Special to WorldTribune.com

Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon

An Army rapid deployment force will practice securing the Pentagon’s strategic missile defenses base in Alaska this week as part of annual exercises involving both conventional and nuclear forces.

Defense officials said an Army Quick Reaction Force (QRF) of 55 airborne troops, along with weapons and vehicles, will parachute into Fort Greely, Alaska, on Thursday as part of exercises called Vigilant Shield. …

The Pentagon has deployed 26 long-range interceptors at Fort Greely and four at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The interceptors are a key element of the military’s limited U.S. strategic defenses against long-range missile attacks, anticipated principally from North Korea. Military spokesman declined to reveal the scenarios for the exercises citing “operational security” fears. The U.S. military exercises, however, follow a large-scale increase in Russian strategic nuclear bomber flights near both Alaska and California. …

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, a former Alaskan Air Command commander, said the U.S. exercises are not limited to missile defenses . . . . “This clearly is in response to the extensive Russian nuclear exercises that have been conducted recently.”

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