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Qatar exercise called most advanced ever

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, December 9, 2002

ABU DHABI Ñ The United States has launched a major command and control exercise in Qatar that has been termed as the most advanced ever by the military.

Over the weekend, Central Command conducted what officials termed a warm-up session of the computer-based simulation of what is expected to realistic scenarios of any campaign against Iraq. This is the first time that Internal Look has been held outside the United States, Middle East Newsline reported.

Officials and visiting members of Congress who attended the rehearsal for the exercise have called Internal Look the most advanced non-combat exercise by the U.S. military. They said the exercise deploys the latest technology in command, control and digital communications.

Two U.S. senators arrived for the start of the Internal Look exercise on Monday. Sen. Joseph Biden, the outgoing chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Chuck Hagel, a committee member, toured Qatar's A- Sayliyah military base and were briefed by U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Tommy Franks.

Biden confirmed that Internal Look was part of U.S. military preparations for the expected war against Iraq. The exercise will last a week and test a new mobile command center in the emirate that can link military facilities in the United States and the Persian Gulf.

"I have never seen as much coordination, as much use of our technology," Biden said after the classified briefing. "I have never seen as much discipline as I've seen in this operation. To the extent that people thought we were prepared for the first Gulf War, as they say where I come from, they ain't see nothin' yet."

"We are in the final stages of preparations," Central Command spokesman Maj. Bill Harrison said.

The two-day warm-up, termed "Rock Drill," involved 1,000 U.S. soldiers and 400 British military personnel. The warm-up was held in a conference room at A-Sayliyah base.

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