VOL. XXX

NO. 16

26-JANUARY-1987

The Middle East Situation

The Gulf war's southern battlefront appears to have stabilized in the wake ofIran's "Kerbala 5" offensive, which has left the Iranians with asignificant foothold inside Iraq, but at great cost, and without having breachedthe outer defense of Basrah. The Islamic summit has gone ahead, despite Iran'sabsence and threats by terrorist groups. The issue of hostage-taking as apolitical instrument has loomed large over the past week, with West...