ABU DHABI Ñ 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.