The Associated Press February 18, 2003
Defense analysts: Hawaii troops likely to stay in state
Most of Hawaii's military forces are likely to stay in the islands and not be deployed to the Persian Gulf because the threat of war on the Korean peninsula, defense analysts said.
"I don't see them being involved in the follow-on force or for the post-Saddam government," said Patrick Garrett, an analyst with GlobalSecurity.org, which monitors military programs. "I think they're much more useful where they're at - which is waiting for a war on the Korean Peninsula to occur."
Ralph Cossa, the president of the Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies in Honolulu, said a Korea contingency is a primary focus for the Army's 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks.
Cossa, who is headed to South Korea this week for the inauguration of President-elect Roh Moo-hyun, said he doesn't think the North Koreans would launch an attack.
"If they did, it would result in the removal of North Korea from the face of the Earth," he said. "Their whole game is to try to survive. You don't do that by committing suicide."
There are more than 15,000 soldiers and 8,000 Marines stationed in Hawaii.
About 250 Marines from the 1st Radio Battalion at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe have already been deployed to the Persian Gulf, along with 40 reservists from the 4th Force Reconnaissance Company.
"Right now, we don't have any orders to deploy any more Marines from Hawaii," said base spokesman Staff Sgt. Robert Carlson. "But there are a lot of Marines here who are ready, and are constantly training to be ready if they are called."
About 7,600 Kaneohe Marines and 500 Schofield soldiers and reservists were deployed during Operation Desert Storm.
Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press
