[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.