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Gulf states to counter Iran with largest exercise ever

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, December 29, 2006

ABU DHABI — The U.S. is advising the Gulf states in preparation for their largest ever military exercise to answer Iran's growing strategic clout in the region.

Gulf Cooperation Council sources said the six Gulf Arab members would conduct an exercise by the regional Peninsula Shield force over the next two months. They said the exercise, hosted by Oman, would contain air, ground and naval components in the Gulf region.

All six GCC states have agreed to participate in the exercise, GCC sources said. They said the exercise, planned in coordination with the United States, was approved by GCC leaders in their summit in Riyad on Dec. 10.

GCC member states have been increasingly concerned by Iran's emerging nuclear capability and the success of Hizbullah in its war with Israel.

"The exercise is designed to begin a serious effort at interoperability and regional defense," a GCC source said. "We have been planning this exercise carefully with our allies."

The source said Britain and the United States have been advising Peninsula Shield on the forthcoming exercise. The six GCC militaries employ mostly U.S. and British weapons platforms and also receive training from London and Washington.

The exercise would take place in either late January or early February 2007, the Kuwaiti daily Al Rai Al Aam reported on Thursday. The newspaper said the exercise would be the largest since Peninsula Shield was formed in 1984.

"The exercise would test the command capability of Peninsula Shield as well as establish requirements to develop regional defense," the source said.

Al Rai Al Aam said the GCC was mulling a recommendation to increase Peninsula Shield to 100,000 troops by 2025. Last year, GCC leaders suspended Peninsula Shield and combat troops were withdrawn from headquarters in the Saudi town of Khafer Baaten.

Another GCC recommendation was the inclusion of Yemen in regional defense. Yemen, the poorest country in the region, has long sought to enter the GCC.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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