Shaffer
09-27-02, 10:38 AM
KUWAIT - With the threat of a US-led war against Iraq looming, US Marines poured off two US warships yesterday with equipment for a large-scale training exercise with Kuwaiti forces.
Commander Steven Ritchie, captain of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Mount Vernon, described the activity as a ''regularly scheduled exercise,'' although he conceded the setting could not be ignored.
''It raises the awareness level I think slightly just because we are so close to Iraq,'' Ritchie said. ''But it doesn't change anything that we are doing here.''
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/269/nation/Marines_arrive_strictly_in_training_mode+.shtml
Commander Steven Ritchie, captain of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Mount Vernon, described the activity as a ''regularly scheduled exercise,'' although he conceded the setting could not be ignored.
''It raises the awareness level I think slightly just because we are so close to Iraq,'' Ritchie said. ''But it doesn't change anything that we are doing here.''
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/269/nation/Marines_arrive_strictly_in_training_mode+.shtml