File: 082696_d50028_132.txt
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Total Pages: 274

pulled their diplomats out of Iraq. (Washington Post, February 7, p. Al.)

American officials say Iraq has shown an exceptional ability to use decoy targets to deceive allied
bombers and frustrate attempts to assess damage to key Republican Guard positions. The Iraqis have
made use of fake missiles, launchers, and artillery pieces. (Baltimore Sun, February 7, p. 10.)

Jordan's King Hussein lashes out at the "savage and large scale war" being conducted against
"brotherly Iraq" and calls on Arabs and Muslims to induce the U.S. led coalition to accept a cease-fire
in the 21 day old war. (Washington Post, February 7, p. A24.)

-- Administration officials say that Iraq moved a chemical weapons brigade from Iraq into positions
near the Kuwait-Saudi border last week, prompting fears of an imminent nerve or mustard gas at~ck.
This brigade has been the specific target of the 16 inch guns of the battleship USS MISSOURI for the
past two days. (Washington Times, February 7, p. B-S.)

About 70 l-ouisiana National Guardsmen arrive in Shreveport, I-ouisiana saying they are going
AWOL to protest poor training conditions at Fort Hood, Texas. The Guardsmen are members of the
156th Armor Unit of the 1st Battalion, which was activated in December and transferred to Fort Hood
on January 21. (Washington Times, February 7, p. 3.)

The sustained allied air campaign has caused widespread casualties and a breakdown of
communications among Iraqi troops in Kuwait according to the latest reports from the Kuwaiti resis~tnce
reaching Bahraln. (~ondon Financial Times, February 7, p. 2.)

In an effort to keep relations between the press and allied forces briefers from becoming overly
acrimonious, General Norman Schwarzkopf has dispatched a more senior officer, Major General Robert
Johnston, to conduct the briefings; instituted a system of off-the-record conversations between the
military and the press in order to give the media a more complete picture of what is occurring; and
added a second briefing to accommodate newsmen who have earlier deadlines. By attempting to mollify
the press, General Schwarzkopf hopes to avoid media problems which occurred during the Vietnam war.
(London Financial Times, February 6, p. 2.)

Budget Director Richard G. Darman says U.S. costs for Operation Desert Shield incurred in 1990,
but not covered by allies total $1.35 billion, less than the $2 billion previously authorized by Congress.
(Philadelphia Inquirer, February 6, p. 9.)

French Defense Minister Pierre Joxe confirms that French troops will join in a possible ground war
against Iraq and will serve under U.S. operational control. (BBC World Service, February 6.)

Federal government is considering several actions that would improve the pay and protect the civilian
benefits of the estimated 10,000 civil servants whose reserve and National Guard units have been
activated because of the Persian Gulf war. Some federal employees complain about colleagues who,

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