KUWAIT: British soldiers are mustering at a place in the Kuwaiti desert called the starting point. Jack Fairweather went there
It is known simply as the starting point, a small strip of desert 30 miles from the Iraqi border where British soldiers will be gathering shortly before an invasion of Iraq to be transported into the war zone.
Up to 8,000 troops drawn from 3 Commando brigade and 16 Air Assault will join an 110,000-strong US force mustering at a dozen points along the border for G-Day, the day which marks the beginning of the ground invasion of Iraq and the biggest troop movement since the Normandy landings.
With the operation likely to start at night under the vast clouds of dust thrown up by the Chinook and Puma helicopters that will be ferrying the soldiers to the battlefield, for the assembled troops the signal to go will be no more than a tap on the shoulder.
When they leave their vehicle, a short drive or flight later, it will be in the knowledge that they are no more than a few hundred metres from the enemy.
"We're going to put our heads down and charge," said Marine Lee McBain from Devon at Camp Gibraltar, home to 2 Commando brigade.
"We know the danger, but that's what we've been trained to do. When I leave the troop transport I'm not going to stop running until the battle is over."
The atmosphere at Camp Gibraltar, where 4,000 marines are based, has changed palpably in the past few days.
"Excited, apprehensive, determined" was how one marine described his feelings as the deadline for a new UN resolution nears, "as any marine would feel before such a momentous day".
At nearby Camp Ubique, 21 Para Regiment, Royal Engineers, go through the drills that will enable troops attached to the British ground invasion force to enter Iraq.
A series of gates have been constructed in recent days in the 200- mile electric fence which marks the Iraqi border with Kuwait to facilitate movement of the vast fleet of light armoured vehicles and Defender jeeps preparing for the journey into Iraq.
Once inside it will be the job of 21 Para to begin clearing away the earthen ramparts laced with mines, a feature of the defence built by Iraqi forces during the Gulf War which are expected to surround Basra, the port town in southern Iraq earmarked for capture by British troops.
Armed with little more than a metal rod and a delicate touch, the regiment's minesweepers belonging to 51 Field Squadron crawled on their bellies towards a mock-up wall.
"Keep your fingers out," called out Capt Damien Quinn to the ominously titled "ghost man" who spearheads the unit. "You don't want to go smashing around in there."
After the mines are blown up with detonation cords the bulldozers move in to move several tonnes of sand in a few minutes.
"I'm the man whose going to get the first clear look at Iraq from the ground," said bulldozer driver Lance Cpl Stuart Campbell from Cardiff, "but not for long because after me there will a thousand troops waiting to pour in".
At Ali al-Salem airbase the RAF's joint helicopter force has been making parallel preparations for the troops who will be airlifted into Iraq in the wake of coalition air campaign.
Six Chinook helicopters capable of transporting 40 men each and seven Puma helicopters, carrying 14 men belonging to air squadrons 18 and 27 have been practising loading and deploying troops and equipment for the past week near the starting point. For the duration of the war the airbase will become a pitstop for refuelling and patching up battle damage as aircrews rotate to keep the helicopters flying 24 hours a day.
Chinook pilot Peter Richardson from Somerset said: "We're expecting small-arms fire and Iraqi troops on the ground. But whenever I become apprehensive about the coming war I just remember that I'm one of 1,200 helicopters that will be flying back and forth from the frontline."
"There will be very little left standing after the first few hours once our forces go to work," said Pilot Richardson.
Meanwhile back at Camp Gibraltar the final preparations are being made by the marines.
Weaponry is checked, emergency ration kits packed and, with troops told they may have to be ready for an invasion at a few hours' notice, what may be the last letters and e-mails before the campaign ends have been sent to loved ones back home.
"It may be hours or it may be weeks before we begin, but I've written a letter home to my family sending them my love and telling them why I'm doing what I'm doing so that they can be proud of me," said Lance Cpl Chris Fendell from Chichester.
"We have a mission to perform, and that is the liberating of Iraq from an evil dictator. I know that a lot of people back home have been expressing doubts about entering into war with Iraq, but I'm hoping that once we go to work the nation will get behind us," said Lance Cpl Fendell.