European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Quot monday february 25, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 7 War in the Gulf War news Washington a the Pentagon ordered a news blackout on the Allied ground Campaign on saturday declaring it. Would disclose nothing that would place at risk the positions movements and plans of . And coalition forces. A we must assume that the enemy is confused about what is happening on the Battlefield and it is absolutely essential that we not do anything inadvertently ourselves to clarify the picture for him a said defense Secretary Dick Cheney. The defense department and the Headquarters of the . Central come in Riyadh saudi Arabia suspended daily news briefings indefinitely to Suffield the troops and keep Iraq guessing. Initially Pentagon officials said the Pool reports from news correspondents in the Field would be unaffected but they later conceded that a filing delays of up to 48 hours could be expected. A everything we say about the operation from this Point Forward every detail we offer would increase the likelihood that the military forces of Iraq could learn More about our operations a Cheney said. News organizations already had agreed not to report information that could jeopardize military operations including specifics of troop strength location weapons strategy delayed missions or future plans. R a we will have nothing to say about it for Many More hours a Cheney said. A when it is Safe to begin discussing the operation we will do so in As much detail As we prudently  Bush s statement president Bush Washington a Here is president Bush s statement saturday night at the White House announcing commencement of a ground offensive to eject the iraqi army from Kuwait yesterday after conferring with my senior National Security advisers and following extensive consultations with a our coalition partners Saddam Hussein was Given one last cd Ince set Forth in very explicit terms to do what he should have done More than six months ago withdraw from Kuwait without condition or further delay and comply fully with the resolutions passed by the United nations Security Council. Regrettably the noon deadline passed without the agreement of the government of Iraq to meet demands of United nations Security Council Resolution 660, As set Forth in the specific terms spelled out by the coalition to withdraw unconditionally from Kuwait. To the contrary what we have seen is a redoubling of Saddam Hussein a efforts to destroy completely Kuwait and its people. A i have therefore directed Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf in conjunction with coalition forces to use All forces available including ground forces to eject the iraqi army front Kuwait. Once again this w As a decision made Only after extensive consultations within our coalition partnership. The liberation of Kuwait has now entered a final phase. 1 have Complete Confidence in the ability of the coalition forces swiftly and decisively to accomplish their Mission. Tonight As this coalition of countries seeks to do that which is right and just i ask Only that All of you Stop what you were doing and say a prayer for All the coalition forces and especially for our men and women in uniform who this very moment Are risking their lives for their country and for All of us. May god bless and protect each and every one of them and May god bless the United states of America. Thank you very much. Saddam s statement Nicosia Cyprus apr Here Are excerpts from iraqi president Saddam Hussein a radio address to his people sunday informing them of the Start of the Allied ground offensive. The address was monitored in Nicosia and translated into English by the associated press of great iraqi people of Brave men of our heroic armed forces of faithful and Noble people w wherever you Are among the sods of our nation and humanity. At the time when the . Security Council decided to discuss the soviet peace initiative which we endorsed the treacherous committed treachery. The despicable Bush and his treasonous agent saudi King fahd and All those who supported them in committing crimes shame and aggression committed the treachery. 