[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[July 26, 1992]
[Pages 1182-1184]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters on Arrival From Camp David, 
Maryland

July 26, 1992

War on Drugs

    The President. I have two brief statements. In addition to 
yesterday's meeting with our national security advisers on the situation 
in Iraq, which has been widely reported, I spent considerable time today 
reviewing the antidrug fight in our communities.
    Jim Burke, who heads the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, gave 
me a very thorough and encouraging report at Camp David about the 
progress that our Nation is making in turning away from the drug 
culture. It's happening; America is turning off drugs. Problems remain, 
to be sure, but impressive progress is being made on the demand side of 
the equation, particularly among our youth.
    So he and I today reviewed the data that shows a cultural change is 
taking place. Kids are rejecting drugs. There's been a 56 percent drop 
in use by 13- to 17-year-olds in one study, a drop of 48 percent among 
this group in another. So these are very important trends. In our 
workplace programs, people are really putting out the effort. Virtually 
90 percent of our major companies have highly effective programs, and 
companies are expanding a program called Drugs Don't Work. Our country's 
getting the message. At least 900 communities across the country have 
organized antidrug coalitions, and more of them are being formed every 
day.
    Now, we still have a serious drug problem in the United States, with 
an estimated 6 million addicts. This drug problem is embedded in every 
other social issue that we're dealing with as a Nation. So we've got to 
do more. But I was very pleased with Mr. Burke's report on behalf of the 
Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

Iraq

    Now, on Iraq: Iraq's belated announcement that it will allow the 
United Nations Special Commission to carry out an inspection of the 
Agricultural Ministry in Baghdad does not alter the fact that for some 3 
weeks Saddam Hussein flagrantly violated U.N. Security Council 
Resolution 687. Nor does this announcement change the fact that Iraq 
deliberately and callously harassed and abused the U.N. inspectors 
seeking to carry out their mandate. That mandate: Immediate, unimpeded, 
unconditional, unrestricted access to any site the U.N. deems warranted 
for inspection.
    And yes, now, once again, Saddam Hussein has caved in. While Saddam 
has bent to the will of the U.N., the question remains whether after 
this delay a truly effective inspection of the Ministry is still 
possible. The real test of his behavior will be in future U.N. 
inspections. Behavior along the lines we've just witnessed will not be 
tolerated.
    Saddam has long pursued a pattern of willful noncompliance and 
obstruction of the United Nations Special Commission. For over a year he 
has lied about the extent of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction pro-

