Jets sent to Gulf as US prepares to strike back

Terror in America: Military Options

The hardware with which America intends to launch a retaliatory strike against the terrorists who attacked it on September 11 was dispatched to the Middle East last night ­ a move towards operational readiness and a highly visible flexing of its military muscles.

President George Bush gave approval for about 100 fighters, bombers and support aircraft to make their way to undisclosed locations in the region. They will most likely head to bases in or near the Gulf and could be there as as early as this morning.

In addition to the F-15E attack jets, F-16 fighters and their back-up, including refuelling planes, experts believe that US troops will also have been dispatched as part of "Operation Infinite Justice" ­ most specifically the Special Forces that would most probably lead any assault into Afghanistan where the prime suspect, Osama bin Laden, is based.

The force that was sent from the US will join more than 200 war planes stationed in the Gulf and Indian Ocean where two aircraft carrier battle groups are already deployed. The 15,000-strong USS Theodore Roosevelt yesterday left Norfolk, Virginia, at the head of a 14-ship battle group on a previously scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean.

The authorities declined to say whether the Roosevelt had new orders but it would be perfectly positioned to join up with the battle groups of the fellow aircraft carriers the USS Carl Vinson, which is in the Gulf, and the USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean, to create a massive military force. Paul Wolfowitz, the US Deputy Defence Secretary, said: "There are movements and there will be more movements. And I hope that everyone understands ­ I'm sure the American people understand ­ why we do not want to reveal the details of these movements to the people who may be trying to figure out what we are about to do next."

At the same time, US officials are involved in close discussions with their Pakistani counterparts about how to strike against Afghanistan without adding to an already tense political atmosphere inside that country. A delegation of American officials is to arrive in Pakistan this week to discuss ground support requirements.

Washington has not asked Pakistan to allow it to base large numbers of troops on its soil ­ a request that would be both politically difficult for the Pakistan government and logistically difficult for American forces.

But one alternative would be to use Special Forces to conduct raids on Mr bin Laden's bases inside Afghanistan. The Washington Post reported yesterday that under the options being considered, assault troops would be moved into Pakistan at the last moment ­ probably from ships in the Arabian Sea or from friendly Gulf nations. Military planners believe that even if America launches its attacks from the ships currently in the region, it will still require a land presence ­ probably in Pakistan or Uzbekistan. But Uzbekistan's border is far from both the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the city of Kandahar, near which Mr bin Laden's bases are said to be sited.

One Pakistani official told the newspaper: "You can run a limited war with the facilities that the US Navy has in the Arabian Sea. But they are no substitute to a solid support paraphernalia on the ground."

As a result, Pakistan would almost certainly have to house an operations headquarters as well as the Special Forces helicopters. There would also have to be a back-up team in Pakistan, possibly Army Rangers.