As president mulls how to retaliate, U.S. troops in Pacific on high alert

Associated Press Writer

OKINAWA CITY, Japan (AP) – Armed guards. Sand bags. Full body checks of anyone wanting in.

U.S. troops throughout the world were on high alert Thursday, imposing tight restrictions around American bases abroad and awaiting orders should they be called on to respond to the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

In a measure of the severity of Tuesday’s terror, more than 200,000 U.S. military personnel and their families were put on “Threat Condition Delta,” the highest state of readiness and one very rarely ordered.

On Okinawa, the United States’ most important military outpost in the Pacific, the stepped-up security was unmistakable, though some bases were already downgrading from Delta.

At the gate of one U.S. Marine base, guards had even set up a machine gun with sand bags. But while the security was causing long delays and huge traffic jams, many in Okinawa City said they were ready to accept some inconveniences – and said they hoped the troops would be called on if retaliation is ordered.

“All this security is a good thing,” said William J. Hecox, an ex-Marine who now works as a civilian on the island. “Those who harbor terrorists need to be brought to their knees. Hopefully, the military units on Okinawa will help do that.”

Similar measures were taken by U.S. troops in Europe and Africa as well.

Soon after alert orders were issued, two dozen U.S. Navy warships left Mediterranean ports in search of the security of the high seas. At every entrance to American bases in Europe, military police in flak jackets and helmets replaced civilian security staff. Army soldiers were put on a curfew from midnight until 5:30 a.m.

“Delta is usually the result of a direct attack, which we certainly had (Tuesday),” U.S. Navy Capt. Brian P. Cullin said at the headquarters of U.S. European Command, which covers operations in Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Tensions are high because the bases are a potential target should there be more terrorist activity, and because they are the resource pool should the U.S. decide to retaliate with military force.

In Asia, there are roughly 51,500 U.S. troops in Japan, and some 37,000 in South Korea. Though much smaller in scale, there also are U.S. facilities on the island of Guam and on Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.

But this small island in southern Japan is by far the most crucial.

Okinawa is home to the largest contingent of Marines outside the United States, with more than 15,000 troops deployed here. Kadena Air Base, among the largest in the Air Force, is also located here.

The Navy’s Seventh Fleet is home-ported in Yokosuka, which is just south of Tokyo. It is the only fleet with a home port outside of the United States, and has served an important role in previous military actions in the Persian Gulf.

What they might be preparing to do this time was not clear.

As a matter of policy, officials refuse to comment on ship movements and troop mobilizations. In South Korea, military officials said there were no troop movements, only beefed-up security measures.

“These are strictly forces protection measures,” said Stephen Oertwig, a spokesman for the U.S. Forces in Korea. “It’s a high level of awareness about our security.”

Oertwig said there was no specific threat against the troops. Even so, helmeted Korean policemen with rifles were posted near the gates of the U.S. Embassy and major U.S. military bases. Normally, South Korean policemen on such guard duty are armed only with batons.

American soldiers on guard at the main U.S. base in Seoul were also seen with M-16 rifles on their shoulders, rather than their usual sidearms.

On Guam, officials warned that for the time being islanders wanting to enter the base can expect delays.

Because of its remote location, Guam, a U.S. territory 3,700 miles west of Hawaii, is not viewed as a high risk for terrorists attacks, said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Monica Richardson.

“Our threat here has always been low, but at this point we are trying to be as cautious as possible,” Richardson said.