File: 082696_d50028_140.txt
Page: 140
Total Pages: 274

to the war. (Washington Times, February 15, p. 2.)

Members of Congress begin to hear constituents suggest the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the
Gulf. (Newark Star-Ledger, February 14, p. 21.)

The Army removes from active duty the head of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade.
The 48th has been training at the Army's National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, since
Januai~ 4, the longest rotation in the training center's history. Most soldiers spend only 20 days there.
(uashington Post, February 15, p. A34.)

February 15
Friday --- Iraq says for the first time that it is prepared to discuss compliance with a U.N. resolution
calling for its withdrawal from Kuwait if numerous conditions of its own were met. President Bush
rejects the offer as a "cruel hoax" and urges Iraq's military leaders and civilian population to "take
matters into their own hands" and force Saddam Hussein from power. ~tiiitary officials say Iraq's
proposal to discuss withdrawal coincides with a marked deterioration in Baghdad's military position and
continuing preparations for a ground war. (New York Times, February 16, p. 1.)

The Soviet Union, pursuing its own diplomatic peace initiative in Iraq, greets Baghdad's conditional
offer to withdraw from Kuwait with "satisfaction and hope." (New York Times, February 16, p. 7.)

Despite Iraq's conditional offer to discuss withdrawal from Kuwait, allied warplanes carry out
punishing non-stop attacks on targets in Iraq and Iraqi-occupied Kuwait. ~~w York Times, Februar
16, p. 9.)

The Pentagon releases the following estimates of Iraqi equipment destroyed: Tanks-30%, Armored
Personnel crrriers-28 %, Artillery-35 %, Combat Aircraft-3 1 % (includes aircraft in Iran). A government
official says "there is considerable turmoil within the intelligence community" as to the accuracy of the
damage estimates. (New York Times, February 16, p. 8.)

February 16
Saturday --- The Soviet Union tempers its initial satisfaction over Iraq's offer to discuss withdrawing
from Kuwait with a statement that the conditions set by Baghdad could render the proposal meaningless.
Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterates Moscow's commitment to U.N. resolutions calling for Iraqi
withdrawal, but states that Moscow is anxiously awaiting arrival of Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz
for further discussions. (New York Times, February 17, p. 1.)

Two American A- 10 ground attack jets are shot down as allied forces continue round-the-clock
bombardment of targets in Iraq and Iraqi-occupied Kuwait. In another sign of stepped-up allied attack,
Army Apache helicopters make their first nighttime raid on Iraqi positions. (New York Times,
February 17, p. 19.)

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