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U.S. Pours Firepower Into Gulf Area
Thursday, September 20, 2001 (17:34 EDT)
By Robert Burns / AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON -- AP
The United States is pouring military firepower into the Persian Gulf area in preparation for President Bush's promised war on terrorism. The Air Force is sending B-52 and B-1 bombers and fighter jets while mobilizing thousands of reservists, and the Army is readying its commando
forces.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday that although the Gulf is the focus of U.S. deployments right now, the coming fight will look nothing like the knockout punch U.S.-led forces delivered in the 1991 Gulf War.

``What we're engaged in is something that is very, very different from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Kosovo, Bosnia, the kinds of things people think of when they use the word `war,' or `campaign,' or `conflict,''' Rumsfeld said.

He said fighting terrorism will take a long time and, to a degree not seen before, will require economic, financial, diplomatic and political action in addition to military force.

It also will require support from the American public, for whom the prospect of war was brought into clearer focus by the Pentagon's announcement Thursday that 5,131 members of the Air Force National Guard and Air Force Reserve have been ordered to active duty. They are from 29 units in 24 states and the District of Columbia.

``No other single action more clearly demonstrates the national resolve than to mobilize the National Guard and Reserve forces of America,'' said Craig Duehring, the Pentagon's chief of reserve affairs.

Among the mobilized reserves are a B-52 unit from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and a B-1 bomber unit from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Most of the rest of the activated units are to be used to strength U.S. continental air defenses.

Rumsfeld has said he expects 35,500 members of the Reserve and National Guard to be called up.
(AP News Source)
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Dan