U.S. units on deck for Iraq

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 — As implausible as it sounds, the United States may yet reach some negotiated settlement with Iraq. But against the likelihood that there will not be a peaceful end to the Iraqi regime, the military has for some time been taking steps to ensure that any conflict will end on its terms.

AS DIPLOMATIC maneuvering continues, more concrete maneuvers are underway to get the U.S. military prepared for a conflict that would be fought in four distinct phases.

PHASE I: PREPARING THE GROUND
Employing satellite imagery, airborne reconnaissance, radio intercept and special operations forces, the United States already is trying to locate Scud missiles and warheads, command and control installations, and troop concentrations.
U.S. drone aircraft are being used to locate anti-aircraft missile sites and their controlling radars, destroying them with increasing frequency. So far this month alone, American forces have struck locations around al-Kut, about 100 miles southeast of Baghdad, six times.
In addition, it is fair to assume that Kurds in the north and Shiites in the south already are being trained by U.S. special operations forces in small unit tactics like patrolling, ambushes and raids. This will enable them to fight if necessary and to help control their areas in the aftermath of an Iraqi surrender.

At the same time, the United States is moving the advance party elements of combat and support units into the region. Already, the U.S. has installations in Turkey, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Bahrain; the Marines are conducting exercises in Jordan. Some 6,000 U.S. airmen remain in Saudi Arabia, and United States Central Command or CENTCOM, which will be responsible for commanding the troops in any such war, already has moved elements of its headquarters to the tiny Persian Gulf state of Qatar.