File: 082696_d50028_080.txt
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Total Pages: 274

Atkinson had claimed she was a conscientious objector. The Army did not recognize her
as such, but allowed her to be discharged in order to avoid a lengthy and costly court
martial. (Washin~ton Tii~~~, November 12, p. 2.)

November Sunday --- President Bush's recent announcement that be will send up to 150,000

additional troops to the Persian Gulf has prompted a national debate on whether the U.S.
should go to war against Iraq. Senator Sam Nunn joined the debate by saying he thought
the President was moving too quickly. (New York Times, November 12, p. Al.)

King Hassan II of Morocco calls for an emergency Arab summit to avoid war in the
Persian Gulf. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein says that he is ready to enter a dialogue
concerning the security requirements of the region, provided the Palestinian question is
included in the discussions. (New York Times, November 12, p. Al4.) t

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn, D-Georgia, criticizes the
massive troop buildup and the decision to drop troop rotations, calling them mistakes.
(New York Times, November 12, p. Al.)

November 12
Monday ---Influential lawmakers from both parties urge President Bush to convene
a special session of Congress on the Persian Gulf Crisis as the White House confronts
increasing concern about the possibility of war in the Middle East. The White House (
opposes such a session fearing it would undermine President Bush's strategy. (New York
Times, November 13, p. Al.)

A senior Pentagon official reports a rotation plan being presented to Defense Secretary
Richard Cheney, whereby ground units in Operation Desert Shield would rotate out of
the Persian Gulf every 6 to 12 months, with the shortest deployments going to units that
have lived under the most arduous conditions. Most units would enter and leave the
operation intact and be replaced by other units rather than through the rotation of
individual service members. (Navy Times, November 12, p. 6.)

November 13
Tuesday --- Reacting to concern about his statement on Friday to drop the idea of
troop rotation, Secretary of Defense Cheney today told a closed door session of the
House Armed Services Committee that he was not ruling out troop rotation and had not
made a final decision. (N~w York Times, November 14, p. A14.)

Pentagon announces that it has increased the authorized call-up of Naval Reservists
from 6,300 to 10,000. To date, the number of reservists authorized and actually called-up
is as follows:

2-54