[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[February 15, 1991]
[Pages 145-147]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



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Remarks to the American Association for the Advancement of Science
February 15, 1991

    Thank you very much. Thank you, and please forgive me for keeping
you waiting. First, let me pay my respects to Secretary Watkins and to 
Dr. Bromley and to NASA's very able Administrator, Admiral Truly.
    Before talking about the subject at hand, I do want to make a few 
comments on the statement that came out of Baghdad early this morning. 
When I first heard that statement, I must say I was happy that Saddam 
Hussein had seemed to realize that he must now withdraw unconditionally 
from Kuwait, in keeping with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
    Regrettably, the Iraq statement now appears to be a cruel hoax, 
dashing the hopes of the people in Iraq and, indeed, around the world. 
It seems that there was an immediate celebratory atmosphere in Baghdad 
after this statement. And this reflects, I think, the Iraqi people's 
desire to see the war end, a war the people of Iraq never sought. Not 
only was the Iraq statement full of unacceptable old conditions, but 
Saddam Hussein has added several new conditions. And we've been in touch 
with members of the coalition, and they recognize that there is nothing 
new here, with the possible exception of recognizing for the first time 
that Iraq must leave Kuwait.
    Let me state once again: They must withdraw without condition. There 
must be full implementation of all the Security Council resolutions. And 
there will be no linkage to other problems in the area. And the 
legitimate rulers of Kuwait must be returned to Kuwait. Until a massive 
withdrawal begins, with those Iraqi troops visibly leaving Kuwait, the 
coalition forces acting under United Nations Resolution 678 will 
continue their efforts to force compliance with all the resolutions of 
the United Nations.
    But there's another way for the bloodshed to stop. And that is for 
the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own 
hands--to force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside, and to 
comply with the United Nations resolutions and then rejoin the family of 
peace-loving nations.
    We have no argument with the people of Iraq. Our differences are 
with Iraq's brutal dictator. And the war, let me just assure you all, is 
going on schedule. Of course, all of us want to see the war ended soon 
and with a limited loss of life. And it can if Saddam Hussein would 
comply unconditionally with these U.N. resolutions and do now what he 
should have done long, long ago.
    So, I'm sorry that after analysis and reading the statements out of 
Baghdad in their entirety, there is nothing new here. It is a hoax. 
There are new demands added. And I feel very sorry for the people in 
Iraq. And I feel sorry for the families in this country who probably 
felt as I did this morning when they heard the television that maybe we 
really had a shot for peace today.
    But that's not the case. And we will continue. We will pursue our 
objectives with honor and decency. And we will not fail.
    And now let me just move forward to the business at hand. I want to 
salute in addition to the three with me here Dr. Atkinson, Dr. 
Langenberg, Dr. Lederman, Dr. Rowland, and distinguished friends of 
science gathered here today.
    I view it as an honor to be over here with you all today. Since its 
founding nearly a century and a half ago, this association, your 
association, has watched over the most far-reaching and most 
breathtaking transformation that human society has ever known. Science 
and technology have brought unprecedented prosperity, mobility, health, 
and security to millions around the world. And today the spirit of 
innovation is alive and well in America. Of course, times have changed. 
Some say that if Edison had invented the light bulb today, we'd have 
scores of studies citing the dangers of electricity. [Laughter] And the 
newspapers would headline the story ``Candle Industry Threatened.'' 
[Laughter]
    Well, science and technology have

