European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 5, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 h a a a the stars and stripes Friday october 1990 crisis in the Gulf saudi officials say Iraq tried to fool them by the new York times new York a saudi officials have provided new information on Why they sought american military assistance after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Saudi officials said they had extensive discussions with Iraq about its actions and that in those communications the iraqis tried to mislead them. It was these communications a senior saudi official said that led his government to conclude that Iraq was preparing to invade and that the kingdom would not be Able to repulse such an attack alone. Rep. Stephen j. Solarz d-n.y., gave an account of the events based on talks he had with Prince Bandar bin Sultan saudi arabians ambassador to the United states. Neither Bandar nor Prince Saud at Faisal the saudi minister of foreign affairs both now in new York for the United nations general Assembly session would confirm this account. However saudi officials familiar with events that preceded saudi arabians plea for help confirmed it. According to the account saudi and american officials stayed in close Contact after Iraq invaded Kuwait Early in the morning of aug. 2. The first warning of iraqi intentions came when the saudis Learned from american intelligence sources that in addition to the three divisions of iraqi forces already in and around Kuwait City three More divisions had been deployed and were moving toward the saudi Border. Four hours after that initial warning saudi officials Learned that Iraq had moved four divisions from Basra into Kuwait bringing the forces total to seven divisions. Moreover Iraq had sent Frog ground to ground missiles and other equipment to the divisions closest to the saudi kuwaiti Border. After three incursions saudi officials were convinced an invasion was imminent. Such arms and supplies would be needed for an iraqi offensive the saudis asserted. Shortly after the deployments were completed iraqi troops marched about six Miles into the kingdom before withdrawing. At this Point the ambassador told Solarz the saudi opened a intensive negotiations with Iraq about its intentions. Saudi officials used a a hot line phone that had been installed six years earlier during the Iran Iraq War for urgent communications about military developments of interest to both countries. According to Solarz a senior saudi military officer spoke to someone whom Bandar identified As a senior iraqi general who said the incursion had been a mistake that Iraq had no intention of invading the kingdom and that iraqi troops would be instructed to stay strictly on the kuwaiti Side of the Border. Some saudis believed that the assurances were intended to Lull saudi Arabia into believing that it was not in danger others believed that Iraq did not have territorial ambitions. But six hours later there was a second incursion. Once again the saudis called the iraqi command Post on the hot line Telephone. The iraqi general who had provided the assurances was not available the saudis were told. His absence heightened saudi suspicions that the previous assurances were a smokescreen for a planned invasion. Corporal punishment Marine Chi. Steven a. Carre of Racine wis., discovers the meaning of a no pain no gain a As members of his platoon give him the traditional punch in the shoulder upon his promotion from Lance Corporal to Corporal. The initiation took place following the ceremony in the saudi arabian desert tuesday. Irs gives hostages a break by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a there is one thing american hostages in Iraq and Kuwait done to have to worry about a Gett ing audited by the internal Revenue service. In a rare display of magnanimity the irs has announced it will not audit or try to collect overdue taxes from . Citizens detained by iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. A those people have enough to worry about already Quot said Steve Pyrek a Revenue service spokesman. But to provide that Relief the Revenue service needs to hear from the families of detainees. A we have no Way of knowing from our records who the detainees Are a Pyrek said a the family members have to Tell  the irs has set up a special toll free Telephone number staffed by taxpayer service representatives who will take Steps to prevent audits and overdue collection actions from being scheduled and to suspend actions already scheduled or under Way. The irs number is 1800-829-4351. Overseas family members who done to have Access to 1-800 numbers can Contact any irs office at a . Embassy or consulate. The Revenue service needs names and social Security numbers of detained citizens As Well As information about ongoing irs actions. The decision to provide Relief for . Detainees is not unprecedented Pyrek said. A we did something similar with the . Hostages in Iran 10 years ago he said. But there was no reason to set up a special phone line a publicize the action in that Case because there were Only 52 hostages and the irs knew their identities since they All worked at the . Embassy in Iran. The irs also is advising reservists on Active duty and their families that another toll free number is available for general assistance with Federal tax questions the number is 1-800-424-1040. Reservists and family members who receive notices of audits or collection of overdue taxes also can Call that number to discuss the possibility of postponing such actions while the current Reserve mobilization is in effect Pyrek said. A More Junior iraqi officer spoke with saudi officials and said that he knew nothing of the Border incursion but would Check with his superiors and Call Back with an explanation. No one called Back. Six hours later there was a third incursion. A saudi officer tried the hot line for the third time in less than 24 hours. This time there was no reply. Saudi officials calculated that Given the level of saudi mobilization iraqi forces could have captured the entire Eastern province where most saudi Oil reserves arc located in six hours or 12 hours if saudi soldiers had extensive air cover. With Only partly mobilized saudi forces defending the kingdom Iraq could have overrun the kingdom in three Days. The Day after the Kuwait invasion president Bush asked King fahd to Cut the saudi pipeline carrying iraqi Oil to its Gulf port for Export. Turkey had already agreed to Block its pipeline iraqis Only other major outlet for iraqi Oil. But fahd knew that if he agreed to Bush a request Iraq would interpret the decision As an act of War and would use the pipeline As a pretext for the invasion it was already planning. A a that a when we decided to ask for help a Solarz quoted Bandar As saying. A after the three incursions we became persuaded that an invasion was in fact imminent. The reason there has not been an invasion of the kingdom is More than 200,000 troops and More than 1,000  fahd requested american military help and Bush quickly agreed. R a this account helps to explain Why saudi Arabia reversed decades of history and decided to permit �?~infidel1 soldiers to be stationed on its soil a Solarz said. A it Wasny to anything we had to twist arms to get them to do. It seems that it was their  briefs82nd airborne not due to go Home yet Dod says Washington a amps a the Pentagon is denying published reports that the 82nd airborne div will soon return to the United states from saudi Arabia. The new York daily news quoting a military sources a reported tuesday that the division has completed its Mission of being a a a tripwire to an iraqi attack and would head Home for fort Bragg . The newspaper said the division was no longer necessary in saudi Arabia because of the buildup of More heavily armed units. However Pentagon spokesman col. Miguel Monteverde said thursday that the reports were untrue. A we regret reports of this Type because they unfairly raise the Hopes of families a Monteverde said. Monteverde said no information is available on when the division would return to the United  troops get Chance to vote in nov. Elections Washington a amps a service members deployed to saudi Arabia will have every Opportunity to vote in the . General elections scheduled for nov. 6, according to a defense department spokesman. Henry Valentino director of the defense departments voting assistance program said his office is distributing 200,000 Federal postcard Vot ring applications and write in ballots to units in saudi Arabia. To ensure deployed servicemen Bersy votes Are counted voting materials Are being Given priority handling by the postal service he said. Elections Are being held for All 435 seats in the . House of representatives 35 . Senate seats 38 governors and other state and local offices service members can Call a 24-hour voting information service which provides details about elections in All 50 states As Well As the Federal 5�slons the services number is Auto on 2236500 or commercial 703 693-6500