GRAPEVINE

By DAVID ELLIS

Pentagon planners are resisting pressure from the Kuwaiti royal family to include Kuwaiti troops in the first wave of any ground attack to free their country. U.S. officials fear that the returning Kuwaitis might slaughter every Palestinian in sight. Many of the exiles believe that Palestinians living in the emirate collaborated with the Iraqi army and revealed information about important Kuwaitis to the invading forces. Pentagon officials prefer to place Saudi troops, instead, in the vanguard of any assault. Once the area is stabilized, the exiles will be allowed a triumphant march into Kuwait City.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart