European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday january 18, 1991 the stars and stripes a a Page 5countdown How America went to War by Christopher Connell Washington apr this is How America went to War on tuesday a Jan. 15 a in the Soli tude. Of the Oval Soltice president Bush sat in his White we Aback chair and signed a piece of paper committing America to Battle Saddam Hussein s army. But he left the Date and the hour Blank hoping against Hope that in the final hours before the United nations deadline lapsed a diplomatic Miracle or a sudden Retreat by iraqis dictator from Kuwait might spare the world this bloodshed. Midnight came and went. When Bush awoke wednesday morning his intelligence advisers told him there had been no breakthrough. The half million Man iraqi army had not budged George Bush a mind was made up. Five and a half months to the Day that Iraq overran the Small Oil Rich emirate the phone rang Early wednesday in the v Washington Home of Prince Bandar bin Sultan the saudi ambassador. At the other end was Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii asking Bandar if he could get to the state department immediately. Bandar a former fighter Pilot and like Baker a graduate of Princeton had been expecting the Call. He sped downtown by limousine and went directly to bakery a seventh floor of a. Lice. A a a a a a a. A. A the president has decided he wants to go today a Baker told him. Was King fahd still on Board. Bandar called the Palace in Riyadh. Using code words agreed upon in Advance the ambassador relayed the message. The Monarch assented. Baker had started his Day at the White 1 Louse by joining defense Secretary Dick Cheney and National Security adviser Brent scowcroft for breakfast in scowcroft a office their Normal wednesday ritual. Cheney the Man Bush called after signing his undated order on tuesday left the White House without Ever seeing his commander in chief. But Cheney had already signed his own a execute order on tues Day setting the stage for the biggest . Military offensive since the Vietnam War. Baker stayed to attend the presidents National Security briefing joined on this Day by Cia director William Webster As Well As two regular participants vice president Dan Quayle and White House chief of staff John Sununu. In addition to the Gulf crisis they had to  Eye on the turmoil in the Baltic. It was a Rainy dismal morning in the capital a far cry from tuesdays Spring like weather when hundreds of anti War demonstrators had descended on Lafayette Park across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. Overnight the protesters had stencilled anti War slogans in blood red paint on downtown sidewalks. Their ranks dwindled in wednesdays rain and Mist but a band of american indians kept up a haunting drumbeat. The White House wary of intruders closed its doors to tourists. Bush got a Call from German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The mail brought a letter from Pope John Paul ii. Bush placed a Call to evangelist Billy Graham an old Friend and spiritual Counselor to Many american presidents and invited him to spend this night at the White House. Graham readily agreed. A on Capitol Hill the congressional budget office issued a report estimating War against Iraq could Cost anywhere from $28 billion to s86 billion. The Senate rang with denunciations of the soviets crackdown on Lithuania. Reporters jammed the White House briefing room where spokesman Marlin Fitzwater gave evasive a but not untruthful a answers to questions on when Bush a would order combat on the first Day after the passage of the . Deadline. Called by Bush Here is a list of people president Bush called just before operation desert storm a the president is steeled for what a ahead. He a set a Clear course and his hand is steady at the Helm a said Fitzwa Ter who also made an urgent plea for the last american journalists to get out of Baghdad a at  for the most part Bush kept out of sight although photographers snapped pictures of him and Baker walking Down the White House colonnade on their Way Back from lunch. Two pensive men in Pinstripe suits their shoulders Bent hands thrust into pockets. In mid afternoon reporters got a crack at questioning Bush As he met with his newly designated Secretary of education Lamar Alexander and a dozen education advisers in the Cabinet  the Lull signify a Grace period for Saddam a life goes on and education. Is very very important a said the president Pale and drawn. He laughed at a reporters comment that he looked grim and chided her a lighten  on wednesday afternoon Bush had scowcroft Call Cheney and inform him to proceed on the War timetable. Nothing had Arisen to freeze their Battle plan crafted to have the first bombs striking Baghdad and vital targets across Iraq and Kuwait at 7 . Est or 3 . In Iraq. As dusk fell rumours swept the capital that the attack was imminent maybe  already under Way. Camera Crews kept watch on the White House driveway waiting in vain for chauffeured cars to Roll up with the congressional elite. Baker worked the phones calling the foreign ministers of the soviet Union Egypt Spain the Netherlands and Luxembourg the Secretary general of nato the ambassadors of Israel Syria Germany Japan and Kuwait. None of the Calls lasted More than two minutes. A these were not to seek approval. They were notifications a said Margaret Tut Wiler bakery a spokeswoman. Bush completed the final draft of the speech he would deliver that night to the nation. He walked Back to the residence to change clothes. Across the Potomac River Cheney and Gen. Colin Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff conferred one last time. From the windows of the defense Secretary a office in the Pentagon they could see the lights playing against the capitals Marble monuments. Everything was in order. A Squadron of f-15 fighter bombers scrambled from a saudi base bound on a moonless night on bombing runs intended to Knock out Saddam a missiles and his capacity to communicate with his army in Kuwait. Now it was time to put out the word. House minority Leader Robert Michel r-ill., who led the fight to secure the houses backing for unleashing americans forces took the presidents Call at 5 20 . The White House Call found House speaker Thomas Foley d-wash., in his car headed for a shopping trip at Brooks Brothers. He hastened Back to the Capitol to return the Call on a secure line. A Quot Senate minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas took the Call alone in his office at 5 40 . He and Bush spoke for five minutes. Dole like Bush a combat Veteran of world War ii sat alone for 10 minutes. When Dole emerged his staff read in his face the news of War. A the did no to say anything. He did no to have to a said Walt Riker his press Secretary. Bush reached Senate majority Leader George Mitchell a Maine and a half hour later dispatched Deputy National Security adviser Robert Gates to Capitol Hill with envelopes containing formal notice that diplomacy had failed. Gates briefed Dole Michel and Mitchell in Doles office and afterwards repeated his information for Foley and House majority Leader Richard Gephardt do. Bush was in his Small study off the Oval office As he made the Calls to lawmakers and to leaders of the coalition now his partners in War. He also watched the evening to news. A few minutes into the 6 30 . Broadcasts reporters on the scene in Baghdad broke the news of the attack to  who had worried about the safety of those journalists watched the drama unfolding on Abc and can along with Quayle Sununu and scowcroft. The president in a Blue shirt and tie had his suit jacket off. The correspondents reports of fire and Light in the sky before 7 . Were a a mystery to the president and his team  said afterwards. A it May have been the iraqis were shooting tracers or anti aircraft fire. We just done to know a a Fitzwater said. Then at 7 ., when a correspondent reported that a communications Tower had exploded a the president commented a right on schedule a a said Fitzwater. A a Marlin you better go ahead and go a a he said Bush told him. Quot. At 7 06 ., the press Secretary walked grimly into the frenzied press room and announced in Bush swords a the liberation of Kuwait has  the president would address the nation in two hours. Bush alter a Pat on the Back in private for Fitzwater retreated to his quarters while technicians under the watchful gaze of secret service agents rolled television cables into the Oval office. At 9 01 ., Bush looking Calm and somber faced the camera and read his Brief for War. A just two hours ago Allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait. I Hose attacks continue As i speak a he began. As Bush talked a secret service agent stood near the Oval Oft ice door holding a Green military hag with a Gas mask for the president. America was at War