GULF WATCH: Day 135 : A Daily Briefing Paper On Developments In The Crisis
Hostage Front:
The U.S. ambassador to Kuwait arrived in Washington with 23 Americans, 10 family members of U.S. citizens and 15 Canadians who took the last evacuation flight out of Kuwait and Iraq.
Ambassador W. Nathaniel Howell III declared that “We could do nothing else” but hold firm in the besieged embassy in Kuwait until the last Americans were freed. Diplomatic Front:
President Bush acknowledged he mishandled his initial proposal for direct meetings with Iraq, but said he is not willing to give in on his insistence that talks between Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Secretary of State James A. Baker III take place by Jan. 3. Iraqi officials indicated that the dispute on dates may derail the talks. Military Front:
The Marine Corps announced that it is sending 736 reservists from eight states to Saudi Arabia. Most will help provide transportation and logistic support. Authorized Military Reserve Call-Ups:
Army: 115,000
Navy: 30,000
Marines: 23,000
Air Force: 20,000
Coast Guard: 1,250
Total: 189,250
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