[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[March 13, 1991]
[Page 265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Iraqi President Saddam 
Hussein's Use of Force Against the Iraqi People
March 13, 1991

    Saddam Hussein has a track record of using his military against his 
own population. We have received information over the past week that he 
has been using helicopters in an effort to quell civil disturbances 
against his regime. We are obviously very concerned about this. 
President Bush expressed his concern at the news conference. This 
behavior is clearly inconsistent with the type of behavior the 
international community would like to see Iraq exhibiting. Iraq has to 
convince the world that its designs, both against the international 
community and its own population, are not military and aggressive.