CRISIS IN THE PERSIAN GULF : GULF WATCH: Day 74 : A daily briefing paper

Military Front:

The massive buildup of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf entered its final stage after more than two months. M-1 tanks from two of the U.S. Army’s strongest units arrived in Saudi Arabia on ships, and officials predicted these units would have all their equipment by midweek.

With this delivery, the United States now has more than 200,000 troops in the region, along with 1,000 tanks, nearly 500 combat aircraft and 59 Navy warships.

Although original deployment plans are now nearly complete, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney held open the possibility that more troops and weapons could be shipped to Saudi Arabia in the future, if the commanders decide that they are necessary.

Diplomatic Front:

The Soviet government’s Novosti Press Agency reported that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein told a visiting Soviet official in Baghdad last week that he might remove his troops from Kuwait in return for some Kuwaiti territory along the Persian Gulf. But the Iraqi information minister denied the report.

Terrorism Front:

Egyptian officials said that two men carrying forged Syrian and Iraqi passports are among suspects arrested in connection with the assassination of Egyptian Parliament Speaker Rifaat Mahgoub in Cairo last week.

The Iraqi News Agency said the reports linking Iraq to the slaying were meant to “cover up popular indignation” against Egypt’s support of the U.S.-led forces in the Persian Gulf region.

No one has claimed responsibility for the assassination.

Non-Western Citizens Still in Iraq and Kuwait:

Egypt: 1,300,000

India: 96,000

Pakistan: 80,000+

Lebanon: 55,000

Vietnam: 17,000

Bangladesh: 15,000

Philippines: 7,300+

China: 4,800

Soviet Union: 4,000+

Thailand: 894

Japan: 319

South Korea: 193

Turkey: 100