In testimony to House Armed Services Committee, CIA Dir. William Webster says Iraq's military could maintain its current combat readiness for no more than 9 months-the air force only 3 months-if sanctions continued to hold [NYT, WP 12/6].
Saudi Arabia promises Egypt $1.5 billion to offset losses from Gulf crisis while Cairo prepares to commit more troops and armor to the multinational coalition [NYT, WT 12/6].
Israeli F.M. David Levy warns U.S. and al- lies not to stray from what Israel sees as one of coalition's original goals: to dismantle Iraq's military threat [NYT, WT, WP 12/6].
U.S. officials say Syria has been paid roughly $1 billion for participating in Gulf coalition, and is trying to use money to buy advanced military weaponry [LAT 12/6].
Renzo Embeni, head of EC delegation currently visiting Israel, says there is substantive disagreement between EC and Israeli gov't., noting particularly Israel's opposition to international peace conference, rejection of PLO as negotiating partner, and what Embeni calls Israel's lack of respect for international law [JDS, IDF 12/5 in FBIS 12/6].