Rapid-deployment chief: hard to make Mideast hop

Lt. Gen. P. X. Kelley, commander of the Rapid Deployment Force, told the House Budget Committee he lacks adequate air- and sea-lift capacity to deploy substantial US forces and heavy equipment to a Middle East conflict. He testified about the newly organized force following a critical analysis by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger contending the Rapid Deployment Force was neither rapid, nor deployable, nor a force. General Kelley acknowledged that no new combat troops have been added to the US military services to man the force, but said he could order up to