The United States plans to transfer most or all of the 960 American
troops in the Sinai Peninsula from their peacekeeping mission along the Egyptian-Israeli
border to the Iraqi theater.
U.S. officials said the transfer of most or all of the 960 American
troops in the Sinai Peninsula could take place in January, Middle East Newsline reported. Americans make up
half of the Multinational Force Observers in the peninsula.
The MFO monitors the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, which calls for the
demilitarization of most of the peninsula. Under the agreement, Israeli
heavy weapons cannot approach the Egyptian border.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has long favored removing U.S. troops from the Sinai to locations required for military readiness.
The Defense Department is preparing recommendations on the number of
troops to leave Sinai for the Persian Gulf, officials said. Last month, a
Pentagon delegation toured Sinai and held talks with Egyptian officials to
discuss the issue.
The U.S. military presence in Sinai is composed of members of the
National Guard. The contingent is scheduled to end its six-month tour in
early January.
"We are looking at the reserve requirements in the context of planning
for contingency operations, including in Iraq, trying to look at them very
carefully so that we are calling up the people we need but not calling up
people we don't need," Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said. "We're
going to have to keep using them, and probably using them
heavily. But that means that we also shouldn't use them in places where the
mission isn't essential."
Wolfowitz has been appointed as responsible for the reduction or
elimination of U.S. troops from the Sinai. He is expected to meet with
Egyptian and Israeli officials next month to inform them of the Pentagon's
plan.
Egypt has opposed any change in the U.S. force, saying it could further
destabilize the region. Israel has not objected but officials expressed
concern over the timing.
