The US military, preparing for possible war with Iraq, said today it had activated nearly 38,649 more part-time reserve troops, bringing the total number of reservists on active duty to more than 150,000.
In the last month, more than 90,000 part-time reserve and National Guard troops have been called to active duty as part of a build-up that has sent tens of thousands of American troops, warships and attack jets to the Gulf region.
The Defense Department said 38,649 additional reservists had been called to active duty in the past week, bringing the total Reserve and National Guard troops on duty to 150,252. Many are heading to the Gulf region.
It is by far the biggest call-up of reserves since 265,000 were activated during the 1991 Gulf War. Defense officials said US troops in the Gulf region now numbered more than 120,000, with tens of thousands more set to arrive by the end of the month.