Worried about the possibility of a 2-front war, Iraq begins reinforcing its border with Turkey [NYT 12/29].
Iraq test-fires Soviet-made SCUD missile; it is 3d test this month [LAT, WP 12/29].
White House announces that Pres. Bush has issued directive forgiving Egypt's remaining $997 million debt for military hardware, saying Gulf crisis makes move vital to U.S. interests [LAT, WP 12/29].
In biggest sailing of U.S. warships since Vietnam, 16,000 sailors including those on aircraft carriers Roosevelt and America, leave for Gulf [WP 12/29].
General strike called for by UNLU is observed in o.t. [FJ 1/7].
Iraqi employees of Arab League submit resignations in protest of decision to move League's headquarters back to Cairo [INA 12/28, AFP 12/29 in FBIS 12/31].