File: 082696_d50028_208.txt
Page: 208
Total Pages: 274

Date tive wi~~ra~~~~1iraq has 1Time Line
Jan t 5 France abandons peace initia- White House says it was Pentagon prepares for war by
reaching a "point of decision" tightenirig security against
shown no interest. and officials were weighing terrorism and 1nan1~g key
U.N. Secretary General calls exactly when to give the posts in readiness for order
for Iraq to leave Kuwait and order if there is no move by from President.
suggests as an alternative a Iraq. U.S. ground forces are not
Middle East poace conference Adnnnistration officials spend flilly ready to mount an
without a withdrawal as a the day studying intelligence invasion of Iraal and Kuwait,
precondition. and say that, far from however, U.S. air and naval
Saddam Hussein visits his withdrawing, Iraq is forces are ready for combat.
troops in Kuwait. reinforcing troops.
Turkey will not participate in Peace demonstrations across
attack against Iraq, reflecting the nation with the White
an agreement between Turkey House as focus. U.S. fear
and Iran that neither will that the "surprise" weapon
move against Iraq. announced by the Iraqi's on
King Hussein of Jordan tells January 13 may be a nuclear
nation that he stands with weapon. The concern is
them while the region is on based on intelligence collected
the verge of catastrophe. in the Middle East. The
Egyptian President calls on discovery is alarming because
the Iraqi leader to "abandon it contradicts a "worst case"
selfishness" and save the estimate from U.S. that Iraq
region from a devastating was months away from a
war. nuclear weapon.
According to "Wall Street
Journal" assesment, Iraq's
military is battle tested and
has good leaders, but air
power and intelligence are
weak.
British Parliament, by a vote
of 534-57, gives support to
use of force.

Jan 16 Operation Desert Storm begins.
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3-53

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