Twice a year, major US military organizations hold command post exercises (CPX), where commanders and their staff troops play out possible military situations. This year, Central Command, which would run an invasion of Iraq, moved a portable headquarters to Qatar (which in itself is a useful exercise) and are running a 7-10 day CPX. These exercises don't usually involve any troops beyond the headquarters people, but they often do act as a "commo check" to insure that all the communications links with aircraft carriers, bombers and Special Forces teams working for Central Command work.