every major city in Iraq. Saddam himself will probably be well-hidden already by that point, but hey, if he wants to lord over a piece of glass with no citizens while we block off all the oil facilites for ourselves, I say let him.
And an entirely plausible position. Thanks.
I thought you would. My one and only operation was to embark on the USS Alamo, bound for Beruit in the late 1950's. I sure wish I could go with you this time.
Semper Fi
I truly believe GWB is trying to set up a situation that any thinking person will see as a liberation of the Iraqi people. This is not only good PR (and the right thing to do, frankly) but also critical to pushing the Iran situation to a full boil, with the Iranian people taking care of the mullahs themselves.
I wish you well in the months to come.
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