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Military Buildup in the Gulf

The United States has maintained a solid force in the Gulf region, with 24,100 military men and women there. There are 22 Navy ships, eight of them are carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could strike targets in Iraq at long range.

There are 201 military aircraft in the area, including 15 heavy B-52 bombers on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. The bombers also can deliver air-launched cruise missiles, from points afar from Iraq.