GULF WATCH: Day 86 : A Daily Briefing Paper On Developments In The Crisis

Military Front:

The determination by American military officials that as many as 100,000 additional troops are needed in the Persian Gulf could delay the timetable for a U.S. decision on the next step in the crisis and set the stage for a long-term standoff, officials said.

Bush Administration sources said Iraq has wired Kuwait’s four oil refineries with plastic explosives capable of knocking out the emirate’s entire refining capacity. The moves appear to be part of a “scorched earth” strategy to devastate Kuwait’s economic base in the event Iraqi occupiers are forced to withdraw. Diplomatic Front:

The United States declared for the first time that Jordan is in compliance with U.N. sanctions against Iraq. Washington urged Saudi Arabia and other wealthy nations to provide assistance to Jordan, which has been hard hit by the embargo. Hostage Front:

Iraq’s ambassador in Washington granted a visa to a 34-year-old Nevada woman so she can fly to Baghdad to visit her husband, who is being held as a hostage. The visit will be the first of its kind involving a U.S. citizen detained by Iraq. Estimated Economic Losses This Year:

East Europe $4 billion Debt repayment Egypt $2 billion Salaries of workers in Iraq India $2.5 billion Refugee repatriation, oil costs Jordan $2 billion Oil costs, trade embargo Turkey $3 billion Trade embargo Yemen $2.5 billion Trade embargo