Troops prepare for March Iraq attack

Senior Australian defense commanders have been briefed to prepare for a war against Iraq in March, according to a report in tomorrow's Sydney Daily Telegraph.

Officers told the paper they expected President Bush to give the green light early next month to begin the final 60-day preparations for the March campaign.

Troops from the Special Air Service will spearhead Australia's involvement as U.S. and British forces lead the major air and ground assaults.

The Australian war plan includes a command headquarters, three warships – one of them an amphibious command ship – F/A-18 Hornet fighters plus P3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and RAAF Boeing 707 tanker aircraft.

TRENDING: Poll: Stunning number say Biden suffers 'cognitive ailment'

The Hornets could run bombing raids alongside American units in Qatar and Kuwait, while the amphibious ship would act as a "warehouse" in support of Australian forces.

About 20 Australian officers are already attached to the U.S. Gulf headquarters in Qatar to oversee Australia's war plans.

One squadron of stealth SAS troopers – all veterans of the war on terror in Afghanistan – has spent months training for operations in Iraq. Sources told the Telegraph the key role for that unit will be keeping a lid on Iraqi mobile Scud missile launchers. The Scuds, which can reach targets in Israel, are Iraq's most lethal weapon.

"[The squadron] will spend a lot of time staring at the desert," a source said. In some respects, insiders believe the job will be easier than the harsh mountain patrolling they did in Afghanistan.

"The tough part will be sitting there watching the ground for weeks on end," the source added.

Australia would also support a massive U.S. and British task force including an armada of five or six aircraft carrier battle groups and up to 300,000 ground troops.

Britain has sent five warships including the aircraft carrier Ark Royal to the Gulf. The U.S. already has more than 60,000 troops in the region.

It's believed the Pentagon is planning for an initial six-month operation, and more countries could join if the war is sanctioned by the United Nations.