QATAR EXERCISE WILL NOT INVOLVE COMBAT TROOPS

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Britain, Qatar and the United States launch anunprecedented exercise next week meant to test the effectiveness of aforward-deployed command station in the Persian Gulf that would maintainseamless connectivity with the headquarters of U.S. Central Command. U.S. officials said this is the first time that the command will conductits week-long Internal Look exercise in the Gulf region. Previousexercises -- meant to simulate battle scenarios directed by a deployablecommand headquarters -- were held in the United States in 1990, 1996 and2000.