Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search

Date                          International                          U.S.     PoliticailDiplomatic                                 Military

Dec 6             Saddam Hussein Says that                         President Bush and                               The Maijtime Administration
                  Iraq will release all foreign                    SECSTATh          Baker welcome                  has activated       18 more
                  hostages from Kuwait and                         Iraq's promise to release                        military cargo ships from the
                  Iraq.     He ordered the release                 hostages, but say that Iraq                      Ready Reserve Force,
                  of the hostages since they                       must still unconditionally                       bringing the total number of
                  were no longer needed as                         withdraw from Kuwait.                            ships to 66.
                  human shields and as an
                  attempt to promote diplomatic
                  efforts to avert war.          King
                  Hussein of Jordan says he is
                  convinced that Iraq will not
                  leave Kuwait until the
                  Palestinian problem is
                  resolved.
                  Governments throughout the
                  world express hope that
                  freeing the hostages will be
                  the first step to a peaceful
                  settlement.

Dec 7             130 deserters        from the Iraqi              Adnnnistration announces that                    SECDEF        tells NATO allies
                  army tell of having left                         the American Embassy in                          that the U.S.       could use more
                  behind troops demoralized by                     Kuwait would be vacated                          help in the Persian Gulf and
                  meager food rations and                          once all Americans who wish                      says that release of hostages
                  terrorized by threats of                         to leave Kuwait have been                        will not delay U.S.          buildup.
                  hanging.       Mostof the                        allowedtodoso.
                  deserters are reportedly           from          U.S.    and Saudi officials are
                  minority groups in northern                      wary of the Iraqi release of
                  Iraq.                                            all hostages.

Dec    8                                                           U.S.    Embassy       in Baghdad                 The emergence of women as
                                                                   announces that a chartered                       a sinifigant portion of the
                                                                   747 would pick up 750                            military (both active duty and
                                                                   forrner hostages in Kuwait                       rserve)    is presenting the DoD
                                                                   and Baghdad and           fly   them to          with new problems such as
                                                                   freedom.                                         the call-up andlor transfer to
                                                                   President denies that his                        the Gulf of single parents and
                                                                   decision to close the embassy                    our military parents with
                                                                   in Kuwait was a payback to                       smail children.
                                                                   Iraq.


                                                                             3-39

Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search