U.S. accuses Iraq of releasing millions of gallons of Kuwaiti crude oil into Gulf; officials say it will have little military significance, but threatens ecology on scale larger than Exxon Valdez...
Israeli officials warn that Iraqi missile attack could not stand without retaliation. Yet after telephone calls from Pres. Bush and Sec. Baker to P.M. Shamir, U.S. admin. says Israel will not...
After day of multinational force bombing successes against Iraq, Baghdad fires as many as 8 SCUD missiles at Israel, hitting Tel Aviv, Haifa, and less populated areas [NYT, LAT, WT, WP, MEM 1/18...
Arab-Americans object to FBI policy of questioning business and community leaders of Arab descent [MEM 1/11; NYT, LAT 1/12].
White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater says Gulf military...
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More than 80 Iraqi planes have now sought refuge in Iran, according to U.S. officials [LAT, WT 1/29].
In television interview with CNN, Saddam Hussein says Iraq has won "the admiration of the world" for employing only conventional arms in war; Saddam warns that SCUD missiles can still be fitted with nonconventional warheads [BADS 1/28 in FBIS 1/29; LAT, WT 1/29].
Military officials say U.S. bombing raids at oil facilities in Kuwait have stopped oil spilling into Gulf, but not before 11 million barrels had entered the water [LAT, WT 1/29].
For 1st time in 20 years, no one protests outside Soviet embassy in Washington, demonstrating on behalf on Jews trying to emigrate from USSR; Kremlin's relaxed policies lead Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington to suspend daily 15-minute protests that began in December 1970 [LAT, WT 1/29].
Patriot missiles destroy incoming SCUD missiles aimed at Saudi Arabia; parts of SCUD land in Palestinian villages in West Bank; additional Patriot missile systems arrive in Saudi Arabia [SPA, IDF 1/28 in FBIS 1/29; LAT, WT 1/29].
Baghdad claims that some captured pilots have been injured in air raids by allied planes; in letter to UN leader Perez de Cuellar, Iraq says 345 civilians have been killed, 450 wounded, in air raids [LAT 1/29].
Prominent Israeli authors and peace activists Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, Yoram Kaniuk, and Yael Dayan speak out in favor of war in Gulf, saying anti-war protests amount to appeasing Saddam Hussein [LAT 1/29].
One-day strike called in support of Iraq by Morocco's 3 major trade unions shuts down most economic activity [LAT 1/29].
UN Sec. Council rebuffs calls by several Arab nations for open debate on Gulf war; Council elects to continue informal consultations behind closed doors [LAT 1/29].
Bombs explode in Greece and Turkey, no one is injured in attacks that may be linked to U.S. role in war [LAT 1/29].
American Civil Liberties Union assails FBI assertion that Arab-American civic and business leaders will suffer no consequences if they refuse to be interviewed about potential terrorism [LAT 1/29].
U.S. accuses Iraq of releasing millions of gallons of Kuwaiti crude oil into Gulf; officials say it will have little military significance, but threatens ecology on scale larger than Exxon Valdez disaster. Pres. Bush says spill is "sick" act of desperation, orders Pentagon to find way to stop leak [WAKH 1/26 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, LAT 1/26].
Iraqi SCUD missile hits Riyadh, killing 1 person and wounding 6; 7 missiles are fired at Israel, all are reportedly intercepted by Patriot missiles, but falling debris kills 1 and injures 42 others [RIDS, JAA, IDF 1/25 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, LAT 1/26].
New York Times reports that Pan American World Airways has refused to carry Iraqi passengers since 1/16, for fear of terrorism like that which destroyed Pan Am flight over Lockerbie 2 years ago [NYT 1/26].
Iranian Pres. Rafsanjani restates neutrality in Gulf war; strongly rejects idea that Iran join with Iraq, saying that would be suicide and would mean Iran approved of Iraq remaining in Kuwait [NYT 1/26].
Soviet F.M. Alexander Bessmertnykh meets with members of PLO Executive Committee to explore ways to end Gulf war [LAT 1/26].
EC lifts all restrictions on Israel because of its restraint under Iraqi missile attack; restrictions were imposed in January 1990 to protest closure of Palestinian schools [MEM 1/25].
Israeli officials warn that Iraqi missile attack could not stand without retaliation. Yet after telephone calls from Pres. Bush and Sec. Baker to P.M. Shamir, U.S. admin. says Israel will not retaliate for the time being. Saudi officials say Arab nations would face additional pressure if Israel entered fight, but probably would not desert coalition. More than 20 countries, including 13 in Europe, and UN Sec.-Gen. condemn Iraqi attack and urge Israeli restraint; USSR urges Israel and allied Arab nations to avoid turning war against Saddam into Arab-Israeli conflict [IDF, AFP, TET 1/18 in FBIS 1/81; NYT, LAT, WP 1/19; MEM 1/21; IDF 1/18 in FBIS 1/22].
