Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army, amid attacks on Egyptian soldiers
and police, has been ordered to bolster an international peacekeeping
mission in the Sinai Peninsula.

The U.S. Army said it would send troops to enhance the capabilities of
the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai.

Officers said more than 400 soldiers would patrol and man checkpoints along the eastern Sinai in an effort to monitor the demilitarization of the turbulent peninsula.

“We want to be as professional as possible,” U.S. Private First Class Alexander Perez said.

The Army has been training the soldiers in anti-riot operations in Sinai. Officers said the U.S. contingent was being prepared for the prospect of attacks by Bedouins, including gunmen aligned with Al Qaida.

“We’re as likely to run into a lethal threat as a nonlethal threat.” Lt. Matthew Wilkinson said. “Our plan today was to be trained on and learn how to react to a civilian population that is unarmed but dangerous, without using lethal capabilities.”

The U.S. soldiers, who came from the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, were
ordered to remain in Sinai for at least nine months. On June 19, the troops
underwent riot control exercises at Fort Hood, Texas that included mock
firebomb attacks.

Officers said the U.S. contingent to MFO would also be instructed on how
to deal with Bedouins and others in Sinai. They said this would include
lessons on Arab history and culture to squadron leaders from the division’s
3rd Brigade Combat Team.

“We’ve learned that in other cultures, people approach things
differently and to be cautious of religion and different people’s roles in
society,” Perez said. “We don’t want to offend anyone. That’s unnecessary.
So we’re going through training constantly to understand how their culture
works.”

The Egyptian military has confirmed the arrival of the U.S. troops for
MFO. An Egyptian military spokesman said the service was clarifying the
duties of the arriving American soldiers.

“We are providing this clarification as we respect the right of the
great Egyptian people to know the truth from its original sources and to
prevent distortion of information by any instigators,” Egyptian military
spokesman Col. Ahmed Ali said.

  ‘We dont’ want to offend anyone’: U.S. instructs Sinai troops in Arab history, Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, Multinational Force and Observers, Sinai Bedouins, U.S. deploys 400 troops to assist Sinai peacekeeping force