41. A NEW WORLD ORDER?
The American administration cast round for partners in a diplomatic
offensive against Saddam. These were not hard to find inside NATO,
but Bush also tried to attract support from elsewhere. He made clear
that if the Iraqis refused to comply with the demands of the United
Nations, military action would follow. Washington made plans to
assemble an irresistible force of allies and friends in Saudi Arabia.
Primakov went to Baghdad for talks with the Iraqi leadership on
3–5 October. Shevardnadze had cabled him in Jordan to the effect that
it would be immoral to meet Saddam – Primakov held the opposite
viewpoint that it was immoral to overlook chances for a peaceful settle-
ment. After telling the Iraqis that Gorbachëv demanded withdrawal
from Kuwait, he formed the impression that Saddam was genuinely
ready to make concessions. Gorbachëv welcomed Primakov’s report on
6 October. Shevardnadze was present on the occasion and exchanged
angry words with Primakov. Gorbachëv intervened only when Prima-
kov said: ‘How dare you, a graduate of a correspondence course from a
teachers’ college in Kutaisi, lecture me on the Middle East, the region
I’ve studied since my student days!’^1 At Gorbachëv’s behest, Primakov
flew to London for consultations with Thatcher.^2 Shevardnadze wrote
angrily to Gorbachëv: ‘I’ve carefully acquainted myself with the packet
of proposals from Yevgeni Maximovich [Primakov]. I’ve tried very
hard to discover a grain of reason, but I just couldn’t do it . . .’^3 Gor-
bachëv ignored him. On 30 October he told Mitterrand that Saddam
was minded to withdraw from Kuwait. He asked for France’s help in
persuading the Americans.^4
Shevardnadze’s aide Tarasenko was in the minister’s office during a
phone call from Gorbachëv. The subject was Iraq. Whereas Shevard-
nadze favoured courting and cajoling the Americans, Gorbachëv
aimed to steer a more independent line. It was a fiery exchange. Gor-
bachëv was sharply critical: ‘So now let’s take a look at what your
friend Baker makes of you while you play up your friendship with