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grams and sought to conceal them from the United Nations and the 
International Atomic Energy Agency. Now, this is unacceptable. Iraq must 
and will be held to the standard of full compliance with Security 
Council Resolution 687.
    Saddam's violation of the will of the international community, as 
expressed in the United Nations Security Council resolutions, continues 
in other important areas. Iraq has refused to participate in the work of 
the Iraq-Kuwait Border Commission. Iraq has refused to account for 
Kuwaiti citizens seized during the occupation of the emirate and to 
return property that was stolen by the occupiers. Iraq has not renewed 
the memorandum of understanding with the U.N. and has stepped up its 
harassment of U.N. officials and humanitarian agencies operating in the 
country.
    Saddam has stepped up his persecution of the Iraqi people in 
flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 688, including 
recent use of jet fighters against the Shia and maintaining a blockade 
of the Kurds. Iraq has refused to accept U.N. Security Council 
Resolutions 706 and 712, which would allow for that sale of oil for food 
and medicine, choosing instead to have the Iraqi people suffer 
unnecessarily, denying them food.
    The international community cannot tolerate continued Iraqi defiance 
of the United Nations and the rule of law. There is too much at stake 
for the region, for the United Nations, and for the world.
    I'll just take a couple of questions, just a couple of questions 
here.
    Q. Does this mean that you find unsatisfactory the settlement that 
was made at the U.N. and are rejecting it, or is this a temporary 
settlement of the----
    The President. No, we support Dr. Ekeus. He has our full respect and 
confidence. So that inspection will go forward, belatedly so, but it 
will go forward.
    Q. Do you feel, Mr. President, that there is a need now for some 
kind of ultimatum, some kind of deadline given them, some kind of threat 
of military aid?
    The President. Some kind of threat?
    Q. I mean military action. Pardon me.
    The President. I don't know that any more is required right at this 
minute. I think everyone knows that we are determined to see these 
resolutions complied with. We are in very close touch with our allies. 
This standoff now has been resolved by his caving in, by his backing 
down in spite of bluster and threats to the contrary. But there are many 
other inspections to come.
    Q. Mr. President, does that mean then that the crisis in general is 
not over, that there will be continuing incidents with Saddam Hussein?
    The President. Well, the way to end the crisis is for him to fully 
comply with these resolutions I outlined. Until then there will be a lot 
of tension because the whole world is now more determined than ever to 
see that he does comply. So I can't say there's no reason for concern 
anymore at all. There's plenty of reason.
    Q. Mr. President, some U.S. military forces are en route to the 
region. In view of the agreement that has been worked out, will you 
order those forces to stand down, to be pulled back, or is that military 
option still open?
    The President. Well, normally I don't discuss the deployment of 
military forces, and I'm inclined to stay with that right now. I don't 
think there will be any drastic changes in existing plans.
    Q. Mr. President, you seem to be saying that the next time there 
won't be any time for warning, you're not going to let one of these 
crises build up like this. Is that what you're telling us?
    The President. You can interpret it any way you want. All I'm trying 
to do is express the unanimous determination of the Security Council.
    Q. Mr. President, Deputy Secretary Eagleburger said today he expects 
Secretary Baker to stay at the State Department for a long, long time. 
Is that your view as well, or is he going to move to the campaign 
shortly?
    The President. I have no comments on that subject.
    Q. Mr. President, Saddam Hussein said today that ``the mother of all 
battles'' is not over. What do you say to him?
    The President. I say to him, if it's not over, he better hope it is.

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    Q. Is he still a threat to his neighbors in the Middle East?
    The President. No, Saddam Hussein is a threat to the Iraqi people. 
He's a threat to his own people. He's brutalizing his own people in 
failing to comply. He is a threat to peace and security in the area. 
There's no question about all of that. Our argument is not with the 
Iraqi people. I've said that since day one of all of this. I will repeat 
it here today: Our argument is with Saddam Hussein, the bully, the 
dictator, the brutal merchant of death. And that's it. It is not with 
the Iraqi people. And once again, he has caved in after a lot of 
bluster.
    But all I want to do here is express for the United States our 
determination to see him comply with these resolutions. We haven't 
forgotten, and nor have the other members of the Security Council. So 
against a solid wall, he once again caved in. I guess there's a certain 
humiliation factor for him with his own people. But I would simply say 
we've just got to look ahead now and see that other inspections go 
forward and that he complies with these resolutions, the subject of 
which I discussed here a few minutes ago.
    Last one here.
    Q. Can I just clarify, is the threat of force not over until full 
compliance begins?
    The President. I haven't threatened or changed anything. The options 
that the United States and our partners have available to us are well-
known. Let's just see that he complies with the resolutions. I'm not 
here to threaten. I'm simply here to say that I'm glad that he cratered 
once again on this threatening, but to reiterate our determination to 
see these resolutions complied with. That's all that this is about, and 
it's got to be done in timely fashion.
    I salute Mr. Ekeus. He's a courageous man. And he worked hard to get 
access to this Ministry, which he should have had given to him 
automatically, by very competent professionals, very competent 
inspectors.
    There will be another occasion along the line here because there are 
other inspections that will take place. So we just have to keep plugging 
ahead to be sure this man does what international law calls for him to 
do.
    Thank you all very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 4:35 p.m. on the South 
                        Lawn at the White House. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Rolf Ekeus, Executive Director, 
                        United Nations Special Commission on Iraq.