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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Welcome to the war zone
By Amira IbrahimMilitary forces from Egypt, the US, Britain and eight other countries will stage an amphibious landing of troops tomorrow, opening the biggest war games ever in the Middle East -- code named Bright Star 99.
US Defence Secretary William Cohen and British Minister of Defence Geoffery Hoon will attend the landing at Al-Omayed on the Northern Coast.
The Bright Star war games are based on a scenario in which coalition forces seek to restore stability in a troubled region.
According to Egyptian military sources, this year's exercises are divided into three stages. The first, which started on 10 October, consisted of signal training, as participating units acquainted themselves with equipment, tactics and procedures. Egyptian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) paratroopers were dropped in the Western Desert as part of this stage.
The second stage, between 22 October and 1 November, will include mobilising forces to attack and destroy the enemy. During the third stage, forces will move to reestablish stability in the designated war game arena.
Manoeuvres will include parachute training, combat search and rescue, insertion techniques (FAST roping), nuclear, biological and chemical training, infantry training, amphibious assault and refueling operations.
For the first time Bright Star will include a computer-guided command exercise. Satellite images and other strategic information will be transferred instantly to commanders in the battlefield.
The Bright Star exercises began in 1981, with only the US and Egypt involved. This year Germany, Greece, Jordan and the Netherlands are participating for the first time, joining Italy, Britain, France, the UAE and Kuwait.
According to Major General Amin Hussein, chief of the Egyptian Training Authority, Egypt's participation involves land and mechanical armoured artillery troops. The navy is participating with two frigates, one destroyer, four missile boats, two mine hunters, two personnel carriers, one landing ship, two recovery ships and one naval special force company. The air force will participate with a total of 188 airplanes and the necessary logistical and technical support .
Maj. Gen. Michael Thomas Gaw, commanding general of American forces, told a press conference on Saturday that the US would deploy 18,000 personnel from the navy, air force, marines and army as well as special operations units.
"Approximately 10,000 US personnel will serve afloat and 8,000 will be ashore," he explained.
The US budget for the exercise is approximately $80 million. "We won't have a total cost figure until the exercise is completed and all forces and equipment have been deployed," he said.
Britain is participating with a reconnaissance battalion, a signal company, one frigate, one destroyer, two landing ships, two mine hunters, four personnel carriers, two mine sweepers, two supply ships, one tanker, 21 aircraft of various types, four marine companies and support teams. Around 6,000 British personnel are taking part in the exercises.
