European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Crisis in the Gulf see pages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 24 ? w8ws88�8si8>888888s88b8ibi88s88bwffi888sk8ws8881s 88s8i88883a88388888l3hbdiimibh authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces Good morning vol. 49, no. 276 thursday january 17,1991 a a 25 daily and sunday d 8693 Saddam remains defiant a a a. A a a. R a a a a a a a ,a.,. . A.,.. Warns War could begin at any time from staff and wire reports Saddam Hussein remained defiant after the . Deadline for an iraqi pull out from Kuwait passed wednesday morning and president Bush met with his National Security advisers to consider the next step. The iraqi president told his troops in a radio broadcast an hour before the deadline that they were ready to fight and said he would not bargain Over iraqis rights. Baghdad radio later issued air raid instructions. As skies cleared wednesday after 36 hours of rain in the arabian desert More than 1 million soldiers faced off for Battle. Machinery capable of immense destruction stood at the ready and tense soldiers penned last wills and checked their weapons. A i just want to get it Over with a said staff sgt. Brandon Jay 27, of Pittsburgh a transportation Crew chief. At a military press conference in Riyadh . Central come officials reported wednesday that . Troop strength for operation desert shield has increased by 30 percent compared with two weeks ago. But they refused to comment on whether More time would be needed for optimum combat readiness. A a we re prepared to carry out any order the president directs a command spokesman it. Col. Greg Pepin said when he was asked whether the multinational coalition facing Iraq would be better prepared in february. Also at the briefing rear adm. William m. Fogarty said the multinational Armada of 100 warships had been an a a unqualified  updating the Progress of enforcement of the . Trade embargo against Iraq Fogarty said the multinational Force had made 6,960 interceptions of vessels by Midnight tuesdayv822 boardings 36 diversions and 11 firings across the Bow. In Washington the White House said see Saddam on Back Page it a Friend in need a stuffed Bear gives sgt. Rachel forehand a Little Comfort during tense hours wednesday morning in saudi Arabia. As the . Deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait approached on saudi time she waited with other members of her unit for a plane to carry them to a Forward base. Forehand of Brooklyn n.y., is a nurse with the 28th combat support Hospital from fort Bragg . Iraqi president Saddam Hussein right tuesday talks to troops on the front lines. Fear of unknown lends strange beat to rhythms of life by the stars and stripes saudi Arabia saudi Arabia adhered to the daily rhythms of Arab life wednesday while facing what most believe is certain War. The rhythms were Rife with contradictions. In dam Mam and other saudi cities residents lined up to be issued Gas masks but workers in the Dhahran area trimmed the greenery that grows in the median of major streets. Convoys of military machinery choked the highways heading North but shoppers strolled leisurely through markets in the coastal City of a1 Khobiar. A television station aired instructional videos on the wearing and fitting of chemical gear then followed a the. Show with a Tennis tournament. And american forces radio interspersed its top 40 fare with warnings that service members should begin wearing portions of their chemical Protection suits. As a final contrast tests of saudi civil Alert sirens competed with the scratchy Call for prayers that is broadcast five times daily from the  soldiers assigned to the International Force arrayed South of occupied Kuwait talk continued to be Tough. But As the . Deadline approached and then passed Early wednesday the troops reflected on something More than the Battle that now seems unavoidable. Army capt. Clint Esarey 32, of Indianapolis said he had dictated a living will to his wife on a cassette tape. A if 1 done to make it Hack i want to be buried in my military uniform a the 82nd airborne div trooper said in describing the tape. A a in a a Soldier. Its my  is part of  for Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Taylor 20, of Enid okla., the idea of dying in Battle remained illusive during the training and preparation taking place around his desert  it will turn into reality lie first time we see a buddy lying there a a he said. A a it a difficult to imagine How ill fee Ion the very first run a added Mitch Preston a British Pilot with a unit of Tornado bombers in Western saudi Arabia. A it will be my first bombing Mission in anger. Ill be too Busy to  other soldiers remarked on How Long the standoff has lasted. A i find myself wondering what it was like for the men in world War  said pfc. Edward Angel 20, of the 20th engr brigade. A a it a been really hard waiting see fear on Back Page