European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Standoff with Saddam continued continued from Pago 13 the invasion of Kuwait. Throughout saudi Arabia s Eastern province where the vast majority of the military Forcer arc concentrated there is a combat one atmosphere.  convoys erf trucks piled with to i ii run i it or loaded with tanks Snake along the  highways from the massive Cutcli ports to staying Points in the . Helicopters Jet fighters and cargo planes crisscross the skies around the clock. Military personnel Clad in Desort camouflage gear have filled Many of the hotels in major cities turning hotel restaurants into military mess Halls. The United states has moved some of its most sophisticated weaponry to the Region including f-117a stealth fighter jets. They could slip past iraqi air defences regarded As equivalent to . Systems of the Vietnam Era and conduct night attacks. Patriot missiles have been extensively deployed to protect critical airfields ports and other strategic locations from attack by Iraq s scud a missiles and aircraft. The Complete array of warplanes assembled in the Region by the United states saudi Arabia and Britain is formidable. But army and Marine corps commanders Are Quick to note that the United states has never won a War on air Power alone. Military officials consider the heavy combat units Nowen route to saudi Arabia critical to any Battle explaining the uneasiness some senior commanders still feel about the Lack of combat Power now on the ground in saudi Arabia combat initiated by either Side would most Likely begin during the night. Critical to both forces will be night vision equipment. After eight years of conducting night operations in the Iran Iraq War iraqi forces Are proficient in the use of night vision devices and their tanks and weapons Are equipped with them. American forces consider their equipment far Superior however and have dedicated much of their training to night operations. In the vast open spaces of the desert the Force that spots its enemy first will have the dear advantage. . Officials say their sophisticated Aerial reconnaissance and other technology will give their eyes much further Range than the iraqis. . Military officials consider saudi and other Arab forces lining the Border merely As a tripwire for any advancing iraqi forces. Quot no one views them As the Force to Stop an iraqi attack Quot said a . Commander. Quot their Job is to screen and defend. We would take them into our lines and go from  if iraqi troops moved across the Border into saudi Arabia the United states would unleash its heavy m-1 tanks Apache attack helicopters and a-10 tank killing planes against the iraqi ground forces. Some territory would Havo been mined to impede advancing forces. Meanwhile the 82nd airborne or special forces Ranger units would be dropped behind enemy lines to sever Supply lines and sources. Special forces units now operating near the Border with special electronic jamming equipment would attempt to Block radar signals and foil iraqi aircraft. In addition . Aircraft would have a a it. A. A i Kwh a we  -.cv. T 4. 1k a in Vvs a a. A of if a 4 Ltd Quot  a Navy copter hovers Over the Hospital ship Comfort the Comfort end its sister ship the mercy each have 1,000beds and extensive specialized medical facilities. Some of the 15,000egyptian soldiers  left wait to be reviewed on arrival atthe saudi Porto Fynbu. An e-3aawacs aircraft moves in for refuelling by a Kc-135 Strat Tanker Over saudi Arabia. Begun bombing strategic Points in Iraq blasting airfields so iraqi pilots would have no place to land other plans Call for bombing other strategic Points throughout Iraq including Saddam a governmental offices and residences. . Military leaders concede that any major ground Battle would result in Large scale casualties on both sides. The Pentagon has dispatched medical units equipped with thousands of Beds to the Region including two massive naval Hospital ships. It has also ordered mortuary units to the Region. In Battle one of the most critical elements will be communications among the More than 20 nations that have now joined in the defense efforts of saudi Arabia. After More than five weeks of operation joint efforts still remain minimal. The United states and saudi Arabia have exchanged Liaison officers with most units now in the kingdom and Small . Special forces teams Are conducting weapons training with some Arab forces officials said. Still Battlefield communications is something even nato forces after 40 years of joint exercises a have not fully mastered. A it will be Challenge a said a . General commanding troops in saudi Arabia. Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes wednesday sepi