CNN - Countries train together in Egypt

Biggest exercise since Desert Storm

November 14, 1995
Web posted at: 3:40 p.m. EST

From Cairo Bureau Chief Gayle Young

CAIRO (CNN) -- The U.S. military says Bright Star '95 is the largest coalition exercise since Desert Storm. More than 50,000 troops are dropping in, most of them from the United States and Egypt, to wage mock battles across the Egyptian landscape. Many of the U.S. troops are veterans of the Gulf War and of interventions in Haiti and Somalia. Some may be headed to the former Yugoslavia this winter.

Lt. Gen. Steven Arnold, a U.S. Army commander, said he believes there's a good chance that the exercises worked on in Egypt will prove valuable. "There's a good possibility that soldiers have been there, done that and are doing it again," he said.

The United States and Egypt have held Bright Star every other year since 1980, but since the Gulf War, the mission has expanded. Formerly a training exercise, it has become a demonstration of firepower aimed at Iraq. Arnold said that although the exercises weren't designed to send a message, they're sure it does. "We demonstrate we can work together and we can fight together," Arnold said. (200K AIFF sound or 200K WAV sound)

This year Britain, France and the United Arab Emirates are joining the war exercises for the first time, and Egypt's massive military is providing a record number 33,000 troops. The participating countries pick up the hefty tab of tens of millions of dollars.

Organizers say Bright Star gives the coalition valuable experience, a chance to train over vast distances and an opportunity to flex some muscle in an often volatile region.

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