GULF WATCH: Day 71 : A Daily Briefing Paper On Developments In The Crisis
Military Front:
The Air Force grounded its planes deployed in the Persian Gulf area for 12 hours in order to discuss with pilots the recent rash of U.S. aircraft accidents in Saudi Arabia.
Germany ruled out the sale of weapons to Arab nations despite an urgent appeal from Saudi Arabia that it make a stronger commitment in the Persian Gulf crisis. Diplomatic Front:
Britain tried to turn up the heat on Iraq as Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd said the forces arrayed against Iraq must decide within weeks whether sanctions are enough to free Kuwait.
In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak said the crisis involving Kuwait should not be linked to the Palestinian problem. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait “creates a division in the Arab world so that it weakens our ability to face the Israeli occupation of Arab lands.” Hostage Front:
President Bush protested Iraq’s “outrageous behavior” in interrogating and detaining Americans fleeing Kuwait on the last refugee airlift and barring 12 from boarding. Eventually, 321 people, including 270 Americans, were allowed to leave Iraq. Also, Iraqi forces detained two more British men in Kuwait. Crisis Indicators:
Americans trapped in Kuwait/Iraq: 700-750
Americans rounded up, detained: 104
Seriously ill Americans held: 69
Total foreign nationals barred from leaving: 4,000
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