1 those cowards who have perfected the acts of treachery treason and vileness have launched their ground offensive on a wide scale sunday morning at our armed forces. Fight them of Brave splendid men. Of men of the Mother of Battles. Fight them with your Faith in god. Fight them in defense of every free and honorable woman and every innocent child and in defense of the values of manhood values and the military f onor which you shoulder. If the opposite takes place god forbid there will Only be the ignominious abyss to which the enemies Are aspiring to push you. Fight them of men. They Dernot carry the values that entitle them to be More Manly courageous and capable than you. Fight them and show no mercy toward them for this is How god wishes the faithful to fight the infidel. Saddam Hussein major events leading to ground assault by the associated press Here is a chronology of the persian Gulf crisis aug. 2 a iraqis army overruns Kuwait following iraqi grievances Over Oil pricing kuwaiti Loans to Iraq and iraqi claims on kuwaiti territory. President Bush orders . Economic embargo against Iraq. Nov. 29 a . Security Council votes 12-2 to give Iraq until Jan. 15 to pull its troops out of Kuwait after which the Allied coalition is free to launch a military strike. Jan. 16 a the allies launch air attacks against Iraq and Kuwait. Bush doubling economic sanctions would Force Iraq out launches operation desert storm one Day after a . Security Council deadline for an iraqi pullout from Kuwait. Jan. 17 a Iraq attacks Israel with 10 scud missiles. Israel reserves the right to retaliate. The coalition pounds Iraq and occupied Kuwait with air strikes. Jan. 18 a Allied jets strike at Iraq mls Ilc in retaliation for Scad . Four american aircraft lost with seven crewmen Rrue ing. Anti War protests continue worldwide. A Jan. 19 a Israel anti missile Force boosted by additional Patriot    . Ere a s. A Ond iraqi mis it ii a Tak causes 29 a Etc juries m Tel Aviv. Jan. 22 a Iraq sets Vitta kuwaiti Oil fac let ablaze. Oil prices jump   Market  it. T he number of allies my ing in action rises to 2-. Jan. 23 a after  12 .0 . Ire Al is claim air superiority a a  in  pay a ground forces around Kuwait. Jan. 25 a writ s main ass it Iraq eced Kun a a chunked  pier dumping million of Gallons of crude Oil into the Gulf. The exiled government of Kuwait pledges s13.5 billion to the War Effort. Jan. 27 a upwards of $40 billion in War Aid pledged to Washington by the Alliance. Estimates of the Cost of amp it the War Range up to is billion a Day if ground forces were committed. Jan. 28 a More than 80 iraqi fighter bombers find Refuge in Iran which says it is impounding the planes until the War ends. Jan. 30 a first big ground Battle fought at the Frontier port of Khanji in the Northeast Corner of saudi Arabia. Eleven . Marines killed seven by Friendly fire. Iraq forced to abandon centralized control of its air defense. Feb. 4 a iranian president Hashemi a Sfanjani makes Surprise offer to hold direct talks with Iraq and the United states. Feb. 6 a King Hussein of Jordan tilts sharply toward Iraq describing Gulf War As Effort by outsiders to destroy that country and carve up Arab world. Feb. 13 a Allied warplanes destroy underground facility in Baghdad and iraqi officials there say 500 civilians were killed. The United states Calls the target a military command Center not a bomb shelter. . Security Council votes 9-2, with four abstentions to hold closed formal session on the conflict the first since the War broke out. Feb. 15 a Iraq offers a conditional pullout but Bush dismisses it As a a cruel  bombing continues. Feb. 16 a american attack helicopters make first night raids on iraqi positions. Soviet envoy a Cueny Primakow meets with iraqi president Saddam Hussein in Bachaud. Febr-47 a an american Apache attack helicopter firing hellfire missiles mistakenly destroys two american military vehicles killing two soldiers and wounding six during a pre Dawn skirmish the . Command says. Since the War started 35 Allied troops killed in action including 16 americans. Feb. 18 a Iraq foreign minister Tariq Aziz holds 3 /2 hours of peace talks in Moscow with soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. Feb. 19 a . Commanders say they have evidence Iraq plans to use chemical weapons in response to an Allied ground assault. Feb. 20 a details of a soviet plan to end the War not disclosed but the Washington Post says Bush asked Moscow for additional terms. These included iraqi withdrawal within four Days of time it agrees to Start disclosure of All minefields and immediate release of All pos. Feb. 21 a i he White House says it is disappointed by Saddam s defiant vow not to surrender dismissing his latest speech As Quot the same invective the world had heard before. Feb. 22 soviet peace plan revealed. Allows Iraq to to withdraw its forces from Kuwait within 21 Davs of a cease fire. Allies give Iraq until noon saturday Washington time to begin a pullout from Kuwait a to be completed within seven Davs a or face a final All out attack. The iraqis denounce the ultimatum and say they agree to the soviet peace plan. Feb. 23 a 1 he United states and its allies launch a massive ground assault against iraqi tax it is in Kuwait. Bush announces that Quot the liberation of Kuwait has now entered a final