LONDON: The United States has begun the massive military build-up required for a war against Iraq, ordering the movement of tens of thousands of men and tonnes of materiel to the Gulf region.

Despite the assurances of George Bush and Tony Blair that “no decisions” had been made on how to deal with the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, compelling evidence has emerged in the past week that the US has begun a military build-up not seen since the last Gulf war. Among the troops arriving in the region are an estimated 2,500 in Jordan. Although officially en route for an exercise, sources claim their real purpose is to provide anti-missile protection in the Jordanian desert to give Israel advance warning against any Iraqi attack launched in response to a US invasion.

Last week Reuters reported that the US navy had chartered a large civilian cargo carrier to take battle tanks to the Gulf at the end of September. However, sources familiar with the ship’s manifest claim that the cargo is missiles, ammunition and tracked transport vehicles for a build-up of munitions for an air campaign. In the next move up to 20,000 US Marines from Camp Pendelton in California are to arrive in mid-October.

There have also been persistent reports that US and British Special Forces have established an operating base near Incerlik in Turkey, from which they have begun mounting liaison missions into northern Iraq in recent weeks. Sources say British military liaison teams have arrived in the Gulf. They claim Britain is likely to agree to commit a “division minus” — comprising two armoured brigades — to support the three US divisions expected to be deployed.

The slow but persistent build-up is reminiscent of the slow gathering of forces prior to the Gulf war.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service