imports from the Gulf intersects with the increasing political instability The latest events in Afghanistan have tipped the win une carter dominst aron towares the possible intervention DIObolicHls Brzezinski announce Deployment Forces will give capability to respond quickly, and pernaps even pre-empuvely in tnose parts of the world where our vital interests might be engaged... (emphasis added).
ine concent onrada deoloven inos its pedigree in the weapons development programmes McNamara-Kennedy Much ycals. LIC Helicopter Assault Ships, and 'bare bases' originated in the 1960s as a consequence of US intervention in Vietnam Dominican Republic.
This doctrine came to take a back seat in the late OUS anu carry called Nixon Doctrine, the strategy that placed primary responsibility counter surcen regional allies. Iran was thus undisputed 'pillar' of this policy in the Middle East, as exemplified by its intervention against the revolutor rapid deployment was a very partial one:
massive airlift to Israel during the October War of 1973.
The rapid in August 1977, Landing the dubiousness us o tie soand the like.
East have Ine main test of Give years, allowing th conceDi surfaced within the Carter administration Presidential Review Will essential component of the 'one and a half wars' doctrine. Yet only in December 1979 officer designated responsibility for implementing it. Behind the inaction within the military establishment of the utility of such a force, and unwillingness to commit funds that otherwise could be thrown at multi-billion dollar aircraft carriers, strategic missiles now, Recent developments in the Middle strengthened the hand Cater factolshas been Carter's commitment of ip to $10 billion to the force over the nex SCIVICES them too. jurisdictional struggle between the Army the and the Marine Corps has apparently been resolved with the appointment of Marine Corps General Paul X. Kelley to head the force, thus insuring that the Marine Corps lac. missions. Kelley's approach is gung-ho: before his appointment the remarked that JOURIS 1980s, obvious that we need a sharper focus for the Third World. The US would do well to sharpen that focus before we let it slip through our fingers.' The Corps has been practising Middle East-type landings for some five years but lacks the means of getting there 1nc coa succel of fiscal year 1981 is $220 million for the first two of a fleet of 'floating bases', and $80 million cessor to the C-SA transport planes.
The big bills will come over five years: the development of airlift capaontes is expected to costso orion.
"floating bases' another $3 before the cost of over-runs for which the Pentagon is famous.
Congress study observed, more remote trom the Us than any othe source of petroleum nautical miles by air, and much further by sca. occome.
The Army's 82nd Airborne based in Fort Georgia, primary unit designated for Third World interventions, • men on continuous alert. but tne bulla-ur of heavy weaponry in the Gulf region over the last decade makes the lightly-equipped 82nd ill-prepared for armed intervention in that region. former • Army Strike Command. as Forces was known in the early 1960s the next sceptical about the latest flush LICW 'Now, they're publicising something out billion, of deep standby and giving it a sexy title. I!
the RDF was committed anywhere, we'd As a Library the Gulf imports' Misheyt Morocco While been with a third of its 15,200 increase usually given staff officer with malicis, no denoymen of activity Saudi there are servicemen HUEC clive mulary cola boration among friendly countries of the Brown obviously subscribes to this • In December 1979 he said: com ocheve unal Amencan Dases as SucI in that are are thies int the to go.
countries Hanlal Dascs wulc. in an emergency in which they asked our help, we could then come in and use.' Certainly the huge Saudi military complexes consurucIca D Us irms — Al-baten, , Tabuk and Khemis - as well as the former US base at Dhahran would serve this purpose. Base have alSO 'been offered Egypt and Israel, as well as Oman and Somalia.
military alliance with the US, the Saud behind the scenes, used the rust or minary cqmpment and davisci around the Yemen crisis in February 1979 the US military presence in sirene in ber exaggeration to believe. such TWO Send Saudi fireds and seriaid fees iny airfields serviced American personnel. We also believe thai A MerCi including army engineers, stationed in Saudi Arabia.
Socialist Challenge 1 May 1980