Open elation in Jordan over missiles hitting Israel; some Tunisians, Syrians, and Lebanese also show support for Saddam's attack. PLO says attack represents "effective entry of Israel into the conflict" [MEM 1/18; LAT 1/19].
Allied warplanes mount hugh effort to destroy Iraq's remaining mobile SCUD missile launchers, partly in effort to keep Saddam Hussein from attacking Israel again. [NYT, LAT, WP 1/19; MEM 1/21].
U.S. Patriot anti-missile defense system destroys incoming Iraqi SCUD missile aimed at Saudi air base [NYT, LAT 1/19]; 2 SCUDs hit Tel Aviv [WP 1/19].
After 3d day of bombing, Baghdad is without electricity and telephone service, and is suffering severe shortage of water, according to Western media in Iraq [NYT, LAT, WP 1/19].
Jordan reopens its border with Iraq after 9 days, official says "we don't want anymore suffering" [JTE 1/19 in FBIS 1/22; LAT 1/19].
Officials say U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Ryan Crocker and his staff have flown to Cyprus, fearing anti-U.S. backlash in Beirut [LAT 1/19].
Jordanian lower house of parliament statement backs Iraq in Gulf war, brands U.S. as "Great Satan" [LAT 1/19].
Pres. Gorbachev sends letter to Saddam Hussein asking for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait (cf. 1/21) [BADS 1/21 in FBIS 1/22].
After day of multinational force bombing successes against Iraq, Baghdad fires as many as 8 SCUD missiles at Israel, hitting Tel Aviv, Haifa, and less populated areas [NYT, LAT, WT, WP, MEM 1/18].
Saddam Hussein defies 2d day of bombing in Baghdad by touring Iraq's capital; vows to defeat multinational force and liberate Palestine; calls on all Arabs to help resist U.S. [NYT, LAT, WP, MEM 1/18].
Anti-U.S. demonstrations erupt in Algeria, smaller protests in European cities but European gov'ts. give full backing to war effort; Iran condemns U.S.-led invasion; Pres. Gorbachev blames Iraqi intransigence for war, but only after trying to get Pres. Bush to postpone attack long enough for Soviet diplomats to try to speak to Saddam Hussein; Japan pledges additional aid for allied effort [MEM 1/17; NYT 1/18].
Turkey's parliament authorizes U.S. fighters and bombers to launch attacks on Iraq from Incirlik Air Base near Adama on the Mediterranean [NYT, LAT, MEM 1/18].
New York Times reports of CIA's psychological warfare against Iraq: broadcasting anti-Saddam propaganda into Iraq, circulat- ing audio and video cassettes depicting Saddam's regime as corrupt, and smuggling radios into Iraq to receive American broadcasts [NYT 1/19].
Curfew in Gaza continues; Israel places West Bank under curfew [JDS, IDF 1/17 in FBIS 1/17].
PLO Executive Committee issues statement decrying U.S. for beginning Gulf war and calling for worldwide resistance [AVP, MAP, AFP 1/17 in FBIS 1/18; MEM 1/17; WP 1/18].
Arab-Americans object to FBI policy of questioning business and community leaders of Arab descent [MEM 1/11; NYT, LAT 1/12].
White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater says Gulf military operation cost U.S. $10 billion in 1990, and that U.S. has received $6 billion "in cash and in-kind support from our allies to defray this cost" [NYT, LAT 1/12].
Pres. Saddam Hussein tells conference of Islamic leaders that he is preparing for holy war against multinational forces that could only be averted if greater priority is given to solving Palestine problem [NYT, LAT 1/12].
Senior UN officials urge Sec.-Gen. Perez de Cuellar to ask Saddam for pledge to leave Kuwait immediately in return for international conference to address Palestine problem. Before leaving Geneva, Perez de Cuellar meets with EC leaders who offer peace proposal that includes stationing UN peacekeeping force in Gulf and convening international conference [MEM 1/11; NYT, LAT 1/12]; en route to Baghdad, Perez de Cuellar stops in Amman for meeting with King Hussein [ADS 1/11 in FBIS 1/14].
Pres. Gorbachev telephones Pres. Bush, and twice dispatches Soviet ambassador to White House to discuss Soviet's last-minute Gulf peace initiative [LAT 1/12].
Washington Post/ABC News poll finds 66% of respondents say U.S. should agree to international conference on Arab-Israeli issues if Iraq agrees to withdraw from Kuwait; 68% think if Iraqi doesn't withdraw, U.S. should go to war; 86% believe war is inevitable [WP 1/11].
4 PFLP fighters are killed in shootout with IDF troops in S. Lebanon [JDS 1/12 in FBIS 1/14].