WHERE WILL THE RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE BE?

BRITISH PREMIER Margaret Thatcher's visit to the Gulf states last month scored at least one diplomatic success. She appears to have succeeded in convincing her hosts that the American-inspired rapid intervention force planned for the Gulf in case of crisis (to which she lent her support on her visit to Washington last January) will not actually be stationed in the region - or anywhere else, for that matter - without the approval of the local rulers.