- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
Pentagon, preparing for a possible war with Iraq, said on Wednesday it
had activated more than 12,000 additional reserve troops, bringing the
total number on active duty to nearly 190,000.
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- The announcement came as the United States is amassing
a large military force, including ground troops, warplanes and numerous
warships in the Gulf region, for a possible invasion of Iraq. Many of the
reservists are heading to the Gulf region.
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- The Defense Department said in a weekly announcement
that there were 12,039 more part-time troops mobilized this week. That
brings the total number activated to 188,592, about 130,000 of whom are
members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
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- President Bush has said the United States will lead a
coalition of nations to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by force if
necessary if he fails to comply with U.N. resolutions requiring him to
give up any weapons of mass destruction. Iraq denies possessing such arms.
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- The Pentagon said 225,000 U.S. troops already were in
the Gulf region for use in a possible war.
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