[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[February 25, 1991]
[Page 175]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Persian Gulf Conflict
February 25, 1991

    We continue to prosecute the war. We have heard no reason to change
that. And because there is a war on, our first concern must be the 
safety and security of United States and coalition forces.
    We don't know whether this most recent claim about Iraqi withdrawal 
is genuine. We have no evidence to suggest the Iraqi army is 
withdrawing. In fact, Iraqi units are continuing to fight. Moreover, we 
remember when Saddam Hussein's tanks pretended to surrender at Khafji, 
only to turn and fire. We remember the Scud attacks today, and Saddam's 
many broken promises of the past. There are at least an additional 22 
dead Americans tonight who offer silent testimony to the intentions of 
Saddam Hussein.
    The statement out of Baghdad today says that Saddam Hussein's forces 
will fight their way out while retreating. We will not attack unarmed 
soldiers in retreat. But we will consider retreating combat units as a 
movement of war.
    The only way Saddam Hussein can persuade the coalition of the 
seriousness of his intentions would be for him personally and publicly 
to agree to the terms of the proposal we issued on February 22. And 
because the announcement from Baghdad referred to the Soviet initiative, 
he must personally and publicly accept explicitly all relevant U.N. 
Security Council resolutions, including especially U.N. Security Council 
Resolution 662, which calls for Iraqi recision of its purported 
annexation of Kuwait, and U.N. Security Council Resolution 674 which 
calls for Iraqi compensation to Kuwait and others.
    That's the end of the statement. I might just add that the President 
met with his national security advisers for approximately an hour and 15 
minutes this evening to consider this matter, and the President has 
returned to his Residence.

                    Note: Press Secretary Fitzwater read the statement 
                        to reporters at 10:30 p.m. in the Briefing Room 
                        at the White House. The statement referred to 
                        President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.