    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 15, 1991]
    [Pages 145-147]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 145]]

    Remarks to the American Association for the Advancement of Science
    February 15, 1991

        Thank you very much. Thank you, and please forgive me for keeping
    you waiting. First, let me pay my respects to Secretary Watkins and to
    Dr. Bromley and to NASA's very able Administrator, Admiral Truly.
        Before talking about the subject at hand, I do want to make a few
    comments on the statement that came out of Baghdad early this morning.
    When I first heard that statement, I must say I was happy that Saddam
    Hussein had seemed to realize that he must now withdraw unconditionally
    from Kuwait, in keeping with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
        Regrettably, the Iraq statement now appears to be a cruel hoax,
    dashing the hopes of the people in Iraq and, indeed, around the world.
    It seems that there was an immediate celebratory atmosphere in Baghdad
    after this statement. And this reflects, I think, the Iraqi people's
    desire to see the war end, a war the people of Iraq never sought. Not
    only was the Iraq statement full of unacceptable old conditions, but
    Saddam Hussein has added several new conditions. And we've been in touch
    with members of the coalition, and they recognize that there is nothing
    new here, with the possible exception of recognizing for the first time
    that Iraq must leave Kuwait.
        Let me state once again: They must withdraw without condition. There
    must be full implementation of all the Security Council resolutions. And
    there will be no linkage to other problems in the area. And the
    legitimate rulers of Kuwait must be returned to Kuwait. Until a massive
    withdrawal begins, with those Iraqi troops visibly leaving Kuwait, the
    coalition forces acting under United Nations Resolution 678 will
    continue their efforts to force compliance with all the resolutions of
    the United Nations.
        But there's another way for the bloodshed to stop. And that is for
    the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own
    hands--to force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside, and to
    comply with the United Nations resolutions and then rejoin the family of
    peace-loving nations.
        We have no argument with the people of Iraq. Our differences are
    with Iraq's brutal dictator. And the war, let me just assure you all, is
    going on schedule. Of course, all of us want to see the war ended soon
    and with a limited loss of life. And it can if Saddam Hussein would
    comply unconditionally with these U.N. resolutions and do now what he
    should have done long, long ago.
        So, I'm sorry that after analysis and reading the statements out of
    Baghdad in their entirety, there is nothing new here. It is a hoax.
    There are new demands added. And I feel very sorry for the people in
    Iraq. And I feel sorry for the families in this country who probably
    felt as I did this morning when they heard the television that maybe we
    really had a shot for peace today.
        But that's not the case. And we will continue. We will pursue our
    objectives with honor and decency. And we will not fail.
        And now let me just move forward to the business at hand. I want to
    salute in addition to the three with me here Dr. Atkinson, Dr.
    Langenberg, Dr. Lederman, Dr. Rowland, and distinguished friends of
    science gathered here today.
        I view it as an honor to be over here with you all today. Since its
    founding nearly a century and a half ago, this association, your
    association, has watched over the most far-reaching and most
    breathtaking transformation that human society has ever known. Science
    and technology have brought unprecedented prosperity, mobility, health,
    and security to millions around the world. And today the spirit of
    innovation is alive and well in America. Of course, times have changed.
    Some say that if Edison had invented the light bulb today, we'd have
    scores of studies citing the dangers of electricity. [Laughter] And the
    newspapers would headline the story ``Candle Industry Threatened.''
    [Laughter]
        Well, science and technology have

    [[Page 146]]

