[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[February 23, 1991]
[Page 170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Persian Gulf Conflict
February 23, 1991

    CENTCOM reports that they have detected no military activity which
would indicate any withdrawal of Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. Similarly, 
there has been no communication between Iraq and the United Nations that 
would suggest a willingness to withdraw under the conditions of the 
coalition plan. Iraq continues its scorched earth policy in Kuwait, 
setting fire to oil facilities. It's a continuing outrage that Saddam 
Hussein is still intent upon destroying Kuwait and its people, still 
intent upon destroying the environment of the Gulf, and still intent 
upon inflicting the most brutal kind of rule on his own population, yet 
appears to have no intention of complying with the U.N. resolutions. 
Indeed, his only response at noon was to launch another Scud missile 
attack on Israel.
    The coalition forces have no alternative but to continue to 
prosecute the war.
    As we indicated last night, the withdrawal proposal the Soviets 
discussed with Tariq `Aziz in Moscow was unacceptable because it did not 
constitute an unequivocal commitment to an immediate and unconditional 
withdrawal. Thus, the Iraqi approval of the Soviet proposal is without 
effect.
    President Bush today spoke with Prime Minister Kaifu of Japan, 
President Ozal of Turkey, and President Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. 
The phone call from President Gorbachev occurred at 11:15 a.m. and 
lasted for approximately 28 minutes. President Gorbachev informed the 
President that he asked for a U.N. review of his proposal and said that 
he had talked to Prime Minister Major and President Mitterrand about his 
plan. Both of the allied leaders indicated full support for the 
coalition withdrawal plan. President Bush thanked President Gorbachev 
for his extensive efforts and reflected our general disappointment that 
Saddam Hussein has chosen not to respond positively.

                    Note: The statement referred to the U.S. Central 
                        Command (CENTCOM); President Saddam Hussein and 
                        Foreign Minister Tariq `Aziz of Iraq; Prime 
                        Minister Toshiki of Japan; President Turgut Ozal 
                        of Turkey; President Mikhail Gorbachev of the 
                        Soviet Union; Prime Minister John Major of the 
                        United Kingdom; and President Francois 
                        Mitterrand of France. The statement also 
                        referred to an allied peace plan that required 
                        Iraq to begin withdrawing its forces from Kuwait 
                        by noon, e.s.t.