GULF WATCH: Day 154 : A Daily Briefing Paper on Developments in the Crisis
Diplomatic Front: With international pressure building for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, the White House said it has not ruled out meeting with Iraqi officials after today, its original deadline for such discussions. But it said that Iraq has shown no interest in a new date.
In a flurry of diplomatic activity, an adviser to French President Francois Mitterrand left on a surprise visit to Baghdad, King Hussein of Jordan began meetings with European leaders and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria and Libya met in Cairo.
Military Front: In its first commitment of military force in the gulf crisis, NATO agreed to send more than 40 fighter aircraft to Turkey to deter a possible attack by Iraq in the event of war. Turkey is a member of the alliance. The White House praised the move.
Iraq said it has successfully tested a new airborne radar warning system capable of detecting enemy jets. U.S. defense experts, however, were skeptical of the claim.
A Navy oiler, the Andrew J. Higgins, ran aground on a reef in the Arabian Sea, spilling about 2,000 gallons of fuel.
Latest U.S. Deployment Figures:
* Army: 195,000
* Marines: 55,000
* Navy: 35,000
* Air Force: 40,000
* Total in region: 325,000
* Planned deployment: 430,000
* Reservists mobilized: 135,000
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