File: 082696_d50028_053.txt
Page: 053
Total Pages: 274

Monday Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney Fires Air Force Chief of Staff
Michael J. Dugan for saying Baghdad would be "flattened" in the event of an air attack
on fraq. (New York Times, September 18, p. Al.)

Conference of Arab radicals, headed by PLO leaders, resolves to "strike American
interests everywhere, and by all means, at the same moment" if the U.S. attacks Iraq.
(New York Times, September 18, p. A13.)

President Bush states that he is prepared to support an air blockade in Iraq if the U.N.
sanctions such a move. (New York Times, September 18, p. A12.)

The 12 nation European Community agrees to expel Iraq's military attaches from the
region. (New York Times, September 18, p. Al3.)

President Bush says the U.S. has "indirect assurances from Iran"
that it will continue to honor international sanctions against Iraq. (Boston Globe,
September 18, p. Al.)

September 18
Tuesday --- Increase of Iraqi troops and tanks in Kuwait continues to take on an
increasingly defensive character, indicating Hussein is positioning himself to hang on to
Kuwait. Total Iraqi contingent in Kuwait is now about 360,000. (New York Times,
September 19, p. Al.)

Soviet Union and Saudi Arabia restore diplomatic relations after a half century
breach. (New York Times, September 19, p. AlO.)

Nine Western European nations urge the U.N. to expand the trade embargo against
Baghdad to include aircraft entering and leaving Iraq and Kuwait. (New York Times,
September 19, p. A12.)

General Al Gray, Commandant of the Marine Corps, tells reporters the Marine Corps
is struggling to come up with a system to continue the pace of worldwide commitments
and not make deployments too long. (Navy Times, October 1, p. 25)

September 19
Wednesday--- Congressional criticism of Administration policies in Persian Gulf is
growing louder. (New York Times, September 20, p. AlO.)

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