A U.S. war game believed to be a rehearsal for an invasion of Iraq began Monday in Qatar with senior commanders and battle planners conducting a computer-assisted exercise to improve their ability to fight a war in the region. Led by Gen. Tommy Franks, the chief of U.S. Central Command, exercise Internal Look involves Army commanders in Kuwait, Navy and Marine officers in Bahrain, the Air Force's Saudi Arabian headquarters, Franks' permanent office in Florida and the Pentagon , a Central Command official said.

The seven- to 10-day exercise started shortly after 7:30 a.m. (11:30 p.m. Sunday EST).

"Internal Look has begun and is proceeding on schedule," said Jim Wilkinson, director of strategic communications for Central Command. "This exercise gives General Franks and the battle staff an opportunity to learn new lessons and will improve the command's ability to win on the modern battlefield."

The command, control and communications exercise in the Qatari desert tests the ability of Franks' top staff to fight a war from a high-tech, portable headquarters near the front lines. Military officials have refused to reveal details of the exercise, but the timing and location have prompted speculation that it will test a battle plan for invading Iraq.

President Bush  has threatened military action against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein  if he doesn't give up his weapons of mass destruction in line with U.N. resolutions. The Iraqi government has turned in a report to U.N. arms inspectors declaring that Iraq has no such weapons.

The 24-hour-a-day exercise began after Franks received his daily intelligence and operations briefings on the war in Afghanistan and other operations in the Central Command's 25-nation area of responsibility, which includes central Asia, the Middle East and East Africa.

Franks started the exercise from a portable, high-tech war room that has been flown to Qatar from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Fla. He was accompanied by 50 senior officers who make up the command's intelligence and operations staff.

Franks urged his staff to use the exercise to make smarter decisions, more quickly and more efficiently, Wilkinson said.

The modular, portable buildings and the high-speed digital communications equipment, constructed by American defense contractor Raytheon, is being used for the first time. It's designed to operate under extreme heat or cold.

PHOTO CAPTION

U.S. Democratic senator Joe Biden, left, and Republican Chuck Hagel walk in the lobby of their hotel in Doha, Qatar, Sunday Dec. 8, 2002. Both members of the senate foreign committee are returning from visiting U.S. troops who are participating in 'Exercise Internal Look' at Al Sailiyah military base outside Doha. The senators arrived in Qatar after visiting northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)