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Blanchard

Potential U.S. invasion force completes exercises in Egypt

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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