    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 25, 1991]
    [Page 175]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Persian Gulf Conflict
    February 25, 1991

        We continue to prosecute the war. We have heard no reason to change
    that. And because there is a war on, our first concern must be the
    safety and security of United States and coalition forces.
        We don't know whether this most recent claim about Iraqi withdrawal
    is genuine. We have no evidence to suggest the Iraqi army is
    withdrawing. In fact, Iraqi units are continuing to fight. Moreover, we
    remember when Saddam Hussein's tanks pretended to surrender at Khafji,
    only to turn and fire. We remember the Scud attacks today, and Saddam's
    many broken promises of the past. There are at least an additional 22
    dead Americans tonight who offer silent testimony to the intentions of
    Saddam Hussein.
        The statement out of Baghdad today says that Saddam Hussein's forces
    will fight their way out while retreating. We will not attack unarmed
    soldiers in retreat. But we will consider retreating combat units as a
    movement of war.
        The only way Saddam Hussein can persuade the coalition of the
    seriousness of his intentions would be for him personally and publicly
    to agree to the terms of the proposal we issued on February 22. And
    because the announcement from Baghdad referred to the Soviet initiative,
    he must personally and publicly accept explicitly all relevant U.N.
    Security Council resolutions, including especially U.N. Security Council
    Resolution 662, which calls for Iraqi recision of its purported
    annexation of Kuwait, and U.N. Security Council Resolution 674 which
    calls for Iraqi compensation to Kuwait and others.
        That's the end of the statement. I might just add that the President
    met with his national security advisers for approximately an hour and 15
    minutes this evening to consider this matter, and the President has
    returned to his Residence.

                        Note: Press Secretary Fitzwater read the statement
                            to reporters at 10:30 p.m. in the Briefing Room
                            at the White House. The statement referred to
                            President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.