WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Between 700 and 800 Marines are operating in Djibouti, a tiny country in the Horn of Africa. The Marines are there for potential anti-terrorist missions, U.S. Central Commander Gen, Tommy Franks told reporters Tuesday.
"We do have more forces in that region, down around Djibouti," Franks told a Pentagon news conference. "Well, as we have better refined and defined our relationships and what we're looking at, it seems to make sense to us to put this capability -- Marine capability -- in the vicinity of Djibouti to work with countries in the Horn of Africa."
Some of the Marines are at sea off Djibouti while others are on land, most likely at a French base. News reports in September said there were about 800 U.S. forces in the region, primarily special forces but also CIA officers.
"Having that force there gives us the ability to increase our exercise work with all those nations," Franks said.
Djibouti is bordered by Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
The movement of U.S. forces to the region reflects the widespread presence of al Qaida and other alleged terrorist groups, who are believed to be using a no-man's-land in Yemen and parts of Somalia as a base of operation since being expelled from Afghanistan.
Franks also told reporters the Central Command exercise to send a new, mobile headquarters forward is due to take place for about a week in December, 600 to 1,000 members of his headquarters staff deploying to Qatar.
The command post exercise is of keen interest to Iraq-watchers, as it could be used as a forward operating command in the event of a war.
Franks said he has not decided whether the communications gear will remain in Qatar or be packed up and brought back to his base in Tampa, Fla.
"Does it give us increased capability? You bet. It gives us increased capability. How long will it be there? Well, we'll make that decision when the time comes," Franks said.
Just a day after the Defense Department confirmed the release of four prisoners from its detention facility at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, Franks said U.S. forces in Afghanistan have sent another 20 to 25 to the camp in the past few days.
The number of prisoners in Afghanistan has steadily dwindled. Where there were once two standing jails in Kandahar and Bagram, now only the Bagram facility holds detainees.
There are between 20 and 30 people there now from six to 10 nations, Franks said.
