CRISIS IN THE PERSIAN GULF : GULF WATCH: Day 76 : A Daily Briefing Paper On Developments In The Crisis
Diplomatic Front:
Although Iraq has hinted it might be willing to consider a compromise, Secretary of State James A. Baker III said the United States has no interest in “partial solutions” to the gulf crisis. Some analysts believe Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might consider pulling back to northern Kuwait, where he would retain full control of a major oil field as well as two islands guarding sea access to the Persian Gulf.
A day after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev dispatched an envoy to consult with officials in Rome, Paris and Washington about a potential diplomatic solution to the crisis.
In Iowa, President Bush said Hussein will be held accountable for “unprecedented acts of brutality” in Kuwait. Bush’s speech was interrupted by three protesters.
Meantime, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney arrived in Moscow for three days of talks but would not say whether he would press for an assessment of Iraq’s military capabilities. Vitaly N. Ignatenko, Gorbachev’s press secretary, said that the Kremlin would not provide such information to the United States. Military Front:
U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf region are now strong enough to carry out an offensive attack if necessary, said Adm. Henry Mauz, who commands 53 warships and 46,000 sailors and Marines in the region.
Comedian Steve Martin arrived in Saudi Arabia to visit U.S. troops but said he would spend his time there shaking hands and cracking jokes with soldiers rather than staging a largeshow. U.S. military officials have learned, as visitors in a society that permits no public entertainment, how easy it is to cross the line and offend their Saudi hosts. Persian Gulf Troop Deployments:
United States: 200,000
Saudi Arabia: 55,500
Egypt: 14,000
France: 13,000
Gulf Cooperation Council: 10,000
Britain: 9,500
Kuwait:7,000
Syria: 4,000
Pakistan: 4,000
Bangladesh: 2,000
Morocco: 1,700
Canada: 450
Czechoslovakia: 200
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