US Rejects Russian Plan to Ease Sanctions on Iraq Amid Gulf Crisis

The United States rejected a Russian plan aimed at easing UN sanctions on Iraq, citing concerns that easing the oil-export embargo and other sanctions would reward Saddam Hussein's belligerent posture. The US deployed major forces to the Gulf in response to Iraq's movement of troops towards its border with Kuwait, and President Bill Clinton warned that any consideration of sanctions relief was "dangerously misguided." The US also threatened to take military action if heavy Iraqi units remain in the south of Iraq.

Key Takeaways:

• The US rejected a Russian plan to ease UN sanctions on Iraq, citing concerns that it would reward Saddam Hussein's belligerent posture.
• The US deployed 19,000 marines to the Gulf, although the deployment has been put on hold in case Iraqi forces move north.
• President Bill Clinton warned that any consideration of sanctions relief was "dangerously misguided" and that the US would not allow Iraq to threaten its neighbors.
• Defence Secretary William Perry issued the most direct US threat to use military force yet in the current crisis, stating that if heavy Iraqi units remain in the south, the US would expand its current deployment and consult allies on the additional application of force.
• The US is expecting a diplomatic confrontation with Russia over the sanctions on Iraq, with Washington pushing for a vote in the UN Security Council on the movement of Iraqi forces.

Statistics:

• 19,000 marines have been deployed to the Gulf.
• 10,000 troops and many tanks are part of the Republican Guards' division that has paused its retreat from the Kuwait border.
• 72 kilometers is the distance south of the 32nd parallel in Iraq where US intelligence detected the "pause" in the Iraqi pullout.
• 32nd parallel is the line below which allied planes enforce a "no-fly zone" to protect Shi'ite Muslims from Iraqi air attack.

Sources:

• Reuter CAPTION(S): (No date mentioned)
• [No other sources mentioned]