January 22, 2003	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 18, 1423

LONDON, Jan 21: The Pentagon on Monday ordered another 37,000 U.S troops to deploy to the Gulf region, bringing to nearly 100,000 the number ordered to go since Jan 1.

The following US and British forces are in or near the Middle East and could be used in any US-led attack on Iraq.

US NAVY: The US navy has signalled it is preparing to move at least two additional aircraft carrier battle groups with 150 planes and dozens of ship-launched cruise missiles to the Gulf area.

The carrier Abraham Lincoln has been ordered to remain at sea instead of returning to the United States from a recently completed six-month tour near Iraq.

The carrier Constellation is now on patrol in the Gulf and the Harry S. Truman is on station in the Mediterranean.

The George Washington, which returned to Virginia from the Gulf in December, is likely to return to the region with either the Abraham Lincoln or Kitty Hawk, which is based in Japan.

US PERSONNEL: On Monday the Pentagon ordered a further 37,000 troops to deploy, adding to the 62,000 already mobilized. The 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas and other supporting units including the division’s 3rd Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado, are among those who will go to the Gulf.

CENTRAL COMMAND: A mobile “CentCom” command post shipped to Al Udeid air base near Doha in Qatar, which was staffed by over 1,000 US communications personnel and several hundred British counterparts, is to remain in Qatar and is likely to be the command and control centre in the event of any attack on Iraq.

AIR BASES: The air force has begun sending B-1B bombers from Ellsworth, South Dakota, and will send both F-15C fighters and F-15E attack jets along with Predator unmanned spyplanes and radar aircraft.

Turkey is expected to give reluctant support to the US, allowing its air bases to be used by US and British jets. —Reuters