HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=13318 Stars And Stripes February 27, 2003 Dutch Patriot missile units arriving in Turkey By Jon R. Anderson -Some 15 launchers and more than 100 missiles are expected to arrive by Friday, military officials said. -Those units would join about 50 aircraft and 1,400 airmen already based in southern Turkey�s Incirlik airbase as part Operation Northern Watch � the U.S. and British air patrols of northern Iraq. Meanwhile, about 3,500 U.S. troops � mostly from the Germany-based 1st Infantry Division and 21st Theater Support Command � continued laying the groundwork for the U.S. invasion force. -With U.S. Patriot units already stretched across Kuwait and Israel, the Dutch deployment has been welcomed as valuable assistance from NATO. As the Dutch units began arriving Wednesday, NATO surveillance flights began over Turkey as well. ISKENDERUN, Turkey � Dutch Patriot missile units began arriving in this Turkish port city Wednesday morning, tasked with guarding an air base military officials hope will soon be bustling with scores of U.S. attack aircraft. The first of three Patriot batteries unloaded from a red and white cargo ship onto the packed Iskenderun docks, where hundreds of U.S. military logistics vehicles are standing by. Some 15 launchers and more than 100 missiles are expected to arrive by Friday, military officials said. The lead Patriot units were moved to a neighboring Turkish navy support base to begin staging for their two-day trip to the southeastern air base of Diyarbakir, about 143 miles from the Iraqi border Thursday morning. The Scud-busting surface-to-air missile will defend a U.S air armada expected to begin assembling there in the coming days, said Ans Keifeth, a Dutch logistics officer coordinating the Patriot deployment. The Turkish parliament, however, first must approve the combat forces. Lawmakers are expected to give the green light to the deployment of 250 U.S. warplanes and 60 helicopters to Turkey � as well as 62,000 ground troops � on Thursday. U.S. war planners hope to position the attack aircraft in preparation for a northern assault against Saddam Hussein�s forces. Those units would join about 50 aircraft and 1,400 airmen already based in southern Turkey�s Incirlik airbase as part Operation Northern Watch � the U.S. and British air patrols of northern Iraq. Meanwhile, about 3,500 U.S. troops � mostly from the Germany-based 1st Infantry Division and 21st Theater Support Command � continued laying the groundwork for the U.S. invasion force. Maj. Gen. John Batiste, 1st ID commander, now on the ground in Turkey, has been tapped to lead the Army�s logistics efforts in Turkey, alongside Brig. Gen. William Mortensen, commander of the 21st TSC. Both leaders have been focusing much of their efforts on the buildup of support units at Iskenderun in recent days as a series of three massive Navy cargo ships have been disgorging trucks, supplies and other equipment onto the tightly packed Turkish docks. More ships loaded with support gear are stacked up off the Turkish coast waiting to unload. Not far behind is a fleet of more than 20 ships carrying the 4th Infantry Division�s tanks, fighting vehicles, helicopters and other war gear. With a vast force already assembled in Kuwait and the Persian Gulf countries, war planners hope to force Iraq�s military commanders to split their defenses with a northern front through Turkey. If the White House gives the final order for an invasion, however, officials are worried that Saddam Hussein could lash out with a counterattack against Turkey, most likely with whatever SCUD missiles � or other long-range artillery � still left in his inventory. With U.S. Patriot units already stretched across Kuwait and Israel, the Dutch deployment has been welcomed as valuable assistance from NATO. As the Dutch units began arriving Wednesday, NATO surveillance flights began over Turkey as well. The first two AWACs aircraft based at Geilenkirchen, Germany, arrived at an air base in Konya, said a NATO spokesman. �Their surveillance mission began immediately,� said the official, adding that as many four more of the big radar-dish carrying aircraft could deploy in the coming days. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bdn7KI.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html ==^================================================================
