25,000 U.S. Troops Headed To Gulf

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.

Thanks, Linda. On a related note...

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Pentagon orders Navy to make ready for Iraq

12/27/2002

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has ordered the Navy to prepare two aircraft carriers and two amphibious assault vessels for possible action in Iraq, defense officials said Friday.

The orders, sent in the last two days, require the Navy to have the vessels ready to sail to the seas around Iraq within 96 hours after a certain date, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. They declined to specify that date.

The ships and the escorts of cruisers, destroyers and submarines, would bring a powerful military force to the region, adding several warships, scores of strike aircraft and roughly 2,500 Marines to the forces in the region.

If the order to sail is given, the USS George Washington battle group would be sent from the Atlantic fleets, officials said. The George Washington returned from the region on Dec. 20 and is best prepared for action.

The USS George Washington is one of two aircraft carriers ordered to prepare for possible action against Iraq.

Either the USS Abraham Lincoln or the USS Kitty Hawk battle group would be sent from the Pacific fleets. The Abraham Lincoln is in Perth, Australia, having just left the Persian Gulf region. The Kitty Hawk is in port in Japan.

The defense officials declined to say which amphibious assault groups are most likely to be sent to conduct operations in Iraq. Those groups center on a large, carrier-like vessel that can launch helicopters and carry Marines.

Already in the region is the carrier USS Constellation and the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau, officials said.

In addition, the U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort is expected to put to sea from its port in Baltimore next week and prepare for action, military officials said Friday. It will be headed to Diego Garcia, a British island in the Indian Ocean where the United States bases numerous military aircraft.

Also Online

Special report: Iraq

The 1,000-bed floating hospital will initially sail with a crew of 61 civilian mariners and 225 Navy personnel, including enough doctors to support two operating rooms, said Marge Holtz, spokeswoman for the Navy's Military Sealift Command. Hundreds more will be flown to the ship as needed, she said.

The white-painted vessel, marked with red crosses, is equipped to handle combat casualties, including those injured in chemical or biological weapons attacks, Holtz said.

It may leave as early as Monday, Holtz said.

The ship was last deployed during the summer for exercises with U.S. allies in the Baltic Sea.

In the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Comfort sailed to the waters around Manhattan to treat people injured in the collapse of the towers. In the end, those services were not needed, as local hospitals were able to handle the survivors.

The vessel instead served as a floating hotel for rescue personnel working at the World Trade Center site, providing meals, beds and laundry service for more than 2,200 rescue workers.

The Comfort, a converted oil tanker, is only one of two hospital ships of its size. Its sister ship, the USNS Mercy, is based in San Diego.

Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/world/stories/122702dnnatnavyalert.cfa84.html

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