    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [February 25, 1993]
    [Page 206]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters at a Meeting With Close-Up Foundation Students
    From Arkansas
    February 25, 1993

    Bosnia

        Q. Mr. President, do you care to say any more about the operational
    details of the airlift?
        The President. No.
        Q. How about explaining to the American people why it's an important
    issue for the United States to undertake?
        The President. What?
        Q. Why is it an important mission for us to put people at risk for
    that?
        The President. Well, I'll say again, General Powell believes the
    risk is quite limited and not appreciably more than many training
    flights that our airmen do every year. It's important because we believe
    if--number one, there are a lot of people over there who need the food
    and can't get it by road, so it's a humanitarian gesture. And secondly,
    we think if we do it, we will be able to create a somewhat better
    climate for negotiations, and we're pushing to try to have good-faith
    negotiations. So we're hoping it works out.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:01 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.