U.S. to boost Gulf presence after Iraq pullout: report

[k98nights]

U.S. to boost Gulf presence after Iraq pullout: report

PUKmedia 30-10-2011 12:05:55

The United States is planning to bolster its military presence in the Gulf after it pulls out its remaining troops from Iraq, the New York Times reported in its online edition on Sunday.

President Barack Obama said on October 21 that he had decided to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year and the paper said that U.S. military officers and diplomats worried that the withdrawal could bring instability to the region.

It said Washington was negotiating to maintain a combat presence on the ground in Kuwait and was considering deploying more warships in the area.

No one at the Pentagon was immediately available to comment.

The United States also wanted to expand its military ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, it said.

The proposal needed approval by GCC leaders who are due to meet in the Saudi capital Riyadh in December, the paper said.

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: Reuters

http://www.pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10263:us-to-boost-gulf-presence-after-iraq-pullout-report&catid=25:iraq&Itemid=386

[success7]

US to boost military in Gulf following Iraq withdrawal

The US plans to bolster military presence in the Arabian Gulf after it withdraws its remaining troops from Iraq this year, US officials speaking to the New York Times said

Gulf News Report Published: 13:55 October 30, 2011

Dubai: The US plans to bolster military presence in the Arabian Gulf after it withdraws its remaining troops from Iraq this year, US officials speaking to the New York Times said.

That repositioning could include new combat forces in Kuwait able to respond to a collapse of security in Iraq or a military confrontation with Iran.

The size of the standby US combat force to be based in Kuwait remains the subject of negotiations, with an answer expected in coming days.

Officers at the Central Command headquarters here declined to discuss specifics of the proposals, but it was clear that successful deployment plans from past decades could be incorporated into plans for a post-Iraq footprint in the region.

With an eye on the threat of a belligerent Iran, the administration is also seeking to expand military ties with the six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

While the United States has close bilateral military relationships with each, the administration and the military are trying to foster a new "security architecture" for the Arabian Gulf that would integrate air and naval patrols and missile defence.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/us-to-boost-military-in-gulf-following-iraq-withdrawal-1.920741?

[uncirculd]

The troops may be leaving Iraq, but they surely will be close by. Iran needs to stop drooling.