European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Gulf crisis How it All began by Mike Feinsilber associated Pressl ate july George Steinbrenner is still running the Yankees the governor of Louisiana is deciding whether to veto an abortion Bill and the first tropical disturbance of summer a storm named Arthur makes its appearance in the Caribbean the american press seems Bent on finding out who David Souter is and what his thoughts Are about abortion. President Bush has just nominated him to the supreme court. Few americans much notice that Saddam Hussein of Iraq is accusing his Small neighbors of harbouring an Imperial zionist plan to drive Down the Price of Oil. Don t blame yourself if you missed the rumblings that were to suddenly put the United states on War footing and land a vast military Force on the searing saudi desert where american troops had never before been welcomed. What led to that the quarrel Between Iraq and its Little neighbor Kuwait just seemed like another of those wrangles Over Oil production and pricing that occur before the meetings of open sheiks and statesmen. Oil was t there a glut War was t this the Era of the peace dividend the Oil glut was the problem for Saddam Hussein of Iraq. After eight years of War with Iran ended by a cease fire his country was powerful but broke. Oil prices and Oil revenues were falling. Oil was bringing $14 a barrel 20 percent lower than the year before. Saddam found a pair of villains Kuwait his wartime supporter and financier and the United Arab emirates. Kuwait is just across the Border that was the background to the events that brought out the battleships the troops and the Gas masks. July 17 Saddam uses the 22nd anniversary of the coup that brought his baath party to Power to Lay out his demands. He wants Kuwait to forgive $15 billion in Loans extended during the Iran Iraq War. And he wants Kuwait and the United Arab emirates to pay $14 billion to compensate for what he says Iraq lost due to Low Oil prices. If words fail to protect iraqis something effective must be done to return things to their natural course and return usurped rights to their owners he says. Iraqis will not forget the Maxim that cutting necks is better than cutting the Means of living. Of god almighty be witness that we have warned  july 18 a letter from Saddam s foreign minister to the Arab league accuses Kuwait of having stolen $2.4 billion Worth of Petroleum Over the past decade from an iraqi Oil Field along the two nations disputed Border. Kuwait puts its 20,000-Man army on Alert. July 19 the Pentagon announces naval exercises in the persian Gulf. July 25 president Hosni Mubarak of Egypt seeking to carve out a peacemaker s role says Iraq and Kuwait have agreed to Send delegations to the saudi arabian summer capital of Jidida to discuss their differences. July 27 at a tense meeting in Geneva open agrees to limit Oil production and raise its target Price by $3 to $21 a barrel. Kuwait and the United Arab emirates Promise to abide by the new production quotas. Because of Iraq s threats to use Force against countries that ignore the limits Industry observers expect the measure this time to stick. In Washington the House and Senate defy Bush administration opposition and vote for economic sanctions against Iraq. These reflect an accumulation of complaints Over Iraq s attempt to intimidate neighbors its human rights record its use of Poison Gas during the Iran Iraq War against its kurdish minority its drive to build nuclear weapons. The state department says the votes will not be helpful to diplomatic efforts to modify Saddam s behaviour. Aug. 1 talks in Jidida Start with an embrace. But two hours later they break off the iraqi delegation walks out saying they did not sense any seriousness from the kuwaitis. Tensions and Oil prices Rise. Aug. 2 tank led iraqi infantry units storm into Kuwait. They Advance unchecked Down a Highway across the Flat desert terrain to the capital Kuwait City the financial times says the Advance is so unchallenged that some troops travelled Down the Road by bus. The Emir Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah flees by helicopter. Kuwait s hopelessly outnumbered troops wage pitched Battles around the Sheik s residential Palace. The Sheik s younger brother is reported to have been killed defending the Palace. Kuwait s Crown Prince and Premier Sheik Saad Al Abdallah Al Sabah goes on the radio and television and Calls for resistance let them taste the chalice of  a kuwaiti with picture of Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah the Emir of Kuwait demonstrates outside the iraqi embassy in London. Kuwait Calls for urgent american military assistance but Iraq threatens to turn Kuwait into a graveyard if an outside Power intervenes. The invasion seems to catch Washington by Surprise but the Cia takes the unusual step of issuing a statement saying it was not surprised and had provided policy makers with very useful and timely information Bush reacts swiftly. First he condemns Saddam s naked  then to engineers a United nations sanctioned embargo of Iraq finally to commits massive american Force the largest dispatched since the Vietnam War to protect saudi Arabia from Kuwait s Fate. To says the forces will serve until Saddam withdraws from Kuwait. By now the Story has captured America s attention. The latest developments Are written Large on the front pages. Actor it thestle amp ripes Saddam Calls Bush a liar iraqi Leader also warns of sad coffins 1 1lca j it Foj Egypt reports ,. Failed attempt to kill Saddam -4% european Cornel participating in deploying Gulf bound gis retried gut Poge 2,3,7 and Back Page every Day can make a world of difference in your life in a world that never takes a Day to rest every Day can make a world of difference. A Day can mean the difference Between a Campaign and a Victory. A budget and a budget Cut. A revolutionary idea and a revolution. The stars and stripes has All the news it takes to keep you on top of  s events. And a subscription to the stars and stripes can assure you that you la never fall a Day behind. Call one of our circulation offices today listing on Page 11 for your subscription to the stars and stripes. Or write to the slams an j swipes attn sales promotion Apo 09211 the stars and stripes we can make a world of difference in your life. Every Day. Saturday August 18, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 17