WASHINGTON — The United States plans to bolster its military
presence in Kuwait in preparation for a troop surge in neighboring Iraq.
Officials said the U.S. military plans to send thousands of troops into
Kuwait over the next two months. They said the troops would be on call to
deploy in neighboring Iraq during 2007.
"There has been no decision on how many troops to deploy, but the
military wants this to be considered a feasible option in the short term,"
an official said.
At this point, officials said, the military plans to send the 2nd
Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait in mid-January. The brigade,
with a troop level of 3,500 and based at Fort Bragg, N.C., has been regarded
as combat-ready.
About 15,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Kuwait, Middle East Newsline reported. Most of them have
been assigned to logistics and training.
The administration has concluded that the Sunni insurgency remains the
leading threat to Iraqi stability, officials said. They said the failure to
quell the insurgency has increased the influence of Al Qaida, regarded as
the protector of the minority Sunni community.
Officials said the Bush administration has been considering a proposal
to send at least 20,000 additional troops to Iraq in 2007. They said the
augmented U.S. force would focus on tracking and destroying Al Qaida and
Saddam Hussein loyalists, regarded as the heart of the Sunni insurgency in
Iraq.
"Public perceptions of corruption, inequity and fear are the driving
force behind support to terrorist organizations," Col. David Sutherland,
commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, said. "These are not new
problems in Iraq but problems that developed out of a desire for personal
and financial gain."
The U.S. Army has sought to expand its force by 30,000. Officials said
this would include the formation of two additional combat brigades in 2007.
The United States has about 140,000 troops in Iraq. Sen. John McCain, an
Arizona Republican, has called for increasing that number by up to 30,000 to
bolster the counter-insurgency campaign.
Officials said McCain has discussed the proposal with the White House.
Last week, President George Bush met leading military commanders and
advisers on options in Iraq.
"The president strongly favors a short-term surge of at least 30,000
additional troops to Iraq," an official said.
