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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday approved the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious readiness group and the 26th Marine Expeditional Unit to the Gulf region, according to US officials. The readiness group consists of three ships, including the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship. An expeditional unit usually consists of about 2,500 Marines. In an announcement, US Central Command said the deployment will provide "even greater flexibility and maritime capability in the region.” The announcement did not name the ships, but US officials detailed the units involved in the deployment on condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements. Along with...

Liberia Mission Winds Down By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2003 - The U.S. Joint Task Force that participated in stability operations in Liberia is pulling out, Defense Department officials said. Military forces from the Economic Community of West African States have succeeded in establishing a safe area so humanitarian operations in Liberia can proceed, said officials. American forces will leave the country Oct. 1. The USS Carter Hall and USS Nashville left the area over the past weekend with 1,550 soldiers and Marines. The USS Iwo Jima still is in the area and will return...

By GLENN McKENZIE Associated Press Writer MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) - Three U.S. military helicopters landed at Liberia's high-walled U.S. Embassy on Wednesday, a day after President Bush promised to send a first American team to Liberia's war-divided capital. U.S. officials declined to immediately confirm whether the helicopters contained the promised six- to 10-member U.S. military team. The team is moving in as Nigerian troops at Monrovia's airport - the vanguard of a West African peacekeeping force - prepared to enter the capital for the first time. American authorities barred journalists from the embassy for the landing. They would confirm only...

Thu July 31, 2003 06:29 PM ET By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The lead ships in a U.S. Navy Amphibious Ready Group are expected to arrive off the coast of Liberia by Saturday, but no decision has been made on whether to put any of the 2,300 Marines aboard on the ground in the West African country, U.S. officials said on Thursday. A senior defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States will have "forces closer to Liberia available for whatever purpose the president may decide may be necessary." The official added that "at the moment,...