Virtually all of Washington's partners in the anti-Iraqi coalition have said that any military action should be undertaken under the umbrella of a Security Council resolution.

Washington thinks the anti-Iraqi coalition will be strengthened if Japan contributes troops, as well as money.

In answer to one question, 22 percent said they favored President Hussein, 22 percent preferred the anti-Iraqi coalition and 54 percent said with neither side.

Second, he seemed to be telling European and Arab nations not to look for a split between Washington and Moscow as an excuse to leave the anti-Iraqi coalition.

This posture of Iran in favor of the Kuwaitis and the anti-Iraqi coalition of the Persian Gulf states helped an improvement in its relations with Arab neighbors.

During the latter months of 1990 Israel appeared to become increasingly isolated, with the USA using every opportunity to gain support among its Arab partners in the anti-Iraqi coalition.

Success breeds success and confidence and the almost daily news reports that another Arab country is sending troops, or contributing funds to the anti-Iraqi coalition, seems to have emboldened all of them.

"President Hussein should not base his calculations around the idea of dividing us, of creating a split among us," he said, referring to the anti-Iraqi coalition.

Syrian-US relations had improved dramatically in recent months as a result of Syria's decision to commit troops to support the US-led anti-Iraqi coalition.

All such contacts, however, took place without identifying major common ground between Iraq and the anti-Iraqi coalition.