GULF WATCH: Day 158 : A daily briefing paper on developments in the crisis : Diplomatic Front:

Secretary of State James A. Baker III hinted that he will give Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz dramatic new evidence of allied military prowess when they meet Wednesday in Geneva. “We think that this will get the job done--in terms of getting the message home,” he said without spelling out details.

Iraq’s ambassador to the United States said Baker “is welcome to go to Baghdad” to meet with Saddam Hussein, but Baker said that proposal “is now off the table.”

Meanwhile, Administration officials expressed little hope that Iraq will withdraw from Kuwait by the U.N.’s Jan. 15 deadline.

Political Front:

Congressional leaders predicted that Congress will vote--at least by a slim majority--to authorize President Bush to go to war with Iraq. Although Senate support for such a resolution might be no greater than 60 to 40, according to one estimate, Baker says the President would view such a vote as “helpful” in his effort to persuade Hussein to back down.

Military Front:

Hussein declared that his army is ready for “the mother of all battles” to enforce his claim to Kuwait. Israel’s foreign minister said the speech amounted to a declaration of war as two leading Israeli military strategists admitted that the country has no effective defense against long-range Iraqi missiles.

Monthly Pay for Iraqi Soldiers:

* Army conscripts: 22.5 dinars (about $70)

* Reservists: 100 dinars (about $320)

* Bonus effective Jan. 1: 50 dinars (about $160)