The Post's Michael Robinson-Chavez visits southeastern Iraq where a once paradisiacal landscape has given way to bleak poverty.

By Charles Aldinger

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld signed an order to move thousands of additional U.S. troops, dozens of strike aircraft and likely two more aircraft carrier battle groups to the Gulf beginning in early January for possible war with Iraq, U.S. officials said on Saturday.

The defense and administration officials told Reuters the movement of armored, infantry and airborne troops would be significant -- at least doubling the 50,000 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel already near Iraq -- and was a clear signal of President Bush's intent to end Baghdad's chemical, biological and nuclear arms programs.

The officials, who asked not to be identified, confirmed a Washington Post report on Saturday that Rumsfeld signed a detailed, classified order on Tuesday to send the forces and put two U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups on active alert that they could soon join two American carriers already in the Gulf and Mediterranean within striking distance of Baghdad.

In addition to about 150 strike and support aircraft aboard two extra carriers, the new order includes preparations to send thousands of Marines from Camp Pendleton, California, and units from five wings of Air Force strike jets, heavy bombers and unmanned spy drones, officials said.

Officials confirmed to Reuters on Friday the military hospital ship Comfort would likely leave its home port of Baltimore for the Indian Ocean as early as Monday.

"It (the order) involves forces that can pretty much deal with anything," one defense official told Reuters, adding an additional order to move troops was expected soon.

Remainder

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2002