New American Troops Begin Arriving in Saudi Arabia

A new wave of American troops that will give the multinational force opposing Iraq what President Bush calls offensive capability began arriving in Saudi Arabia today.

Several hundred soldiers from the Army’s 7th Corps tank division were the first of an estimated 50,000 or more troops sent to Saudi Arabia from Germany to boost the U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf to about 400,000 by mid-January.

The troops of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment stationed in Bamberg will be followed Thursday by a shipment from Germany of 600 Abrams M1A1 tanks, America’s most advanced, a military spokesman said.

The tanks, with heavy guns that can pierce the thick armor of Iraq’s Soviet-built T-72 tanks and insulation against a chemical attack, will join several hundred tanks en route to Saudi Arabia and about 400 less sophisticated ones now here.

“Hopefully the sanctions will work out,” said one of the new arrivals, Mervyn Mitchell of Tacoma Park, Md. “We just want to go home.”

For some of the new arrivals, there was little sense of security from their increased numbers because of Iraq’s ground troop strength and arsenal of chemical weapons.

“Because of the gas it has, I figure we’re still outnumbered,” said Army Spec. Kenneth Sidders of Urbana, Ohio.

Spec. Everitt Scott, an Army driver, said he has witnessed enough gang violence in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., to pray for peace.

“I’ve seen enough friends die there,” Scott said. “I want to see everyone go home safe.”