TFKU01: SIDEBAR TO HISTORY OF THE INVASION - AN

S E C R E T KUWAIT 04520 E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PREL PGOV KU IZ SUBJECT: TFKU01: SIDEBAR TO HISTORY OF THE INVASION - AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE JEDDAH SUMMIT ¶1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT ¶2. FRENCH CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES TOLD DCM AUGUST 9 THAT TARIQ REZOUQI, KUWAITI AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE AND MEMBER OF THE KUWAITI DELEGATION TO THE JEDDAH SUMMIT HAS CONFIRMED TO THEM THAT THE IRAQIS WENT TO JEDDAH INTENT ON THE SUMMIT'S FAILURE. ACCORDING TO REZOUQI, THE KUWAITI DELEGATION MADE IT EXPLICITLY CLEAR THEY WERE WILLING TO DISCUSS ALL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE BORDER, OIL AND DEBTS. THE IRAQIS WANTED NO PART OF ANY REAL DISCUSSIONS. ¶3. COMMENT: THE FRENCH STORY TELLS US NOTHING WE DIDN'T ALREADY SUSPECT. THE IRAQIS DISMISSED THE KUWAITI AGREEMENT TO HOLD TO OIL PRODUCTION QUOTAS AT THE OIL SUMMIT IN JEDDAH BECAUSE IT DID NOT FIT INTO THEIR GAMEPLAN. THE JEDDAH SUMMIT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO BE A SERIOUS EFFORT AT RESOLUTION AND IT WASN'T. UNLESS SADDAM IS MORE OF A MILITARY GENIUS THAN EVEN HE GIVES HIMSELF CREDIT FOR BEING, THIS INVASION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLANNED AND LAUNCHED IN THE MERE HOURS BETWEEN THE END OF THE SUMMIT AND THE MORNING OF AUGUST 2. TARIQ'S TALE ONLY CONFIRMS ALL OF THIS. ¶4. BAGHDAD/DHAHRAN MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. HOWELL