European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 28 a a the stars and stripes Friday january 18.1991u.s. Says Only Iraq can Stop War now United nations a the United states said at the United nations on thursday that attacks on Iraq will be escalated if Saddam Hussein uses chemical or biological weapons. \ it said Iraq can escape further destruction if it retreats from Kuwait. Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar said on entering . Headquarters that Only Iraq has the Power to Stop the War now a it depends on Iraq whether Iraq  / Perez de Cuellar said this is a time for War not diplomacy. A in View of the failure of diplomacy we could t expect anything different a he told reporters. A and therefore for the time being i Don t think that its time for diplomacy at this moment which Means there a not much i can  us. Ambassador Thomas r. Pickering told a private meeting of Security Council. Members a although coalition forces Are striking military and strategic targets in Iraq our goal is not the destruction occupation or dismemberment of Iraq. A it is the liberation of Kuwait. A we have warned Iraq to avoid the use of weapons of mass destruction Chomi Cal biological and nuclear a Pickering said. A use of such tactics and weapons will occasion a dramatic escalation of hostilities and  Pickering said Iraq was warned it would be held responsible for any acts of terrorism against America or its allies or for destruction of kuwaiti Oil Fields. A in Light of the plans of Iraq and groups acting on its behalf to conduct terrorism against american targets throughout the world we seek your cooperation in enhancing the Security of our citizens and facilities a he said. According to a text of Pickering a statement he said a we Hope to bring hostilities to conclusion As soon As possible consistent with the full implementation of the . Security Council resolutions. A Iraq can avoid further destruction by unconditional immediate and Complete withdrawal from  president Bush called Perez de Cuellar before warplanes hit Baghdad to Tell him Allied forces were about to enforce the . Resolution demanding that Iraq pull out of Kuwait. Pickering and the envoys from Britain Kuwait and saudi Arabia which participated in the raids informed other Security Council members wednesday night of the Steps taken by their countries. Security Council Resolution 678, passed nov. 29, authorized . Members to use a fall necessary Means to drive Iraq out of Kuwait if Baghdad did not withdraw by Jan. 15. Since Iraq invaded Kuwait on aug. 2, it has refused to recognize any of the Security Council resolutions demanding that it end its occupation and restore the Emir of Kuwait a government. Perez de Cuellar had made a last minute Appeal to Saddam but Baghdad never replied. A after All my efforts after All the efforts of so Many countries so Many different personalities How can i. Tell you dear friends that we Are now facing a War a he said wednesday  from Page 1 Tion desert storm. Britain said one of its Tornado fighter bombers was lost and its two crewmen were missing. Trance said four of its planes were hit and one Pilot wounded. Kuwait announced the loss of a fighter Jet in the Days military operations. Saudi army Brig Gen. Fahd  said All of the saudi planes that participated in the bombing raids returned safely to their bases. A military spokesman said saudi planes flew More than of the More than 1,000 attack runs staged thursday. Baghdad radio claimed iraqi anti aircraft units shot Down Quot 14 attacking warplanes but several american officials called the claim an exaggeration. An iraqi Diplomat in Algeria claimed Iraq had showdown 76 enemy planes. . And saudi military officials in saudi Arabia said ground forces were moving North and had taken up Posi Lions closer to the kuwaiti Border it was not Clear whether the movement was in preparation for an offensive. In Washington Gen. Colin Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff would not confirm or deny reports of movement of ground troops. Lbs tvs id its correspondent in saudi Arabia reported that Allied ground forces were massing on the saudi Border with Kuwait. The French military chief meanwhile said Iraq is no longer in a position to launch a serious chemical attack on Allied forces because they had neutralized the launching Sites for such arms. The commander Gen. Maurice Schmitt spoke in a radio interview. A threatened iraqi strike against Israel never occurred a perhaps israeli officials suggested  the allies knocked out the missiles in Western Iraq aimed at the jewish state. In new York crude Oil prices collapsed  biggest one Day fall in history. Prices plunged As much As $10 per barrel to $22, in frantic late morning trading on the new York mercantile Exchange. Cheney said . And Allied planes flew 1,000 sorties. Early targets in the raids on Iraq and occupied Kuwait included military bases and command and control centers the attacks continued throughout the Day in Iraq. A there was no Way to assess civilian or military casualties or the extent of damage. But a kuwaiti minister in Dhahran said that perhaps hundreds of wounded were i several hospitals in Kuwait. In Turkey the parliament authorized the use of turkeys military bases for attacks on Iraq by the .