American Notes PERSIAN GULF

Since U.S. warships began escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the dangerous waters of the Persian Gulf, the Reagan Administration has adamantly refused to justify the policy to Congress under the requirements of the 1973 War Powers Resolution. The controversial law is a minefield of its own: if Congress refused to authorize the President's actions, U.S. forces would have to be withdrawn within 60 days. But the Administration argues that the escort operation does not involve a situation "where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances," so the language of the resolution does not apply.

That argument appeared all the more tortured last week, when the Pentagon granted monthly "imminent danger" pay bonuses to 10,000 U.S. service members on duty in the Persian Gulf area. Although the decision raised hackles among members of both the House and Senate, the Administration drew a fine distinction. The $110 bonus is justified by the threat of terrorist attack, it claimed, not military hostilities. National Security Adviser Frank Carlucci pointed out that the bonuses have been paid under similar circumstances to service personnel in Lebanon and El Salvador.