Miguel
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U.S. to Gulf allies: All systems go for war on Iraq
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, September 19, 2002
ABU DHABI — Iraq's agreement to allow the return of UN weapons inspectors has had no impact on U.S. and British preparations for war in the Persian Gulf.
The Bush administration has sent word to its allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council that there has been no change in plans to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein, Gulf defense sources told Middle East Newsline.
In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he was certain that Middle East allies of the United States will help in any military campaign for regime change in Iraq. He said the support by Gulf Arab and other states will include the use of their air space and military bases.
"Will they give us access to bases and territory and airspace we need to conduct a military operation?" Rumsfeld asked in testimony on Wednesday to the House Armed Services Committee. "The answer is that the president has not decided to take military action, but, if he does, we will have all the support we need to get the job done. You can be certain of it."
Rumsfeld's testimony came on the eve of a visit by Central Command chief Gen. Tommy Franks to Kuwait. Franks, who will hold two days of talks in the sheikdom, arrived from Qatar where he met Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Qatari news agency said the two men discussed ways to bolster military cooperation and regional issues.
At the same time, U.S. Third Army Lt. Gen. David McKiernan discussed logistics and supply issues with his Qatari hosts, including Qatari Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah. The Third Army plans to use Qatar as a major logistics base in the Gulf for U.S. aircraft and armored units. Al Attiya also met with British Defense Procurement Minister Lord Bach to discuss defense and military cooperation. Lord Bach held similar talks in Kuwait.
U.S. military commanders are touring the Persian Gulf region to help arrange joint exercises and additional deployment of troops in such countries as Kuwait and Qatar. Washington plans to launch a four-week military exercise in Kuwait by the end of the month.
U.S. officials said about 2,000 U.S. Marines will participate in the exercise. The maneuvers will also include units from Kuwait and Britain. Kuwait has confirmed the exercise.
Gulf defense sources said the Bush administration has relayed to Gulf Cooperation Council states that Iraq's agreement to allow for the return of UN weapons inspectors would not derail U.S. efforts to replace the regime of President Saddam Hussein. The sources said the discussions at the Security Council on the return of the weapons inspectors would be used to ease pressure on GCC states against helping any U.S.-led effort to attack Baghdad.
The U.S. Defense Department is also maintaining its accelerated procurement of logistical services and supplies to bolster forces in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon awarded the Boeing Co. a $217 million contract to lease up to four C-40 aircraft.
Officials said the contract is for a long-term project meant to be completed in 2010. The logistics support portion of the contract was valued at $52.5 million
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Romans 9:11-24
Our Eschatology may vary even our Ecclesiology may be disputed among us but our Soteriology most assume a singularity and exclusivity which in biblical term is known as Quote; "The Narrow Way" and Quote!
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