    touched all of our lives, from the way we do our jobs to the kind of
    medical care we receive. And especially in the last few weeks, anyone
    who has been near a television has seen the dramatic effect, the
    evidence rather, of how technology is changing the face of war. Modern
    weapons are making it possible to face down aggression without the
    degree of widespread destruction and loss of civilian life of wars past.
        And that's why I'm going up today to visit with the workers who make
    the Patriot missile. Our investment in defense research and development
    over the past decade is now saving the lives of Americans, of our
    allies, and even of our adversaries. And I am certain that this struggle
    will end decisively. And again, let us all pray that it ends quickly.
        Next week the administration will release its national energy
    strategy with new public and private initiatives to increase energy
    efficiency and conservation, preserve our environment, encourage
    alternative sources of energy, and reduce our vulnerability to foreign
    oil supply disruptions.
        Now some will say that reducing our energy vulnerability is not
    enough, that we should take more drastic measures for total energy
    independence. But then there's reality. We are a long way from achieving
    total energy independence. We must avoid unwise and extreme measures
    such as excessive CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standards for
    automobiles that would seriously hurt America's consumers and America's
    jobs and American industries. Instead, we must pursue an energy strategy
    that is reasonable, balanced, and comprehensive. And that will keep us
    on the course toward strong economic growth.
        Science and technology will also be a crucial factor for our
    economic strength. If the past is prolog, our economic future is going
    to be very, very bright indeed, in spite of today's concerns. Over a
    third of the economic growth that we've enjoyed since the 1930's, over a
    third of it, has been the result of new knowledge including science and
    technology. And beyond advances in prosperity, in security, work on the
    frontiers of knowledge is one of humanity's greatest adventures.
        For all of these reasons, the budget that I sent to Capitol Hill
    last week included a 13-percent increase for R&D, for research and
    development, and that increase is one of the largest in the budget. And
    it's proof of our determination to make the investments needed to ensure
    this country's continued leadership. We intend to help scientists spend
    less time searching for funding and more time making breakthroughs.
        And one of our highest priorities is basic research, especially by
    the individual scientist or a small team. To support their work, our
    budget calls for $1 billion increase--$1 billion in basic research. And
    funding at the National Science Foundation would go up by 18 percent,
    which would put the NSF budget back on the track toward the doubling
    that I've long sought. And increases in basic research at the NIH and
    again at Jim's Department of Energy, NASA, and the Department of
    Agriculture will add to the base of knowledge on which the future is
    being built.
        At the same time, this budget makes a strong commitment to the
    facilities that many individual scientists will need to reach to the
    future frontiers in their selected fields. And that means nuclear
    accelerators in physics, telescopes in astronomy, a strong space science
    program at NASA, and the human genome project in biology--all projects
    that will have a profound impact on humanity.
        Over the next year, the United States will spend over $1 billion on
    the U.S. Global Change Program. And part of our efforts take the form of
    a mission to planet Earth, where satellites will monitor the Earth from
    space. And our mission from planet Earth will extend human curiosity to
    frontiers beyond our own planet to the Moon, to the planets, and beyond.
        But along with record-level Federal investment in R&D totaling $76
    billion, we are committed to working with American industry to make it
    easier for companies to capitalize on the discoveries of basic science
    and to develop new products and new processes. And that's why I'm again
    calling on the United States Congress to make the research and
    experimentation tax credit permanent, to make a long-term commitment to
    our technological future.

    [[Page 147]]

        We face a crucial challenge in developing the generic technologies
    that are important to both the public and the private sectors. And
    that's why the budget supports work in high performance computing and
    communications, in energy research and development, in aeronautics, in
    biotechnology--the basis for some of the most promising industries of
    the 21st century.
        Technology may be the key to the future, but people are the key to
    technology. The national education goals that we established with the
    Nation's Governors explicitly recognizes this connection. And one of our
    most ambitious goals is for American students to be first in the world
    in science and math achievement by the year 2000.
        Our budget includes substantial funding increases for math and
    science education. But those math and science goals will never be
    achieved if they are seen simply as goals for government alone. All
    sectors of society must recognize the importance of scientific literacy
    and strive to achieve it. And that's where the AAAS comes in. Your
    Project 2061 is working where all lasting change must occur--at the
    local level, to transform the teaching of math and science.
        Last fall, we had 200 of the best mathematics and science teachers
    in the country here to the White House. And more than a few of those
    teachers pointed out that kids are natural-born scientists. And they
    delight in the sheer pleasure of learning new things, making something
    work, understanding the world. This delight is something most scientists
    never lose. The Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Barbara McClintock once
    said of her work: ``I did it because it was fun. I couldn't wait to get
    up in the morning. I never thought of it as science.''
        And the sheer adventure of science is one of the main reasons for
    holding this meeting and for the continued vitality of the AAAS. Sharing
    science's sense of adventure through education and outreach has never
    been more important than now. And your work is vitally important. Of all
    humanity's concerns, the power of knowing is the greatest pursuit, the
    surest promise for a brighter future, and the greatest covenant that we
    keep with those kids of the future, those future generations.
        So, let us pursue the adventure of science as a sacred trust. And
    let us keep the fire of the American mind burning brightly for the sake
    of the future that our children deserve.
        Thank you all very, very much for coming here. I hope your meetings
    are worthwhile and productive. And we're proud of each and every one of
    you. And at this special time, may God bless the United States.

                        Note: President Bush spoke at 9:58 a.m. in Room 450
                            of the Old Executive Office Building. In his
                            remarks, he referred to Secretary of Energy
                            James D. Watkins; D. Allan Bromley, Assistant to
                            the President for Science and Technology; Adm.
                            Richard H. Truly, Administrator of the National
                            Aeronautics and Space Administration; President
                            Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Richard C. Atkinson,
                            chairman of the board, Donald H. Langenberg,
                            president, and Leon M. Lederman, president-elect
                            of the association; and Sherwood Rowland,
                            president of the University of California at
                            Riverside.