File: 082696_d50028_091.txt
Page: 091
Total Pages: 274

of Air Force, Navy and Marine aircraft to 1,200. Included in the buildup is a second squadron of F-
ll7A stealth fighters, F-l5E's, F-16's, A-l0's and RF4C's. (New York Times, December 1, p. 8.)

The Iraqi ambassador to France and another unnamed diplomat react with surprise and enthusiasm
to President Bush's offer to open talks with the Iraqi government. (New York Times, December 1, p.
6.)

Military Sealift Command has called up 187 ships to support Operation Desert Shield. They include
21 maritime prepositioning ships and afloat prepositioning ships, eight fast sealift ships, 43 ships of the
U.S. Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force, two aviation logistics support ships, six ships
under charter before Desert Shield, seven ships loaned to the U.S. by Japan and South Korea, two
hospital ships, 75 dry cargo ships and 23 tankers chartered in August. The 75 dry cargo charters include
13 U.S. flag ships and 62 foreign flag vessels. The 23 tanker charters include 18 U.S. flag and five
foreign flag tankers. The foreign charters include British, Norwegian, Greek, Honduran, Polish,
Panamanian, Yugoslav, Philippine, Italian, French and Saudi ships. (Navy Times, December 10, p. 16.)

December 1
Saturday --- The Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council announces that it accepts President Bush's
offer to discuss the Persian Gulf situation despite President Bush's "arrogant tone" and "contempt for
Arabs and Muslims and all those who believe in God". Iraq also says that the talks must include
discussions on the plight of the Palestinians. (New York Times, December 2, p. I.)

Bush Administration officials reject Iraqi effort to include a discussion of the Palestinian issue in
direct Iraqi-U.S. talks. (New York Times, December 2, p. 18.)

Both Egypt and the P.L.O. welcome President Bush's offer to talk with the Iraqis. (New York
Times, December 2, p. 18.)

Recent refugees from Kuwait tell of more Iraqi atrocities. (New York Times, December 2, p. 19.)

The Army is offering special cash bonuses of $2,000 to encourage recruits to sign up for combat
jobs before the end of February in a major effort to shore up the enormous decline in enlistments since
September. (Chicago Tribune, December 1, p. 1.)

December 2
Sunday --- Feature article details the preparations of a recently called up Army National Guard tank
battalion from Rome, Georgia as it prepares to leave for Fort Stewart, Georgia It will be scrutinized
in exercises at Fort Stewart and then in the Mojave Desert before the decision is made whether or not
to send them to Persian Gulf. This is the first time since the Vietnam War that Guardsmen and
reservists will be going into areas where there is a high probability of experiencing combat. This is the
first big test of the policy adopted in 1973 of integrating active duty forces with Guardsmen and
reservists. (New York Times, December 3, p. Al.)

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