The United States has begun beefing up its approach to defending its Gulf allies against potential Iranian missile strikes, officials say. The defenses are being stepped up in advance of possible increased sanctions against Iran. The Obama administration has quietly increased the capability of land-based Patriot defensive missiles in several Gulf Arab nations, and one military official said the Navy is increasing the presence of ships capable of knocking out hostile missiles in flight. The officials discussed aspects of the defensive strategy Saturday on condition of anonymity because some elements are classified. The moves, part of a broader adjustment in the US approach to missile defense, including in Europe and Asia, have been in the works for months. Details have not been publicly announced, in part because of diplomatic sensitivities in Gulf countries. The White House will send a review of ballistic missile strategy to Congress Monday that frames the larger shifts. Attention to defense of the Gulf region, a focus on diffuse networks of sensors and weapons and cooperation with Russia are major elements of the study, according to documents obtained by the AP. Russia opposed Bush administration plans for a land-based missile defense site in Eastern Europe, and President Barack Obama's decision to walk away from that plan last year was partly in pursuit of new capabilities that might hold greater promise and partly in deference to Russia. One military official said the adjustments in the Gulf should be seen as prudent defensive measures designed to deter Iran from taking aggressive action in the region, more than as a signal that Washington expects Iran to retaliate for any additional sanctions. Gen. David Petraeus, the US Central Command chief who is responsible for US military operations across the Mideast, said the US now has eight Patriot missile batteries stationed in the Gulf region - two each in four countries. He did not name the countries, but Kuwait has long been known to have Patriots on its territory. A military official said Saturday that the three other countries are the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is proposing a $200 million fund to help pay for security costs in cities hosting the trials of accused terrorists, such as Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
