European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pag6 6 the stars and stripes Friday january 18, 1991 i s r in the Gul Congress rallies behind president Washington up congressional leaders pledged their full support wednesday to operation desert storm expressing a prayerful Hope that the War against Iraq would be Quick decisive and a with a minimum loss of  top democrats who fought president Bush a request for authority to wage War against Iraq and drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait rallied behind him the moment they Learned the Long awaited attack was under Way. A we must now Pray for a conflict that ends quickly decisively and with a minimum loss of life a House speaker Thomas s. Foley said in a statement. A we must now stand United in support of our armed forces in the Gulf who have embraced the duty and Burden of conducting the  House democratic Leader Richard a. Gephardt said a my prayers and thoughts arc with the soldiers and their families and my Hopes Are for a Swift and successful conclusion to this War a Bush sitting in the White House Oval office began calling the leaders about 5 30 . To Tell them that All diplomatic efforts had failed and that he had ordered americans to War in the persian Gulf. The fateful Calls from the president came in the Twilight of a Rainy Day in a tense capital after the Senate and House had quit for the Day and much of the Capitol Hill Complex had emptied. But congressional leaders of both parties remained in their offices knowing that Bush had the authority to begin the War any time after Midnight and with expectations that it would be sooner rather than later. An aide said Senate majority Leader George j. Mitchell a Maine was called at 5 35 . And told by Bush that he had ordered military action. He planned not to make a statement until thursday morning. Foley received a Call about five minutes earlier and was asked to Call Bush Back on a secure line. A the president informed the speaker that he was Dis we must Pray for a conflict that ends quickly decisively and with a minimum loss of  speaker Tom Foley Patching an official to deliver the presidents certification that efforts to secure peaceful iraqi compliance with the . Security Council resolutions. Had been unsuccessful a a statement from Foley a office said. The certification required by the authorization Resolution approved thursday was delivered to Capitol Hill at about 6 30 . The leaders were briefed at about the same time by Robert Gates the Deputy National Security adviser and former Cia director. Gates briefed Mitchell Senate minority Leader Robert j. Dole r-kan., and House Republican Leader Bob Michel of Illinois in Doles office on the second floor of the Capitol Foley and Gephardt also received preliminary briefings from Gates. A senior Dole aide said Dole Michel and Mitchell emerged from the meeting a somber and grim and re turned to their offices. Mitchell was closeted. In his office calling colleagues and watching television. The reaction was Swift in coming. Rep. William s. Broomfield r-mich., said a i received a Call from Secretary of state James Baker just before 7 ., and since then my thoughts have been with the american troops out there. A i support the presidents actions 100 percent a lie said. A we in Congress gave him the go ahead on saturday. Now its time for us to get out of his Way. He a the commander in chief and there can Only be one commander in  a in a praying for All the Best for the troops and every one else involved in this operation a Broomfield said. Sen. Barbara Mikulski d-md., said a my thoughts and prayers Are with the men and women who Are on the front lines. Like so Many people i had hoped that it would not come to this. Now that Pur troops have been called to arms by the president we must do everything we can to ensure that no american is in Battle any longer than is absolutely necessary. A i Call upon All americans to show support in any Way they can and to Pray for a speedy Resolution a Mikulski said. J a a c a a a a a a americans were divided on the Wisdom of launching this attack at this time a sen. Paul Simon d-ill., said. A but now that Congress has made this decision and the president has made this decision we should unite in supporting our troops and the president and do everything we can to make this a Swift and successful  sen. J. Bennett Johnston a la. Said a i am confident the president has chosen a course of action he believes can accomplish our objectives and do so with maximum effectiveness and with minimum risk to those who Are  of this Mission. A now we can Only reaffirm our support for the president As be carries out the awesome responsibilities he has As commander in chief a Johnston  ready a two Marine air support personnel Are Hornet As they prepare the Jet fighter dwarfed by the twin exhausts of an f-18 for combat at a base in saudi Arabia. Prices of Oil Gold drop As world markets react to news from Gulf War London up buoyed by initial reports of a successful offensive against Iraq Oil. Prices dropped and London Stock Exchange prices Rose thursday following the Lead of the Tokyo Market which soared 1,000 Points. Gold and the Dollar both seen As Safe havens during a War fell because the  Allied attack to recapture Kuwait from iraqi president Saddam Hussein appeared to be progressing More quickly and better than expected analysts said. Oil prices plummeted thursday on the London International Petroleum Exchange As reports came in from the persian Gulf. The successful reports raised Hopes that Allied forces would swiftly resolve the War without damaging key saudi Oil Fields analysts said. The War began just minutes before the opening Bell in Tokyo and sent a Shock wave through All of its markets a foreign Exchange stocks Bonds Oil and Gold. The Dollar at first Rose sharply along with Gold and Oil As stocks and Bonds faltered but As the hours passed and More news of the fighting reached the trading floors the markets turned around. The Dollar fell stocks and Bonds rebounded and Gold and Oil prices eased. After an initial plunge following the outbreak of War. The Tokyo Stock Market rallied strongly on news reports suggesting that the Allied forces were faring Well and meeting Little iraqi resistance. S Quot Brent crude the widely traded North sea crude Oil fetched $23.50 a barrel for March futures Down $6.10 a barrel from the previous close. April futures bought $22.50. A other analysts said president Bush a announcement that Oil w Ould be released from the government s strategic Petroleum Reserve helped push Oil prices Down on the London Market. Officials said 33.75 million barrels would be put on Sale immediately from the Reserve. Officials said 13 other nations including Germany and Japan also were releasing Oil from their government reserves. That move was in line with an International emergency response plan adopted Jan. 11 by the International Energy Agency in Case of a Mideast War. Meanwhile in new York some Oil companies responded to the War by immediately freezing their wholesale gasoline prices wednesday night. A we Are headed into a period of great uncertainty., and Conoho w ill help All its customers As Best it can a Conoho inc. Said in a statement from Houston. A by holding the line on prices we Feci we can protect our customers against possible initial Price spikes while we assess the effects of the Mideast  among other companies holding Back prices were Mobil corp. And Chevron corp. Mobil and Conoho said they were also trying to limit the amount of gasoline their wholesale customers receive to avoid hoarding. Other major Oil companies have also announced similar Steps