    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 4, 1991]
    [Pages 468-469]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 468]]

    Exchange With Reporters Aboard Air Force One
    May 4, 1991

        The President. I really have nothing to say in addition to what I
    said yesterday, but I just want to welcome you on this beautiful--what a
    day out there. Fantastic. It is so beautiful. We're going off to this
    graduation there, the first graduation speech of the year out here at
    the University of Michigan, where they're really expecting, I think, a
    large number of people.

    Commencement Address

        Q. What are you going to talk about?
        The President. Just general--kind of theory--life its own self, as
    my friend Dan Jenkins would say. Try to stay awake, Lori [Lori Santos,
    United Press International]. ``Life Its Own Self.'' [Laughter] Did you
    ever read, you know, his book?
        But everything's rather calm. You were going to ask about the
    graduation?

    U.S. Military Bases in the Philippines

        Q. No, I was going to ask: Is the United States going to be forced
    to leave its bases in the Philippines?
        The President. Well, I don't think so, but we're having negotiations
    still going on, but it's still no deal. And we've made clear the limits
    beyond which we are certainly not prepared to go. I think the Philippine
    leaders understand that. But this isn't any carte blanche operation.
    This isn't any blank check. And we've gotten a very strong negotiator in
    Rich Armitage there, who has made clear to the Philippine leaders what
    the United States position is. But it's too early to say. They go up and
    down in these negotiations.
        Q. Are you willing to walk away from the Philippines?
        The President. We've told them that there are certain--a point
    beyond which we cannot go. But it's a very important facility there. I
    think the polls in the Philippines show strong support from the people,
    but there are some political leaders who are of a different persuasion.
    But it'll work out; I'm not too troubled by it. There are a lot of other
    problems out there.

    Administration Travel Policy

        Q. Is Governor Sununu with us today?
        The President. He's down giving a graduation speech today.
        Q. Where?
        The President. I think it's in Florida.
        Q. How did he get there? [Laughter]
        The President. Ask him. He's following instructions, as I've said.
    But this would be considered clearly an official trip, any time you go
    out like this.
        Q. Is that review about over?
        The President. Yes, it's getting close.
        Q. Up on your desk?
        The President. No, but we're very close to coming out with these
    changes that I've said would be forthcoming.

    Alaska Oilspill Reparations

        Q. What did you think about the collapse of the Exxon agreement?
        The President. Well, I don't really have a judgment on that. I mean,
    I think that both sides now agree to just go and try to litigate, and
    that's, in a sense, too bad. But on the other hand, that's their right.
    The State has a right to call it as they see it, and so does Exxon. So,
    they'll work it out. It's a good one for us to stay out of.

    Iraq

        Q. Are we trying to establish a permanent zone for the Kurds as part
    of the war reparations of Iraq?
        The President. I wouldn't phrase it that way. I've always said that
    we were not interested in a dismembered or fractionated Iraq. That's not
    our--I made that so very clear from the very beginning that there
    shouldn't be any question about that one.
        Q. Some London newspaper--15 units--plan for a----
        The President. I don't know. I didn't see that, and that's certainly
    not official policy. But certainly we want these people's lives to be
    protected against this violence that's been wrought on them for many,
    many years. It's been going on forever, and it's terrible. But I'm a
    little pleased with the

    [[Page 469]]

    way that's going out there now, too. America has done what it always
    does: stand up and try to help people. The operation is superb. I just
    hope that there will be a peaceful resolution, so they can all go back
    to their homes, which is what they want to do.
        Hey, thanks a million for being with us on this trip. We appreciate
    you fellas being along, too.
        Q. Thanks for inviting us.
        The President. Well, that's all right.

                        Note: The exchange began at 8:45 a.m. while the
                            President was en route to Ann Arbor, MI. In his
                            remarks, the President referred to author Dan
                            Jenkins; Richard L. Armitage, Special Negotiator
                            for the future status of U.S. access to military
                            facilities in the Philippines; and John H.
                            Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President. A tape
                            was not available for verification of the
                            content of this exchange.