December 21, 1990

Tens of thousands of Iraqis conduct mock evacuation drill in Baghdad as part of increased civil defense efforts [AFP 12/21 in FBIS 12/21; NYT, LAT 12/22].

British P.M. John Major meet with Sec. Baker in Washington; Baker says he is no longer optimistic that Gulf crisis can be resolved peacefully [LAT, WP 1.2/22].

Israel announces it is using every available plane and even allowing flights on the Sabbath to bring in additional Soviet Jews fearing political turmoil in USSR [LAT 12/22].