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U.S. Sending Iraq Battle Staff to Gulf
The U.S. battle staff that would run a war against Iraq has begun assembling at a Persian Gulf command post linked to air, land, naval and special operations commanders in the region, officials said Tuesday. The same Central Command planners were at the post, called Camp As Sayliyah, last month for a weeklong exercise before returning to their permanent headquarters in Florida, but this time it is not an exercise.Standing by... They are positioning themselves to kick off any military action against Iraq that President Bush should deem necessary, although officials stressed that the movement does not mean war is imminent or inevitable. Nor is it remote or unlikely... Meanwhile, Britain ordered a task force of ships and 3,000 Royal Marines to head toward the Gulf and mobilized 1,500 reserve soldiers, joining the United States in increasing military pressure on Saddam Hussein. And in France, where there has been less support for Bush's war talk, President Jacques Chirac told French troops to be prepared for deployment if Baghdad does not comply with U.N. orders to eliminate weapons programs. The Frenchies are on board — Sammy's got trouble... Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-01-07 |
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