VOL. XXXI

NO. 14

11-JANUARY-1988

The Middle East Situation

An intense flurry of diplomatic and political activity has coincided with alull in hostilities to produce cautious hopes for an easing of Gulf tensions.Iran's main Arab ally, Syria, has been in the forefront of efforts to initiatea dialogue between Tehran and the Gulf Arab states, and to persuade the Iraniansto call off their proposed offensive against Iraq. It is not yet clear whetherany real progress is being made, or whether it is just...