File: 082696_d50028_105.txt
Page: 105
Total Pages: 274

Guardsmen to fly and maintain combat planes in the Persian Gulf. (New York Times, December 28,
p. A6.)

Navy ships enforcing sanctions against Iraq have intercepted 5,500 merchant ships by mid-December,
boarded more than 500 and diverted about 24. (New York Times, December 28, p. A6.)

Saddam Hussein sends diplomats back to their posts with the message that he wants serious dialogue
with the U.S. He gives no hint concerning pullout, but continues the call for linkage of Persian Gulf
crisis with resolution of the Palestinian issue in Israel. (New York Times, December 28, p. A8.)

December 28
Friday --- Concerned that a two front war may develop if hostilities erupt in the Persian Gulf1 Iraq
reinforces troops along its border with Turkey. (New York Times, December 29, p. 1.)

British troops in the Persian Gulf will receive germ warfare inoculations. (New York Times,
December 29, p. 6.)

Britain calls up 390 medical reservists to serve with its 34,000 member contingent in the Persian
Gulf. (New York Times, December 29, p. 6.)

About one of every four U.S. milltary men and women in the Middle East now is a member of a
National Guard or reserve unit, or about 70,000 of the 280,000 U.S. personnel in the region. Another
57,000 reservists have been activated for possible deployment to Saudi Arabia or to fill jobs vacated
by active duty troops in the United States. (Washington Post, December 28, p. Al.)

Department of Defense releases twentieth list of U.S. Naval Reserve Selected Reserve units ordered
to active duty involving approximately 172 Naval Reservists. (CHINFO 282305Z DEC 90)

December 29
Saturday --- Iraqi and European officials in Baghdad say that with only 17 days left before the
January 15 deadline, hope remains for a negotiated settlement to the crisis. in Baghdad there is popular
sentiment for not entering into a new war which may put additional pressure on Hussein to negotiate.
(New York Times, December 30, p. 1.)

Fifteen Iraqi opposition groups meeting in Beirut issue a statement condemning the attack on Kuwait
and saying they were joining forces to topple Hussein. The group also condemns the massing of
Western forces in Saudi Arabia. (New York Times, December 30, p. 10.)

December 30
Sunday --- Foreign ministers of the European Community agree to meet in a special session on
Friday to consider an independent initiative aimed at persuading Iraq to withdraw its forces from Kuwait
before the January 15 deadline. In Baghdad the Iraqi Foreign Ministry welcomed the Community's
meeting, calling it positive. (New York Times, December 31, p. Al.)

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