-led multinational  said he was a comfortable that we were Able to achieve control of iraqi airspace. That a not to say the iraqi air Force has been totally  a at the White House president Bush declared the wave of air strikes against iraqi forces a successful As much As  a i think All of us Are very pleased that so far the operation is going Forward with great Success a he said. Most Cabinet members and Powell attended a hastily arranged Church service with Bush his wife Barbara and Rev. Billy Graham at a military Chapel in fort Meyer va., across the Potomac River from Washington. Graham told worshippers a there come times when we must fight for peace. 1 Pray we will be on gods  the Cable news network thursday broadcast footage from iraqi television showing Saddam praying in what looked like an office. Wearing his uniform he bowed his head then Knelt on a Muslim prayer Rug. Can said Only that the footage had been taped earlier. After surviving the attack on his capital a defiant Saddam repeatedly used the airwaves to say Iraq would Triumph despite the massive Aerial pounding. Swap iraqi president Saddam Hussein covers his face in prayer on a video released by iraqi television thursday and shown on can. The location and Date of the video Are not known however. A Success is assured a said the president in an Early evening television news broadcast referring to Bush As a the satan in the White House a. Iraqi radio also read a letter from Saddam to Botish written on wednesday before the attack. In it Saddam said Iraq would never surrender. A accursed be you and hopeless Are your objectives a he told Bush. He said if Bush thought airstrikes would be successful in neutralizing iraqi ground forces a then you Are deluding yourself and this delusion will place you in great  he again threatened Israel. Ground forces near Khanji the Only saudi City hit by iraqi artillery shells during the Allied attack moved but of in time to avoid casualties Harbour said. The attack hit Oil tanks in the persian Gulf Community setting three on fire. Two of the tanks were still burning the general said late thursday. Civilians had been evacuated from the City earlier a the enemy fire sources were spontaneously destroyed a he said referring to the iraqi artillery. Harbour said other evacuations May take place to remove civilians from other areas that could be hit by artillery fire but he refused to name specific Sites. A we can put pressure on 24 hours a Day a said col. Hal Hamburg of Dallas commander of the 4th tac fighter Wing in saudi Arabia. Sand  As fighter jets took off every few seconds. A Pilot who flew one of the first bombing sorties it. Col. Don Kline said iraqi pilots did not engage them. A i w As surprised with that a he said. Quot Quot the first Allied airstrike came before Dawn the second about seven hours later. The second wave attack scored direct hits on the iraqi defense ministry and the Post office Headquarters the British broadcasting corp. Reported. . Military officials said the targets were strategic Sites. An iraqi communique said densely populated residential areas of Baghdad had been hit but the International red Cross said its people in the capital could not confirm the report. E Western correspondents in Baghdad said they saw Little damage downtown thursday morning. There was Light traffic and the trash collectors even made their rounds they said. The strategic air Comdr a b-52 bombers were used to a carpet bomb iraqis elite Republican guard units in the opening hours of desert storm said sen. Jim Exon d-neb., a member of the Senate armed services committee. He spoke to the Washington Bureau of the Omaha world Herald a on the first night and again tonight we Are making Strong carpet bombing attacks primarily by b-52s,�?� he said. Meanwhile at the United nations iranian president Hashemi a Sfanjani is trying to persuade Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait and has offered to Aid victims of the Gull War Iran a . Ambassador said thursday. Ambassador Kaprial Kharrazi Iran a permanent . Representative told reporters that he had delivered a message to Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar on behalf of the iranian government until recently iraqis major enemy in an 8-year-old War. He said a Sfanjani has been trying to persuade Iraq to withdraw its troops from Kuwait but has not received any response. He said Iran has regular channels of communication with Iraq and will continue its efforts. Contributing to this report staff writer Joe Owen in saudi Arabia