GULF WATCH: Day 84 : A daily briefing paper on developments in the crisis : Hostage Front:
Several of the 14 Americans just released from Iraq said their captors starved them and refused them medical attention. A doctor among the group warned that many of the remaining hostages are suffering stress-related illnesses. In Kuwait, staff members dug a well at the isolated U.S. Embassy.
Political Front:
Concern that U.S. policy in the Mideast is drifting was expressed by members of Congress during closed-door meetings with top Administration officials. Secretary of State James A. Baker III told Congress the Administration believes Iraq has already committed sufficient provocation to justify military action.
Diplomatic Front:
Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd expressed his “firm and unchangeable” stand that Iraq should withdraw from Kuwait unconditionally. It was the second day the Saudis had sought to quell reports that they might want Kuwait to grant territorial concessions to Iraq.
Egypt would be forgiven $6.7 billion of its debt to the United States and would get $2.1 billion in aid under a $15.5 billion foreign aid appropriations bill approved by the Senate.
U.S. Warships Deployed to Middle East:
* In the Persian Gulf 15
* In the Arabian Sea 21
* In the Red Sea 9
* In the eastern Mediterranean 10
* Total U.S. ships deployed in crisis 55
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