Friday, October 29, 1999

CAIRO [MENL] -- The United States wants to preposition weapons and equipment for a fourth U.S. army brigade in the Gulf region.

Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni, commander of U.S. Central Command, discussed his proposal in Egypt during the current Bright Star exercises. He first raised the proposal earlier this week in Doha during a tour by U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen.

On Tuesday, the Al Ahram daily reported the start of the major exercise of Bright Star -- a counteroffensive against an invasion.

Zinni said Central Command has long wanted to preposition equipment for a fourth brigade, which means it would have enough in theater to field a reinforced army division of about 30,000 troops, including support elements. He stressed that his idea has not yet been approved by Cohen.

Currently, one brigade's worth of equipment is positioned in Kuwait and another in Qatar. Equipment for a third is on U.S. ships in the region. Pre-positioned stocks include everything from tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery pieces to engineer vehicles and signal equipment.

Zinni told reporters the fourth brigade set would be positioned afloat if Cohen approves his recommendation. Earlier, defense sources said the fourth set could be land-based.

The general described brigades as combined arms units with tanks and artillery, infantry and engineers. "It's the smallest unit we use or employ by itself, in usually any kind of situation that might involve serious combat," he said.

Zinni estimated the squadrons can each equip up to 17,000 Marines in both air and ground units. He said there is no timetable for prepositioning the equipment. The United States has not even finished prepositioning the first three brigade sets yet, he said.

"We're roughly 80 percent done in Qatar," he said.

On Monday, President Bill Clinton signed a $267 billion defense bill. "This legislation provides funding for our most critical military needs, including weapons procurement and modernization, research and development, and importantly, a much-needed pay raise for our men and women in uniform," Clinton said.