Pentagon weapons deployment in Gulf steps up pressure on Saddam

The Pentagon is busy stockpiling weapons and logistical supplies in the Middle East for use in a possible US attack on Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein.

Though much is just replenishing supplies used in Afghanistan, it is a clear signal to the Iraqi leader that Washington's talk of war is serious.

According to The New York Times, which reported the build-up yesterday, the Pentagon has hired 10 cargo ships to carry helicopters, armoured vehicles and other equipment to the Gulf and the Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia. This is on top of supplies based there since the 1991 Gulf war, enough for four army and marine brigades, totalling 18,000 men, who could be airlifted from the US in 96 hours. The US also has aircraft based in Turkey, Kuwait and on carriers.

Even so, these resources are far less than the 250,000 men needed for a major attack on Iraq, according to leaked Pentagon plans. News of the build-up came ahead of a meeting of President Bush and his advisers at his Texas ranch tomorrow. Despite White House denials, the session is expected to focus on Iraq – and reservations about any attack being voiced by senior Republican figures. Brent Scowcroft, National Security Adviser to presidents Ford and George Bush Snr, and the former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and Lawrence Eagleburger are far more wary than Vice-President Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary, and the National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice.

Mr Bush also faces opposition from almost all of the Arab world over an attack. Significantly, as if anticipating a refusal from Saudi Arabia to allow its bases to be used in an attack, the Pentagon is expanding its Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, where 3,300 US military personnel are stationed. Qatar has long been cited as an alternative to the US facility at Prince Sultan base in Saudi Arabia for a regional command-and-control centre for any campaign against Iraq. Al-Udeid served as a base in the Afghan campaign and has runways long enough for any aircraft.

* Iraq's parliament unanimously endorsed the nomination of President Saddam Hussein for another seven-year term yesterday.