    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 17, 1991]
    [Pages 151-152]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters in Kennebunkport, Maine
    February 17, 1991

        The President. Let me say this, that this was an invigorating walk,
    and it really is good. It makes me think of the--two points out here,
    unrelated to foreign affairs--fitness, and our country is fit, getting
    better. And I'm proud of the job that Arnold Schwarzenegger and the
    Physical Fitness Council are doing--very, very important, actually. And
    conservation. I looked at these beaches today. We've had some rough
    storms up here, about a month ago, a big storm. And yet the beaches, I
    think, just on this quick look are relatively clean. And I think it
    shows that the American people are aware that recreation and
    conservation are very important.
        So, that's what I learned today as I cleared my mind from concerns
    that all Americans have halfway around the world for this hour. Now I'll
    go back and do what I started off doing--stay in touch with our key
    people and General Scowcroft, who is minding the store down there,
    Baker, Cheney, General Powell. And I can say having talked, checked in
    this morning, I think things are going well. I will repeat, they're on
    schedule, and we are determined to finish this job and do it right,
    fulfill what I've said are our objectives, with no concession, no
    pulling back.
        The American people are strongly in support not only of the troops
    but of these objectives. And, of course, that is a very important point
    because it is my hope that when this is over we will have kicked, for
    once and for all, the so-called Vietnam syndrome. And the country's
    pulling together, unlike any time--in this kind of situation--any time
    since World War II. And that's a good thing for our country. And that
    sends a strong signal for the future that we're credible, we're
    committed to peace, we're committed to justice, and we are determined to
    fulfill our obligations in trying to bring about a more peaceful world
    order.
        That's what I've been thinking about today.

    Persian Gulf Conflict

        Q. What, if anything, do you expect to come out of the meetings in
    Moscow tomorrow?
        The President. Well, I don't know. But as I said yesterday, I think
    President Gorbachev, who's been in touch with me about this, is trying
    very hard to seek an end to this conflict. But he knows very well that
    the objectives spelled out by the United Nations--the Soviet Union was
    an important part of this--must be met in their entirety. And that was
    reiterated by the Soviet spokesman yesterday, and that's a good thing.
        So, as I told you all yesterday when there

    [[Page 152]]

    was some question mark about how the Soviet role was viewed, that I
    think it's a constructive role. I think they're trying very hard, and
    they're trying within the mandate of the United Nations resolutions. And
    that's the key point.
        Q. Is that constructive in the sense that you expect them simply to
    reinforce what you've been saying all along, that the U.N. has been
    saying all along?
        The President. Well, who knows? I mean, the only good news out of
    the statement that raised people's hopes and then dashed them--the
    statement out of Baghdad--the only good news out of that was, for the
    first time, they talked about withdrawal, and they did not reassert
    their position that Kuwait was Province 19. And that's positive. They
    should have done it on about the first week in August, and they should
    have got out.
        Because I am concerned about the suffering of innocents, and I'm
    talking about the innocents in Kuwait, too. Last week they had a bad
    week there according to the Amir, to whom I talked before I left for
    Maine. And he told me that his estimate was some 200 young people, 15 to
    20, boys and girls, their bodies mutilated and all of them killed. So,
    we mourn for the innocents. And I've been mourning for the innocents in
    Kuwait since that invasion in August. And I hope we can get an end to
    that suffering very, very soon. I think we will.
        Q. Let me ask you about--the French Foreign Minister says that a
    date has been set for the start of the ground war and that we're on the
    eve of the pre-eve. Do you disagree with what he says?
        The President. I don't comment on anything to do with military. I've
    referred to those comments--although the decision on ground forces will
    be made by me for U.N. forces. But I would simply not comment on that.
    It reminds me of ``Saturday Night Live.'' Remember the questions they
    ask on ``Saturday Night'': ``Hey, tell us how we can help the Iraqi
    soldiers the most,'' or ``What is the password?'' or ``Please give me
    some information that will do in our troops.'' I mean, I'm not in that
    business--come on. That was a wonderful piece.
        Q. Do you consider it unhelpful, is it unhelpful to have other
    coalition members doing that?
        The President. No. The coalition is strong. I talked to President
    Mitterrand, I think it was yesterday morning, and the French have played
    a major leadership role in the coalition. And they're just as solid as
    granite. And they're strong. And President Mitterrand has my full
    respect. And the French have their money where their mouth is, too.
    They're over there where their kids are flying. They've got troops
    there. And they're tough, and they're strong. And they are solid in
    seeing that Saddam Hussein now do that which he should have done long
    ago: get out of Kuwait.

    President Saddam Hussein of Iraq

        Q. Is it a goal to topple Saddam?
        The President. The goals have been spelled out by me and by the
    coalition partners, and the goals remain the same. But I would answer
    like the Prime Minister: I wouldn't weep if they put him aside.

                        Note: The exchange began at approximately 11 a.m. on
                            the beach in front of the President's home. In
                            his remarks, President Bush referred to Brent
                            Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for
                            National Security Affairs; Secretary of State
                            James A. Baker III; Secretary of Defense Dick
                            Cheney; Colin L. Powell, Chairman of the Joint
                            Chiefs of Staff; Amir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir
                            al-Sabah of Kuwait; Foreign Minister Roland
                            Dumas and President Francois Mitterrand of
                            France; and Prime Minister John Major of the
                            United Kingdom. A tape was not available for
                            verification of the content of this exchange.