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touched all of our lives, from the way we do our jobs to the kind of 
medical care we receive. And especially in the last few weeks, anyone 
who has been near a television has seen the dramatic effect, the 
evidence rather, of how technology is changing the face of war. Modern 
weapons are making it possible to face down aggression without the 
degree of widespread destruction and loss of civilian life of wars past.
    And that's why I'm going up today to visit with the workers who make 
the Patriot missile. Our investment in defense research and development 
over the past decade is now saving the lives of Americans, of our 
allies, and even of our adversaries. And I am certain that this struggle 
will end decisively. And again, let us all pray that it ends quickly.
    Next week the administration will release its national energy 
strategy with new public and private initiatives to increase energy 
efficiency and conservation, preserve our environment, encourage 
alternative sources of energy, and reduce our vulnerability to foreign 
oil supply disruptions.
    Now some will say that reducing our energy vulnerability is not 
enough, that we should take more drastic measures for total energy 
independence. But then there's reality. We are a long way from achieving 
total energy independence. We must avoid unwise and extreme measures 
such as excessive CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standards for 
automobiles that would seriously hurt America's consumers and America's 
jobs and American industries. Instead, we must pursue an energy strategy 
that is reasonable, balanced, and comprehensive. And that will keep us 
on the course toward strong economic growth.
    Science and technology will also be a crucial factor for our 
economic strength. If the past is prolog, our economic future is going 
to be very, very bright indeed, in spite of today's concerns. Over a 
third of the economic growth that we've enjoyed since the 1930's, over a 
third of it, has been the result of new knowledge including science and 
technology. And beyond advances in prosperity, in security, work on the 
frontiers of knowledge is one of humanity's greatest adventures.
    For all of these reasons, the budget that I sent to Capitol Hill 
last week included a 13-percent increase for R&D, for research and 
development, and that increase is one of the largest in the budget. And 
it's proof of our determination to make the investments needed to ensure 
this country's continued leadership. We intend to help scientists spend 
less time searching for funding and more time making breakthroughs.
    And one of our highest priorities is basic research, especially by 
the individual scientist or a small team. To support their work, our 
budget calls for $1 billion increase--$1 billion in basic research. And 
funding at the National Science Foundation would go up by 18 percent, 
which would put the NSF budget back on the track toward the doubling 
that I've long sought. And increases in basic research at the NIH and 
again at Jim's Department of Energy, NASA, and the Department of 
Agriculture will add to the base of knowledge on which the future is 
being built.
    At the same time, this budget makes a strong commitment to the 
facilities that many individual scientists will need to reach to the 
future frontiers in their selected fields. And that means nuclear 
accelerators in physics, telescopes in astronomy, a strong space science 
program at NASA, and the human genome project in biology--all projects 
that will have a profound impact on humanity.
    Over the next year, the United States will spend over $1 billion on 
the U.S. Global Change Program. And part of our efforts take the form of 
a mission to planet Earth, where satellites will monitor the Earth from 
space. And our mission from planet Earth will extend human curiosity to 
frontiers beyond our own planet to the Moon, to the planets, and beyond.
    But along with record-level Federal investment in R&D totaling $76 
billion, we are committed to working with American industry to make it 
easier for companies to capitalize on the discoveries of basic science 
and to develop new products and new processes. And that's why I'm again 
calling on the United States Congress to make the research and 
experimentation tax credit permanent, to make a long-term commitment to 
our technological future.

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    We face a crucial challenge in developing the generic technologies 
that are important to both the public and the private sectors. And 
that's why the budget supports work in high performance computing and 
communications, in energy research and development, in aeronautics, in 
biotechnology--the basis for some of the most promising industries of 
the 21st century.
    Technology may be the key to the future, but people are the key to 
technology. The national education goals that we established with the 
Nation's Governors explicitly recognizes this connection. And one of our 
most ambitious goals is for American students to be first in the world 
in science and math achievement by the year 2000.
    Our budget includes substantial funding increases for math and 
science education. But those math and science goals will never be 
achieved if they are seen simply as goals for government alone. All 
sectors of society must recognize the importance of scientific literacy 
and strive to achieve it. And that's where the AAAS comes in. Your 
Project 2061 is working where all lasting change must occur--at the 
local level, to transform the teaching of math and science.
    Last fall, we had 200 of the best mathematics and science teachers 
in the country here to the White House. And more than a few of those 
teachers pointed out that kids are natural-born scientists. And they 
delight in the sheer pleasure of learning new things, making something 
work, understanding the world. This delight is something most scientists 
never lose. The Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Barbara McClintock once 
said of her work: ``I did it because it was fun. I couldn't wait to get 
up in the morning. I never thought of it as science.''
    And the sheer adventure of science is one of the main reasons for 
holding this meeting and for the continued vitality of the AAAS. Sharing 
science's sense of adventure through education and outreach has never 
been more important than now. And your work is vitally important. Of all 
humanity's concerns, the power of knowing is the greatest pursuit, the 
surest promise for a brighter future, and the greatest covenant that we 
keep with those kids of the future, those future generations.
    So, let us pursue the adventure of science as a sacred trust. And 
let us keep the fire of the American mind burning brightly for the sake 
of the future that our children deserve.
    Thank you all very, very much for coming here. I hope your meetings 
are worthwhile and productive. And we're proud of each and every one of 
you. And at this special time, may God bless the United States.

                    Note: President Bush spoke at 9:58 a.m. in Room 450 
                        of the Old Executive Office Building. In his 
                        remarks, he referred to Secretary of Energy 
                        James D. Watkins; D. Allan Bromley, Assistant to 
                        the President for Science and Technology; Adm. 
                        Richard H. Truly, Administrator of the National 
                        Aeronautics and Space Administration; President 
                        Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Richard C. Atkinson, 
                        chairman of the board, Donald H. Langenberg, 
                        president, and Leon M. Lederman, president-elect 
                        of the association; and Sherwood Rowland, 
                        president of the University of California at 
                        Riverside.