There was no decision on a meeting. President Bush offered to help Jordan 's King Hussein offset costs incurred to shut down Jordan 's port at Aqaba , Iraq 's last major trade port . The U.S. Navy now has 27 ships in the maritime blockade of Iraq . The U.N. economic chokehold appears to be working . King Hussein said the threat of war would cost thousands of Iraqi lives . Iraq has increased its armed forces in Kuwait to 160,000 and rimmed the capital city with an air - defense system . It has been reported that Saddam was the target of an assassination attempt , which led to many deaths , including some of his close associates .
President Bush offered to help Jordan 's King Hussein offset costs incurred to shut down Jordan 's port at Aqaba , Iraq 's last major trade port . The U.S. Navy now has 27 ships in the maritime blockade of Iraq . The U.N. economic chokehold appears to be working . King Hussein said the threat of war would cost thousands of Iraqi lives . Iraq has increased its armed forces in Kuwait to 160,000 and rimmed the capital city with an air - defense system . It has been reported that Saddam was the target of an assassination attempt , which led to many deaths , including some of his close associates .