When Kuwaiti troops regained control of the bases deserted by Saddam Hussein's army, the Kuwaitis found a whole series of documents abandoned. On the Kuwaiti return from the base one of the documents that they had found was about a field journal of a young Iraqi lieutenant. This is what it said:

Monday Jan 7, Baker (Secretary of State) flew to Europe to give Tariq Aziz (Foreign Minister of Iraq) of a stern message...Bush (President of United State of America) repeated his threat of military action after the 15th. The congress was getting ready for the debate to give Bush permission to go to war.

Tuesday Jan 8, The U.S. and Iraq exchanged warnings ahead of tomorrow's meeting between Baker and Tariq Aziz. Baker repeated America's demand that Iraq leaves Kuwait by the 15th of January; congress was preparing to have six Iraqi helicopters go to Saudi Arabia pick up the soldiers there.

Thursday Jan 15, War breaks out. Waves of U.S. planes attack Iraq. Bush says the battle is going according to plan.

Tuesday 17 January 1991, Leave was suspended today for officers and men because of the end of the period, granted by the (U.N) Security Council for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. The Security Council was trying to make peace between us (Kuwait and Iraq) and wanted us to leave Kuwait, or else America would have no choice but to intervene. Our army was in a state of total alert to prepare itself against allied and American aggression expected against our territory. I am very worried for my parents because I know what these conditions represent for them. I wish the war had not happened, but it has, so combat would be welcome.

Friday 18 January 1991, Heavy enemy bombings by the B-52’s flying from a base nearby, continues. The bombing and raids kept up all last night.

Sunday 21 January 1991, The bombing and enemy raids began very early today. Air-to-ground missiles began to explode at 3:30 a.m. this morning.

Sunday 27 January 1991, The air strikes began again this morning. I learned before noon today that I have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant and that the decision reached Brigade headquarters after a delay of weeks. This afternoon I got back the letter I had sent to my relatives. It was returned to me because the soldier who was going to mail it did not go on leave. I was very upset by this turn of events. My mind and heart are with my relatives, and only my body is with the army. I very much need to see my relatives. I had a dream yesterday and it was not a good omen at all.

Monday 28 January 1991, The enemy air raids continue and I am in a shelter. The top of it is only tent canvas. After sunset, a flock of sheep came up to us. Apparently the owner of the flock had been killed in the air raids. The enemy with his modern planes has launched air strikes on a shepherd. Maybe the enemy took the sheep for nuclear or chemical or petroleum sheep.

Wednesday 30 January 1991, The air strikes began heavily today and I am still alive. I could be killed at any moment. I am more afraid for my relatives than I am afraid to die. The air raids are nothing new to me, but I am very worried.

2 February 1991, I was awakened this morning by the noise of an enemy air raid. I ran and hid in the nearby trench. Two enemy planes (F-15’s) came toward us and began firing at us, in turn, with missiles, machine guns and rockets. I was almost killed. I was not able to see the planes well, but I believe they looked similar to F-15’s (fighter planes). Death was a yard away from me. The missiles, machine guns and rockets did not let up. One of the rockets pierced our shelter, which was penetrated by shrapnel also. One tank burned and three other tanks belonging to 3rd Company, which we were with, was destroyed. That was a very bad experience. Time passed and we waited to die. The soldiers were somewhere else. The attack lasted about 15 minutes, but it seemed like a year to me. . Another air attack began at 2 February at 2000 hours.

Monday 11 February 1991, B-52’s have come back and are bombing us heavily. We ran to the trenches or, rather, the graves. I was very upset when I heard that people born in 1973 are being drafted. That means that my brother...will have to go into the army. He can not manage by himself. He will make a fool of himself. He's too picky about his food. Where will he find room for that in the army? And especially this army! How I wish I were with him so I could help him.

Tuesday 12 February 1991, I have been here for more than 35 days because leaves were canceled. I am bored and sad. This morning, I learned that 26 soldiers from our division were condemned to death for deserting the front. They were apprehended near Samawa and executed at 2nd Division headquarters. They were unlucky.

Thursday 14 February 1991, I woke up at 8 a.m. this morning and did my praying. I could not make my ablutions with water before praying, so I had to use the sand that had fallen on me and covered me from head to foot in an enemy air raid that had been going on continuously since midnight. The planes launched missiles at our positions and the tanks that were with us, believing that the tanks were missile launching sites. Smoke and dust rose into the sky and mingled with the smell of powder. None of us thought we could get out of this bombardment safely. I couldn't get into the trench on account of my illness (sickness of the war).

Friday 15 February 1991, Today I heard that we were going to be attacked again this time the American forces were bigger and much stronger than before. I heard a rumor that we might have to evacuate soon, because we were not so strong compare to the American forces, which were heading our way. Everyone was armed and ready to fight or run today. I was ready too, but my illness kept me back I was sent to the field hospital... because I had become very ill. While I was there I heard that Iraq had decided to withdraw from Kuwait.

Saturday 16 February 1991, I feel so fatigued that I can not breathe, and I think I am going to faint at any moment from my illness. The only thing that you can find every where in the world is air, and yet I can't breathe it. I can not breathe, eat, drink or talk. I have been here for 39 days and have not yet gone on leave. The planes came again and bombed the Battalion headquarters. Most of the positions were destroyed and three soldiers were killed.

Sunday 17 February 1991, My illness is getting worse. I am short of breath and hurt. I have begun taking medicine; I don't know what it is for, but the main thing is to take it because I know the medicine can not cause me any more pain than I'm already enduring. The air raids have started up again and this time there are many of them, I saw many B-52’s accompanied with two times as much of F-16's.