THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410140571
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES
DATELINE: JIDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The United States presented a plan Thursday to keep additional American warplanes and a division's worth of tanks and armor in the Persian Gulf after the latest Kuwait border crisis ends, to contain any Iraqi military threat.
Defense Secretary William J. Perry disclosed the plan, which would represent a marked increase in the American military presence in the Middle East, shortly before meeting with King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, whose cooperation would be vital.
These are the main features:
Deployment of 30,000 ground troops, all of whom would be withdrawn if the current Iraqi threat ends;
Stationing of 400 to 500 warplanes in the region, some of which would remain after the crisis is over;
Storage of three brigades of tanks and heavy armor in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and, probably, the United Arab Emirates;
A buffer zone in southern Iraq to head off future border crises.
Perry said the ground troops would be brought in even if Iraq withdrew from the Kuwait border. Despite earlier reports that the Iraqi forces were retreating, Perry received intelligence reports Thursday night that one or two brigades of Iraqi Republican Guards had stopped their movement near Naziriyah, south of the 32nd parallel, along the Euphrates.
The reports said that the Iraqi units were dug in and may be preparing to launch an offensive against Shiite Muslim insurgents in the area. Iraqi forces just north of Basra near Qal'at Salih are also delaying their retreat north, the reports said. A senior Pentagon official traveling with Perry said this could be ``another test of our resolve.''
The American ground troops would be withdrawn over a period of weeks if the Iraqis complete their withdrawal and refrain from belligerent actions. But Perry said many warplanes would remain indefinitely, providing the air power to strike Iraqi forces should they head south again toward Kuwait.
``Forces that will stay in the area to help prevent future crises from arising will be primarily Air Force,'' Perry said. ``Saddam Hussein is a crafty character. I do see Iraq as a long-term threat to be contained.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp
Pendleton, Calif., line up to board helicopters on the flight deck
of the helicopter amphibious assault ship Tripoli on Thursday. The
Marines are taking part in an airborne assault training exercise in
the desert north of Kuwait City while the San Diego-based ship is
anchored off the coast of Kuwait. Meanwhile on Thursday, U.S.
officials presented a plan to keep U.S. warplanes, tanks and other
armor in the Persian Gulf after the latest border crisis ends. The
move, disclosed by Defense Secretary William J. Perry, is intended
to contain any future Iraqi threat.
KEYWORDS: IRAQ PERSIAN GULF by CNB