September 21, 1990

White House scales back proposed sale of military hardware to Saudi Arabia; instead of submitting to Congress a single $22 billion package, Bush admin. will seek immediate approval of smaller deal including only those weapons immediately needed by Saudis [WT 9/21; LAT, NYT, WP 9/22].

Warning to prepare for "the mother of all battles," Iraq expels 3 U.S. diplomats and military attaches of 11 Western European nations. U.S. responds by expelling 3 diplomats from Iraqi embassy, including the military attache [WT 9/21; NYT, LAT, WP 9/22; MET 10/2].

PLO leadership holds emergency meeting, chaired by Yasir Arafat, in Tunis to discuss violence in Gaza Strip as sporadic clashes between Palestinians and IDF troops continue [ADS 9/21 in FBIS 9/24].