Japan's response to the United States decision to help to protect tankers in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) was subject to mixed reviews.

In December 1986, Kuwait's government asked the Reagan administration to send the U.S. Navy to protect Kuwaiti tankers against Iranian attacks.

The United States has been seeking such aid for its warships protecting Kuwaiti tankers re-registered under the American flag.

Before that, it was used in 1987 to coordinate the activities of countries that sent ships to the gulf to protect tankers threatened during the Iran-Iraq war.

The plan to protect Kuwaiti tankers would almost certainly do just that.

Besides, the Administration's policy - using the Navy to protect tankers flying the U.S. flag, though they are ships of Kuwait, Iraq's ally - has proved reasonably successful.

Second Navy Revision This is the second time the Pentagon has revised the way it protects tankers in the gulf.

A1 Kuwait will not grant base rights to United States air and naval forces protecting tankers in the Persian Gulf, the Kuwaiti Government said.

American warships have been protecting Kuwaiti tankers in the gulf since last July.

If the warships are there to protect Kuwaiti tankers, then the Kuwaiti sheiks have royally conned American taxpayers and sailors.