ABU DHABI Ñ The United States wants to coordinate Gulf Arab air
operations in any military campaign against Iraq.
Gulf defense sources said the U.S. Defense Department and the American
military have relayed the importance of coordinated air operations by Gulf
Cooperation Council air forces to defend the Persian Gulf region. They said
Washington has offered to help the six GCC states increase communications
and interoperability between the air forces as well as with the U.S.
military.
Last year, the GCC launched operations of its new air early-warning and
communications systems. Additional systems are being discussed to augment
the military link between GCC states.
The United States maintains an estimated 35,000 troops in the Gulf as
well as scores of fighter-jets in such countries as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and
Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain.
In May, U.S. Air Force commander Gen. John Jumper outlined Washington's
vision during a seminar in the United Arab Emirates. Jumper was quoted as
saying by the latest edition of the UAE Air Force Journal that the U.S.
military has focused on maintaining air superiority against any enemy of the
GCC through the use of the B-2 bomber and the F-22 fighter-jet.
Such efforts, Jumper said, must be coordinated with GCC countries, which
will participate in any military campaign. Jumper did not name Iraq as the
target of the United States.
"There will be a need for integrating air force operations and early
warning systems in the GCC, conducting extensive air surveillance and other
joint operations," Jumper was quoted as telling Air Force Journal, which was
published over the weekend.
Jumper was quoted as telling the UAE seminar that the United States
intends to coordinate and cooperate with GCC countries regarding any
attack on Baghdad. But he indicated that GCC refusal to cooperate would not
stop any military campaign by Washington.
"First, I do not expect anyone to go to war in this region without
cooperation and coordination with the GCC countries," Jumper was quoted as
saying. "But we possess the capability of deploying operation centers in
different areas and using advanced information technology to send and
receive data and
information. But of course, we do not expect to take any measures without
informing and consulting the regional states. This issue, however, is
premature and I do not want to go into details now."
Gulf defense sources said U.S. military commanders have discussed GCC
defense with all members of the alliance. But the sources said none of the
Gulf states were provided with specific plans for an attack on the regime of
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Over the weekend, Pentagon sources confirmed a U.S. plan to strike Iraq
by air, land and sea. But they said the plan Ñ which calls for U.S. strikes
from such countries as Jordan, Turkey and Kuwait Ñ is one of several
contingency plans being drafted for President George Bush.
Gulf defense sources said GCC countries have been assured that any U.S.
military campaign against Iraq would be rapid and seek to destroy Baghdad's
weapons of mass destruction.
