With the possibility of a war with Iraq increasing with each passing day, the Pentagon (United States' defence headquarters) said it is in the process of calling nearly 20,000 of its reserves for war duty.

However, not many units have received orders to head for the Gulf though about 2,200 marines from the San Diego base (in the Indian Ocean) and a hospital ship from Baltimore are believed to be headed for the region.

US forces are expected to be in place in Iraq by early February, the best time weather-wise for a confrontation. 

A Pentagon official, however, cautioned against expecting a conventional campaign, hinting at the possibility of small units imparting sudden blows.