05 June 2004	Saturday	16 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

WASHINGTON, June 4: The United States is considering withdrawing its two Army divisions from Germany, shift the US Navy's European headquarters from London to Naples and other moves in the biggest rearrangement of its forces since the start of the Cold War, The New York Times said on Friday.

The shifts, which could also include moving F-16 fighters from Germany to Turkey, F-15 fighters from Iceland and sending forces to the Middle East, Central Asia and other potential battlegrounds, are still in the planning stage and are pending close consultations with allies, US and allied officials told the daily.

The Pentagon plan was discussed at a May 20 meeting of top US officials including Secretary of State Colin Powell, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Richard Myers, and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

It has been known for some time that the United States was planning a major reshuffle of its forces around the world after the end of the Cold War to better cope with international terrorism and local conflicts, but the details revealed so far have been very sketchy.

The planning, which one official described as a "snapshot" at a given time, is not expected to lead to major decisions for a month or two. Germany, for example, has been told that President George Bush has not formally approved the plan to withdraw US troops from its territory and that their concerns would be taken into account, the officials said.

Some experts and allied officials, said the daily, are concerned that the shifts in US forces will reduce Washington's influence in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and weaken its diplomatic links with its allies.

Civilian officials at the Defence Department were pushing for Mr Bush to announce the new military posture in mid-June, but State Department officials prevailed arguing that it would not leave sufficient time for consultations with allies.

According to an account of the May 20 session provided to The New York Times, some details of the overall plan have begun to emerge. The Germany-based US First Armored Division and First Infantry Division would be returned to the United States, and a brigade equipped with Stryker light armored vehicles would be deployed in Germany. The shift would cut by about half the approximately 70,000 US troops stationed in Germany.

In addition, a wing of F-16 fighters could be moved from their base in Spangdahlem, Germany, to the Incirclik base in Turkey, with prior agreement from Ankara, which Mr Powell told the meeting was unlikely, according to a State Department official.

The US Navy's headquarters in Europe would be transferred from London to Naples. Earlier plans to move them to Spain were scrapped on cost grounds and not because of withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq, Defence Department officials said.

There were also discussions of removing some F-15 fighters from Britain and to remove another handful of F-15s from Iceland, but here Ms Rice said at the meeting that Mr Bush would only agree to this if a way was found to mollify the Icelanders, who could be upset by the move. -AFP