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US to move more military forces into Pacific
The United States is considering new military deployments in the Pacific Ocean to back up its forces in South Korea. The Defence Department in Washington said the reinforcements would act as a deterrent against any North Korean aggression, in the event that the US goes to war on Iraq.Among the possible moves are the deployment of additional bombers to the island of Guam and fighter planes to Japan. American officials denied any direct link to the confrontation with North Korea over its nuclear activities, which they said was being handled diplomatically. The BBC Pentagon correspondent says the aim is to send a clear signal to North Korea not to take advantage of any conflict between Washington and Baghdad. Tension between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea's nuclear programme has been rising since October last year. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is to meet on 12 February to consider asking the UN Security Council to act against North Korea. "I've exhausted all possibilities within my power to bring North Korea into compliance," IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said on Monday. I could comment, but ElBaradei sometimes seems like he's actually trying. Besides, it's like pulling wings off flies. Also on Monday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President George W Bush still believed the North Korean standoff could be resolved peacefully. "That doesn't mean the United States won't have contingencies and make certain those contingencies are viable," Mr Fleischer told reporters. We're good little Boy Scouts, always prepared. Pentagon officials insist that no decisions have been made. But moves reportedly being considered include: Giving the US aircraft carrier already based in the Pacific, the USS Kitty Hawk, a more visible presence; and replacing it with another carrier, probably the USS Carl Vinson, should the Kitty Hawk be ordered to the Gulf, as widely expected. Sending B-1 and B-52 bombers, and F-16 fighter jets, to the region. Dispatching extra intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance units. The United States has 37,000 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held talks on Monday in Washington with a visiting South Korean presidential envoy, Roh Moo-hyun. A US spokesman said the 45-minute meeting had dealt with the future of US forces stationed in the South. The envoy is also due to meet Secretary of State Colin Powell. They're planning and planning. Good, and let's hope the NKors get the message. Posted by: Steve White 2003-02-04 |
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