    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 6, 1991]
    [Page 116]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Aboard Air Force One on the Persian Gulf
    Conflict
    February 6, 1991

        Q. Mr. President, King Hussein says that the war is unjust and
    you've exceeded the limits laid out by the U.N. What do you say to that?
        The President. Well, I'm afraid that we have a major disagreement on
    that. It's not true.
        Q. Will America's offer of assistance for refugees still stand--to
    Jordan?
        The President. Well, we tried to make clear to Jordan that we have
    no argument with Jordan. I think they've made a mistake to align
    themselves so closely with Saddam Hussein against the rest of the world.
    But on the other hand, I've tried to understand the pressures that King
    Hussein is under. So, we will obviously try to keep open lines of
    communication. That's about as far as I'd want to go.
        But you have to listen to the rhetoric and then understand why it's
    being used out in that part of the world.
        Q. Your conversation with Mitterrand today----
        The President. We just stay with the course here. There will be no
    cease-fire; there will be nothing of that nature until this man
    commences a credible unilateral withdrawal. And then we'll see what
    happens. But there's no interest in the other. I mean, there's talk
    about it, but most of the people I've talked to in that part of the
    world feel that Saddam simply has got it wrong and doesn't have the word
    on what he ought to do, so----
        Q. The notice on the diplomatic break--have you seen that from Iraq,
    that Iraq has broken diplomatic ties?
        The President. I saw a notice about it. I don't think we've had
    official notice. I saw something in the paper about it. We have no
    people over there, so I don't know what he's proving by that.
        Q. You talked to Presidents Ozal and Mitterrand, and presumably, the
    Iranian initiative came up in both calls. Is there, in fact, an Iranian
    initiative for a peace proposal?
        The President. Not that we know of.
        Q. Any kind of mediation effort underway?
        The President. No. I think they've indicated they might be
    available. But somebody asked me yesterday whether there was some plan,
    and I said no. And there isn't. But I think they're conducting
    themselves very well right now--Iran.
        Q. The Iranians?
        The President. I think so. But there's no peace plan, or I know of
    no initiative. And we've talked to the French--Mr. Scheer, who is back
    in Paris now and was supporting--supposedly he was on some peace plan,
    and apparently that's not correct at all. So, maybe General Scowcroft
    can fill you in. I have to go back and fix my seatbelt. [Laughter]
        Mr. Scowcroft. I don't need one.

                        Note: The exchange occurred in the evening while
                            President Bush was en route from Washington, DC,
                            to New York, NY. In his remarks, he referred to
                            King Hussein I of Jordan; President Saddam
                            Hussein of Iraq; President Francois Mitterrand
                            of France; President Turgut Ozal of Turkey;
                            Francois Scheer, Secretary General of the French
                            Foreign Ministry, who had recently visited
                            several countries in the Middle East and Africa;
                            and Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President
                            for National Security Affairs. A tape was not
                            available for verification of the content of
                            this exchange.