Washington, D.C.

3rd Infantry Division ordered to Persian Gulf

An infantry division from Georgia has been ordered to the Persian Gulf region as a part of the military’s preparations for war with Iraq.

The troops, from the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), received prepare-to-deploy orders earlier this week, Army officials said. A defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed they were going to the Persian Gulf region as a part of the U.S. military’s buildup of forces there.

It is the largest single ground force sent to the region since the Bush administration indicated its willingness to go to war against the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein more than a year ago.

Washington, D.C.

Aerospace firms accused of giving rocket data to China

Two leading aerospace companies have been accused by the State Department of illegally providing satellite and rocket technology to China that could be used for intercontinental missiles.

The department accused Hughes Electronics Corp. and Boeing Satellite Systems of illegally giving technical data to China following failed Chinese launches of rockets carrying American satellites in 1995 and 1996. Boeing acquired Hughes’ space unit in 2000.

In a letter dated Dec. 26, the State Department said the companies committed 123 violations of the Arms Control Export Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

If the violations are upheld through the department’s administrative appeals procedures, the companies could face restrictions on selling technologies overseas. They also could face fines of $500,000 per charge, though it is not clear if each violation would constitute a separate violation.

Beijing

Manned Chinese space flight planned for later this year

China plans to launch its first manned spacecraft in the second half of this year, state media said today, citing a senior aerospace official.

Yuan Jie, director of the Shanghai Aerospace Bureau, revealed the time frame after returning from the launch of the unmanned Shenzhou IV spacecraft this week, according to the China News Service, a government news agency.

Only the United States and Russia have sent human beings into space on their own.

Israel

Turkey joins naval exercise

Israeli, Turkish and U.S. naval vessels conducted a joint exercise off the Israeli coast Wednesday, annual maneuvers aimed at honing sea rescue skills.

As in the past, neighboring countries declined invitations to take part as observers.

The joint maneuvers had been planned more than a year and had no connection to the possibility of a U.S. strike against Iraq, said Capt. Ron Ben-Yehuda, who commanded the Israeli ships in the exercise.

Israel and Turkey have been forging a military-related alliance in recent years. Israel has been upgrading Turkish aircraft in multi-million-dollar contracts. Israeli fighter planes have trained in Turkish air space since 1996. The United States is Israel’s closest ally.