SPOT COMMENTARY
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
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Irag-Kuvaiti Situation Raport
The Iraqi Defense Ministry today ordered reservists born in the6 to report within three days to their^^ecruitment offices, according, to press sources.
French Join Desert Blorm
French Defense Minister Jean-Pierre Chevenement announced today that rench Jaguar fighter-bombers attacked Al Jaber airfield in Kuwait this morning, according to press reports. At least four of the aircraft were hit by ground firo--one plane was seriously daraaged--forcing two to land at alternate airfields in Saudi Arabia. President Mitterand issued an order earlier in the day placing French, forces in Saudi Arabia under US operational control.
international Reaction
Soviet Reaction
According to Chief of the General Staff Moiseyev, tho Soviet anaed forces in the southern USSR have been put on "high oilitary alert." aped message, Soviet President Gorbachev stated that hostilities were provoked by Iraq's refusal to withdraw from Kuwait. He reassured the soviet people that thus far there were no casualties among the Soviets left in Iraq. Gorbachev declared that he had been notified about the attack by President Bush an hour before it occurred and that he proposed that Bush contact Huaayn directlyinal attempt to resolve the crisis peacefully. He also claimed to have contacted numerous other world leaders in an attempt to "localise" the conflict. He concluded by saying that he would take all measures possible to end the war quickly.
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Offioial Reaction...
Iraq: Saddam Husayn, acorded statene.it carried by Baghdad Radio stated that "the treacherous have committed theirhe great duel, the mother of all battles has begun and victory is very near." The Iraqi president was subsequently seenNN reporter at Baghdad'a Televisionwas reportedly there totatesent to the Iraqi people.
Israel: Israeli Defense Minister Arens cautioned against preoature euphoria over the onset of war, noting that It was "too early to say that the danger has ffl
Kuwaiti The Crown Prince saidessage to the Kuwaiti people that the "whole world is witnessing the final historic moments from victory of rightand Justice and the defeat of deception and aggression."
Iran: President Rafsanjani stated Iran deplored the outbreak of the Gull warheavy blow for human life and the region's resources." He added "Iran ia closely following all the movements in the region." Ho also voiced regrets over the failure of efforts toeaceful solution to the crisis. *fj"|
Syria: An official Syrian daily said "The responsibility for this catastrophic situation in Iraq and the Gulf region now is borne by Saddam personally and he should pay the price and the price of all other crimes he cc-mitted againstArabs. "
PLO: The PLO leadership accused "theof "cowardly aggression" against Iraq andshould be opposed "on all levels."
Libya: Muamaar Qadhafi said that allied military action in the Gulf should not go beyond driving Iraq out of Kuwait. He was also quoted as saying air raids against Iraq should stop and that military operations be limited to Kuwaiti territory. )H
China: In an official statement China asked the
international community to searcheaceful
t this critical moment, the Chinese government
strongly appeals to the warring sides to exercise maximum
restraint and to prevent the war from spilling over and expanding." _tM
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Japan: Prime Minister Kalfu expressed resolute support for the US-led military assault on Iraq and said Japan would provide additional cash to help pay for the war.
Hew lealand: Prime Minlater Jia Bolger described the attack as Inevitable but aaid he atill hoped Iraq would quit Kuwait voluntarily, "Saddam made the decialon to ignore the deadline and that decision has made today's action unavoidable and inevitable."
Cubai President Fidel Caatro quickly criticized the war as unnecessary and said it could have been avoided by diplomaticthe warailure for the_ United Nations and for the politicians of our time,
Australia; Prime Minster Bob Hawke said "this tragic necessity has one cause and one causehat is the invasion and the occupation of Kuwait. Saddam's aggression has plunged the worlderrible and needless crisis."
South Korea: The Information Minister stated "we wholeheartedly support the decision of the United States-led multinational force to punish Iraq for its continuing uncivilized acts, with thef restoring world peace and order." He went on to urge Iraq to immediately withdraw from Kuwait and respect the wishes of the international community. H|
Suropeao community: EC foreign and defense ministers expressed profound regret over the outbreak of hostilities in the Gull, accordingtatement issued after an emergency meeting in Paris this morning. The statement said only an Iraqi retreat from Kuwait would avoid greater destruction.
in an emergency meeting this morning NATO ambassadors reiterated their support for the enforcement of Security council resolutions and reaffirmed their commitment to defend Turkey froa Iraqi attack.
ublic Protests and violence
A group called the "Direct Action Committee Against the war" claimed responsibility for firebomb attacks against US and British targets in northern Italy early Thursday morning, according to press. Other press reports
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