About 2,000 gather for rally in Enid

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ About 2,000 people heard patriotic song, poems and prayers in a rally to support American troops. <br><br>Red, white and blue filled the Chisholm Trail Expo Center Coliseum Tuesday night

Wednesday, April 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ About 2,000 people heard patriotic song, poems and prayers in a rally to support American troops.

Red, white and blue filled the Chisholm Trail Expo Center Coliseum Tuesday night as political and military leaders praised American soldiers.

``America's military structure is vastly superior in might and force. The Iraqi armed forces may never know what hit them,'' Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said.

Allied pilots have flown 33,000 sortie strikes against Iraq, Col. A.J. Stewart, commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance Air Force Base, said.

More than 289 million pounds of fuel have been consumed. There have been 15,500 munition drops, and 70 percent have been precision guided, he said.

``We did not ask for this war, but like other generations of Americans, we will meet the responsibilities of defending human liberty against violence and aggression, Stewart told the audience,'' Stewart said.

At least a dozen rallies supporting and opposing the war have been held across Oklahoma since early March.

A rally supporting the war in Dewey drew about 1,000 participants on Sunday.