That is more than 25 times the $6.4 billion bill to American taxpayers, in today's dollars, for the Persian Gulf war in 1991 to expel Iraq from Kuwait.

It notes that "last year, under the authority of the United Nations, the international community expelled Iraq from Kuwait."

"Then he brought back the plan to expel Iraq from Kuwait when diplomacy had spent its course."

In 1990, it refrained from interfering with the American-led coalition that expelled Iraq from Kuwait.

The United Nations resolution authorized members "to use all necessary means" to expel Iraq from Kuwait if it had not withdrawn by the 15th.

Baghdad radio, in a commentary this afternoon, said the allies "want to expel Iraq from the 20th century."

At this time, those interests would not be served by the offensive use of military force to expel Iraq from Kuwait.

January-February 1991: American-led alliance conducts air war and brief ground war, expelling Iraq from Kuwait.

But Mr. Baker spoke of the Council allowing countries to "use all necessary means" to expel Iraq from Kuwait.

President Bush formed an international coalition and secured UN approval to expel Iraq.