VOL. XXXIV

NO. 11

17-DECEMBER-1990

The Political Scene

In the hothouse atmosphere created by the UN's 15 January deadline for anIraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, rumors (that the Kuwaitis were ready to make adeal with Baghdad, that the Saudis had agreed to meet with the Iraqis once theybegin withdrawing from Kuwait) have continued to proliferate. The ascertainablefacts, however, are that the Kuwaitis indignantly denied the rumors and theSaudis gave a cool reception to a mediatory tour of the region...