Potential U.S. invasion force completes exercises in Egypt
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, October 23, 2001
WASHINGTON Ñ Pentagon sources have not ruled out the prospect
that the U.S. soldiers training in the Bright Star exercises in Egypt would soon be sent to
Afghanistan in the drive to topple the Taliban ruling faction and capture
Saudi fugitive Osama Bin Laden.
U.S. analysts and defense sources said the Pentagon has deployed about 18,000 U.S. troops in northeastern Egypt for Bright Star. An additional 5,000 troops are based off-shore.
U.S. military commanders have assessed the current
Bright Star exercise as the most significant in the 20 years of
biannual exercises with its Arab ally.
The sources said the international exercise, in which more than
70,000 soldiers from 10 countries participated, contained a range of
training and maneuvers that will help the U.S. military in operations in the
Middle East and nearby regions.
Bright Star, which ends this week, contained live fire by aircraft,
artillery tanks as well as maneuvers by U.S. special forces, Middle East Newsline reported. The U.S.
contingent was composed of soldiers from the U.S.Central Command,
responsible for the Persian Gulf and most of the Middle East.
The sources said a key part of the exercise was training on special
equipment to protect against a biological and chemical weapons attack.
On Friday, President George Bush telephoned Egyptian President Mubarak
and praised Egypt for hosting the Bright Star military exercise. Bush
said the exercise contributes to coalition military planning and operations.
U.S. troops from the Central Command joined British and French troops in
training in defense against biological, chemical and nuclear weapons attacks
on the battle field. The training included marines and sailors from the
allied nations and troops participated in live fire exercises.
U.S. commanders said the exercise was directed toward the French
military, which has not been equipped or trained to fight during a
nonconventional attack. French equipment was also deemed to be inferior to
that of the Americans.
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