THE LONG wait for war will be the biggest frustration for our troops as they rehearse their skills during hot, dusty days and freezing nights in the Kuwaiti desert.

But when the command comes, they will pride themselves on doing the best possible job.

A veteran from the first Gulf war has given the Evening News an exclusive insight into life on the front line during the countdown to war - only hours before the Second Gulf War looks set to begin.

"They will be itching to go," said the 33-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous.

"Regardless of what people think about the reasons for war this time round the guys will be ready to give 100 per cent."

The father-of-two, from Hereford, was posted in the Middle East three months before hostilities began in 1991.

However, with no contact from home reaching the soldiers, and extreme weather conditions to deal with, the waiting proved one of the toughest times.

Married men

"We had been there a long time and a lot of the guys were married men," said the ex-paratrooper.

"We didn't get any mail or news and it was frustrating just hanging around.

"We didn't hear any of the build-up and we just had to get ourselves ready for whenever we were needed.

"Once the fighting actually started your training took over. War's not nice and people took it different ways. But you did what you had to for your mates and your regiment.

"I found the waiting around for months the really tough part.

"Apart from that it was boiling during the day, freezing cold at night and we also had a number of other problems such as rifles not working properly."

But he is convinced that these experiences have made today's troops better prepared to deal with a Second Gulf War.

"They will be better briefed and more prepared for these problems," he said.

"I expect the war to start with heavy bombing and when the ground troops go in it will be just to sweep up what's left.

"I think it will be just as short as last time. A lot of people in Iraq want Saddam Hussein out and when he starts to topple he will go very quickly."

However, he added that many of the troops who were involved in the first Gulf conflict were angry at having to do the job all over again.

"A lot of the guys I know, who are out there again, feel it should have been finished off last time," he said.

"They think it should have been over a decade ago, but there is no danger of any complaints from the troops.

Train hard

"Once you are out there you train and train hard to make sure it goes well, and everyone will be itching to do their job right."

President Bush has given Saddam Hussein a 48-hour deadline to surrender power in Iraq or face the full might of a 280,000 strong American-led force.

Colin Powell, the American Secretary of State, emphasised the perilous situation.

"The time for diplomacy has passed," he said. "I can think of nothing that Saddam Hussein could do diplomatically.

"He's had many chances over the last 12 years and he's blown every one."