KUWAIT: US soldiers simulating war against Iraq are less gung-ho macho and more grimly determined, reports Jack Fairweather from Camp New York in Kuwait
Camp New York, 10 miles from the border with Iraq, is the clearest manifestation yet of America's readiness to go to war against Iraq.
The camp is one of four newly constructed bases where 4,500 troops from the US army's 2nd Brigade Combat team have been assembling over the past few months under the guise of taking part in war games.
It is clear however to all those taking part in the exercises there is only one real objective: to prepare for war against Iraq.
At the entrance to the collections of tents and barbed enclosures guarded by tanks which make up the camp, a sign declares the brigade's motto in ominously prophetic terms: "I heard the voice of the Lord saying 'whom shall I send and who will go for us'? Then said I, 'Here am I; send me'." - Isaiah 6:8
"It's clear we're here for one reason and that's to go to war. Now we're just waiting for the order," said Capt Ruel Jones, a tank commander with the brigade, briefly resting in the camp before heading back into the field for more exercises.
Like many at the camp, Capt Jones served in the first Gulf War and the attitude that there is old business to settle has infused the camp with an atmosphere of grim inevitability. New tents are being erected constantly and there is a steady stream of fresh soldiers arriving to take part in larger exercises planned for Christmastime.
Despite the apparent proximity of war, though, few mention Saddam Hussein and there is none of the exuberant metaphors of "kicking Iraqi ass" which characterised the conversation of soldiers during the first Gulf War.
"We've been taught not to personalise it or to think about Saddam or the Iraqis. I'm sure they're not thinking about me and what I'm doing," said Capt Jones.
With media teams beginning to visit the base regularly for the onset of what has been called the media war, it seems unlikely that Saddam or his soldiers will be able to avoid being aware of the intensity of the military exercises just across the border.
The broadcasting of the exercises is clearly intended to weaken the morale of Iraqi forces and create the sort of mass defections which occurred during the first Gulf War. That being the case then the exercises themselves seem only too effective. The games involve the full range of the brigade's potential fire power, including 160 Abrams and 208 Bradley tanks and armoured personal carriers, mortar brigades and use of the air force from a nearby base at Camp Doha.
Speaking at the start of one game, which pitched a large attacking force against a small mobile opposition force, the brigade's commander, Col David Perkins said: "We try and make these exercises as realistic as possible to give the troops a feel for the adrenalin rush of a real battle."
The outcome of the game, measured by a high-tech system of laser beams shot from weapons to simulate real fire, saw the smaller force fleeing up the desert towards the Iraqi border. Other exercises involve capturing defensive positions. Before coming out to Kuwait, the brigade was involved in exercises simulating urban warfare.
"I've already been in downtown Baghdad," said one soldier in joking reference to the realism of the training.
At the end of a hard day in the field, Sgt Charles Weaver of the brigade's mortar platoon, said: "To tell you the truth, I don't think the Iraqi army stands much of a chance. I sort of feel sorry for them. I'm just hoping the Iraqis have sense enough to surrender."
They are the sentiments echoed by the rest of his 18-man platoon, as they strike base in the desert.
Pte Andrew Robinson, an 18- year-old recruit from Chicago, said: "No one wants war but if we have to go then we shall win. I signed up because of the events of the September 11th, because I felt like I wanted to put an end to terrorism. If Iraq supports terrorists and won't give up its weapons of mass destruction then we will get this over and done with quickly."
Pte Robinson's words are greeted with a cheer by the rest of the platoon, where morale and confidence is high at the prospect of an early war.
"One of these days it's going to be for real and we're going to get the word to go north," said another member of the platoon, "and it's going to be just another day like this one so there's no point in wondering what will happen."
But if the soldiers need one scenario which seems to be likely should war be declared against Iraq, then they need look no further than Camp New York's exit near Mutla Ridge, the place where retreating Iraqi forces were caught by the American military advance during the first war.
In a reminder of the ferociousness of the Americans' attack, by the exit there is a graveyard of rusting and shrapnel-torn Russian and east German military vehicles used by the Iraqi forces as they desperately tried to flee Kuwait.
This time it appears that those at Camp New York have already drawn the battle lines 100 km further north.