    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 23, 1991]
    [Page 170]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Persian Gulf Conflict
    February 23, 1991

        CENTCOM reports that they have detected no military activity which
    would indicate any withdrawal of Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. Similarly,
    there has been no communication between Iraq and the United Nations that
    would suggest a willingness to withdraw under the conditions of the
    coalition plan. Iraq continues its scorched earth policy in Kuwait,
    setting fire to oil facilities. It's a continuing outrage that Saddam
    Hussein is still intent upon destroying Kuwait and its people, still
    intent upon destroying the environment of the Gulf, and still intent
    upon inflicting the most brutal kind of rule on his own population, yet
    appears to have no intention of complying with the U.N. resolutions.
    Indeed, his only response at noon was to launch another Scud missile
    attack on Israel.
        The coalition forces have no alternative but to continue to
    prosecute the war.
        As we indicated last night, the withdrawal proposal the Soviets
    discussed with Tariq `Aziz in Moscow was unacceptable because it did not
    constitute an unequivocal commitment to an immediate and unconditional
    withdrawal. Thus, the Iraqi approval of the Soviet proposal is without
    effect.
        President Bush today spoke with Prime Minister Kaifu of Japan,
    President Ozal of Turkey, and President Gorbachev of the Soviet Union.
    The phone call from President Gorbachev occurred at 11:15 a.m. and
    lasted for approximately 28 minutes. President Gorbachev informed the
    President that he asked for a U.N. review of his proposal and said that
    he had talked to Prime Minister Major and President Mitterrand about his
    plan. Both of the allied leaders indicated full support for the
    coalition withdrawal plan. President Bush thanked President Gorbachev
    for his extensive efforts and reflected our general disappointment that
    Saddam Hussein has chosen not to respond positively.

                        Note: The statement referred to the U.S. Central
                            Command (CENTCOM); President Saddam Hussein and
                            Foreign Minister Tariq `Aziz of Iraq; Prime
                            Minister Toshiki of Japan; President Turgut Ozal
                            of Turkey; President Mikhail Gorbachev of the
                            Soviet Union; Prime Minister John Major of the
                            United Kingdom; and President Francois
                            Mitterrand of France. The statement also
                            referred to an allied peace plan that required
                            Iraq to begin withdrawing its forces from Kuwait
                            by noon, e.s.t.