[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[February 6, 1991]
[Page 116]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Aboard Air Force One on the Persian Gulf 
Conflict
February 6, 1991

    Q. Mr. President, King Hussein says that the war is unjust and
you've exceeded the limits laid out by the U.N. What do you say to that?
    The President. Well, I'm afraid that we have a major disagreement on 
that. It's not true.
    Q. Will America's offer of assistance for refugees still stand--to 
Jordan?
    The President. Well, we tried to make clear to Jordan that we have 
no argument with Jordan. I think they've made a mistake to align 
themselves so closely with Saddam Hussein against the rest of the world. 
But on the other hand, I've tried to understand the pressures that King 
Hussein is under. So, we will obviously try to keep open lines of 
communication. That's about as far as I'd want to go.
    But you have to listen to the rhetoric and then understand why it's 
being used out in that part of the world.
    Q. Your conversation with Mitterrand today----
    The President. We just stay with the course here. There will be no 
cease-fire; there will be nothing of that nature until this man 
commences a credible unilateral withdrawal. And then we'll see what 
happens. But there's no interest in the other. I mean, there's talk 
about it, but most of the people I've talked to in that part of the 
world feel that Saddam simply has got it wrong and doesn't have the word 
on what he ought to do, so----
    Q. The notice on the diplomatic break--have you seen that from Iraq, 
that Iraq has broken diplomatic ties?
    The President. I saw a notice about it. I don't think we've had 
official notice. I saw something in the paper about it. We have no 
people over there, so I don't know what he's proving by that.
    Q. You talked to Presidents Ozal and Mitterrand, and presumably, the 
Iranian initiative came up in both calls. Is there, in fact, an Iranian 
initiative for a peace proposal?
    The President. Not that we know of.
    Q. Any kind of mediation effort underway?
    The President. No. I think they've indicated they might be 
available. But somebody asked me yesterday whether there was some plan, 
and I said no. And there isn't. But I think they're conducting 
themselves very well right now--Iran.
    Q. The Iranians?
    The President. I think so. But there's no peace plan, or I know of 
no initiative. And we've talked to the French--Mr. Scheer, who is back 
in Paris now and was supporting--supposedly he was on some peace plan, 
and apparently that's not correct at all. So, maybe General Scowcroft 
can fill you in. I have to go back and fix my seatbelt. [Laughter]
    Mr. Scowcroft. I don't need one.

                    Note: The exchange occurred in the evening while 
                        President Bush was en route from Washington, DC, 
                        to New York, NY. In his remarks, he referred to 
                        King Hussein I of Jordan; President Saddam 
                        Hussein of Iraq; President Francois Mitterrand 
                        of France; President Turgut Ozal of Turkey; 
                        Francois Scheer, Secretary General of the French 
                        Foreign Ministry, who had recently visited 
                        several countries in the Middle East and Africa; 
                        and Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President 
                        for National Security Affairs. A tape was not 
                        available for verification of the content of 
                        this exchange.