CAIRO [MENL] -- A week after Egypt completed a major maneuver in the
northeast,
the military is preparing for an even larger-scale exercise with the United
States and Western nations.The exercise is called Bright Star and is scheduled to begin on Oct. 13.
In all, nine countries have agreed to send troops, armored equipment and
combat aircraft to the training maneuvers.Bright Star has been held every two years since 1981. The forthcoming
exercise is planned to last 10 days.The exercise is meant to improve coordination and operations of the
United States and its allies in the Middle East. The maneuvers will comprise
troops from Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kuwait, Jordan,
Spain and the United States.For Jordan, Greece and Germany, this is the second time they are
participating in Bright Star. Jordan has sought to improve defense and
military relations with Egypt and Gulf Cooperation Council states.Last week, Egypt held its Bader exercise by the Second Army near the
Suez Canal. The exercise was regarded as far smaller than in the past amid
an escalation of tension in the Middle East.Bright Star is also expected to be smaller than in previous years amid
the U.S. effort to maintain a lid on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Washington is expected to send 14,000 troops to Egypt. In 1999, the Pentagon
sent 18,000 soldiers.
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