HUNGARY: U.S. MILITARY PREPARES A CAMP IN AN AIRBASE TO TRAIN IRAQI EXILES WISHING TO HELP IN POSSIBLE INVASION OF THEIR HOMELAND
Record ID:
347624
HUNGARY: U.S. MILITARY PREPARES A CAMP IN AN AIRBASE TO TRAIN IRAQI EXILES WISHING TO HELP IN POSSIBLE INVASION OF THEIR HOMELAND
- Title: HUNGARY: U.S. MILITARY PREPARES A CAMP IN AN AIRBASE TO TRAIN IRAQI EXILES WISHING TO HELP IN POSSIBLE INVASION OF THEIR HOMELAND
- Date: 17th January 2003
- Summary: (EU) TASZAR, HUNGARY (JANUARY 16, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. MV HUNGARIAN AND U.S. SOLDIERS AT GATE; SCU SIGN READING KAPOS; SLV U.S. SOLDIER IN FRONT OF GATE; MV TWO HUNGARIAN AND ONE U.S. SOLDIER GUARDING GATE OF TASZAR BASE (4 SHOTS) 0.21 2. SLV NEWS CONFERENCE 0.25 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BARNO, U.S. ARMY RANGERS, SAYING "T
- Embargoed: 1st February 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TASZAR, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Reuters ID: LVA5VTTALVQZ1Q7HEA51TAMWPV6N
- Story Text: The U.S. military is preparing a camp in an airbase in
Hungary to train Iraqi exiles wishing to help in possible
invasion of their homeland and serve in a post-Saddam Hussein
administration.
U.S. soldiers have been building the barracks and
sanitation facilities needed for some 4,000 trainers and
trainees at the Taszar camp some 200 km (124.3 miles) south of
Budapest.
Hungary's government last month approved a U.S. request to
use the base to train Iraqi opposition members wishing to help
a possible military action against Iraq.
"We cannot provide the details at this point in time from
a security standpoint. But, as you heard the defence minister
saying, their role in any potential operation will be in area
of support of U.S. and coalition military operations.
That would include such tasks as civil miltary support
working in civilian infrasturcture, in assisting in
reconstruction of that infrastructure. It could also include
roles as interpreters and guides based upon their knowledge of
the area and, finally, would include possibilities like rear
area security forces such as guards, but these are not being
trained as combat forces", U.S. Army Major General David Barno
told a news conference in Taszar on Thursday (January 16).
Iraqi opposition officials said on Wednesday (January 15)
Iraqi exiles have been gathering in the West to be sent to
Hungary for training and said some 2,000 Iraqis had signed up
so far.
The recruits are dominated by allies of Ahmad Chalabi,
leader of the Iraqi National Congress and the exile with the
best connections in Washington.
Two main parties suspicious of Chalabi -- the Tehran-based
Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and the
Kurdistan Democratic Party, are not taking part in the
training.
It was also unclear whether the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan, the other Kurdish party in control of northern
Iraq, and the Iraqi National Accord, a group of former members
of the ruling Baath party, would take part.
The Kurdish and Shi'te parties distrust the United States,
especially after Washington chose not to back their 1991
uprising against Saddam, with disastrous consequences for
them.
The training will take place under the Iraq Liberation
Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1998 and calling for the
overthrow of Saddam, who the United States accuses of
developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Iraq says
it has ended such programmes.
The act allows nearly $100 million to be spent on training
and equipping Saddam's opponents.
Use of opposition members has been controversial in
Washington. They are divided and many analysts fear their
ranks are infiltrated by Baghdad.
The Hungarian base in Taszar has hosted U.S. military
personnel since April 1999 when U.S. Marine aircraft flew
support and reconnaissance missions during NATO air strikes
against Yugoslavia.
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