Non-Subscriber Extract
US and UK reveal plans to set up bases in Iraq
- Article Tools
|
28 April 2003 |
Tim Ripley JDW Correspondent
Kuwait City
As details of US plans to build up its military bases inside Iraq emerge, Jane's Defence Weekly has learned that the UK also plans to construct a major base near Basra to support its troop presence in southern Iraq.
Senior UK officers say plans are being developed to turn Basra International Airport into a major logistics and helicopter base. Elements of the UK's Joint Helicopter Force, including Chinook HC Mk2 heavy-lift and Puma HC Mk 1 medium-lift helicopters, are already moving to the airport to support troops of 1 (UK) Armoured Division operating in and around Basra.
The idea is to set up an air-conditioned 'container city' to accommodate UK troops during the hot Iraqi summer.
It is not yet clear if the UK will establish a fully-fledged airbase inside Iraq. Kuwait International Airport is to remain the main airbase for logistic support of the UK contingent. The Iraqi port of Umm Qasr is also likely to be increasingly used by shipping supporting the UK forces, replacing Kuwaiti ports.
By developing an 'in-country' base infrastructure, US Central Command (USCENTCOM) hopes to be able to scale down massively the number of bases throughout the Gulf/Middle East to save money and reduce the US 'footprint' in countries where the presence of US troops is still controversial.
As the 'Northern Watch' and 'Southern Watch’ no-fly zones in Iraq no longer need to be policed, the large USAF presence in Saudi Arabia and Turkey is being rapidly wound down. It is unclear, however, if the USAF will move its Gulf headquarters from Prince Sultan airbase, outside the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, to its alternative facility at Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. Al Udeid is expected to become the main hub for tanker, command and control and airlift aircraft supporting US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Plans are advanced to wind down USCENTCOM's forward headquarters at Camp As Sayliyah and eventually move the deployable headquarters modules to Baghdad, allowing USCENTCOM to run operations inside Iraq.
US military sources say that it is intended that agreements on basing rights with most US Gulf allies will be retained to allow rapid reinforcement in times of crisis.
While the US Navy has already sent two of its three carrier battlegroups from the Persian Gulf to their home ports, the US Navy's Fifth Fleet is expected to retain a strong presence in the region. This will include at least one carrier battle group and a marine expeditionary unit to allow it to support continuing maritime interdiction operations against Al-Qaeda and other terrorist threats.
424 of 851 words