WASHINGTON Ñ The Pentagon has gathered U.S. military assets in the Gulf in preparation for any retaliation for the suicide attacks in New York and Washington.

Officials refused to confirm or deny that the Pentagon is planning an attack in the Middle East and against whom. But they said the Pentagon is working on a range of contingency plans.

But the Bush administration and military have reviewed U.S. military assets in the Gulf and in the nearby Indian Ocean. In what could be a significant move the USS Enterprise was ordered to halt in the Indian Ocean.

The aircraft carrier was en route to the United States. Officials said the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is already in the Gulf. The Vinson is meant to patrol the Persian Gulf south of Iraq.

The carriers are capable of firing cruise missiles. They are also capable of launching aircraft attacks and carry 60 warplanes each.

U.S. military bases have been placed on high alert in the Gulf. U.S. nationals in most of the Gulf Cooperation Council states have been urged to stay indoors.

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