    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 19, 1991]
    [Page 153]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters on the Soviet Peace Proposal for the Persian
    Gulf Conflict
    February 19, 1991

        Q. Mr. President, is the Soviet proposal acceptable to you?
        The President. Let me just make one comment, and then I won't take
    any questions about it. But I do appreciate President Gorbachev's
    providing me a copy of his proposal--of the Iraqi proposal, or his
    proposal to Iraq actually--concerning the Gulf, the conflict there. And
    we provided last night comments to the Soviet Union.
        Let me just reiterate. As far as I'm concerned, there are no
    negotiations. The goals have been set out. There will be no
    concessions--not going to give. And so on his proposal, President
    Gorbachev asked that I keep the details of it confidential. And I'm
    going to do that. I will respect that request in the interest of
    thoroughly exploring the initiative.
        But, very candidly--and I've been frank with him on this while
    expressing appreciation for his sending it to us--it falls well short of
    what would be required.
        And I would leave it right there for now.
        Q. Does that mean we're going to have a ground war?
        The President. That means I'm going to leave it right there for now.

                        Note: The exchange began at 10:05 a.m. in the
                            Cabinet Room at the White House. President Bush
                            referred to President Mikhail Gorbachev of the
                            Soviet Union.