    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 10, 1994]
    [Pages 1725-1726]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Address to the Nation on Iraq
    October 10, 1994

        Good evening. Tonight I want to speak with you about the actions we
    are taking to preserve stability in the Persian Gulf in the face of
    Saddam Hussein's provocative actions. But first, let me take just a
    minute to report to you on today's events in Haiti.
        Three weeks ago today, our troops entered Haiti. They went there to
    keep America's and the world community's commitment to restore the
    democratically elected government to power by October 15th. Today
    Lieutenant General Cedras and Brigadier General Biamby, the two
    remaining coup leaders, have resigned. They have said they will leave
    Haiti shortly. I am pleased to announce that President Aristide will
    return home to resume his rightful place this Saturday, October 15th.
        I want to express again my pride in what our men and women in
    uniform have done in Haiti and how well they have measured up to their
    difficult mission. In just 3 weeks, the level of violence is down, the
    Parliament is back, refugees are returning from Guantanamo. And now the
    military leaders are leaving.

    [[Page 1726]]

        But I also want to caution again, the job in Haiti remains difficult
    and dangerous. We still have a lot of work ahead of us. But our troops
    are keeping America's commitment to restore democracy. They are
    performing their mission very, very well with firmness and fairness, and
    all Americans are proud of them.
        The strength of America's foreign policy stands on the steadfastness
    of our commitments. The United States and the international community
    have given their word that Iraq must respect the borders of its
    neighbors. And tonight, as in Haiti, American troops with our coalition
    partners are the guarantors of that commitment, the power behind our
    diplomacy.
        Three and a half years ago, the men and women of our Armed Forces,
    under the strong leadership of President Bush, General Powell, and
    General Schwarzkopf, fought to expel Iraq from Kuwait and to protect our
    interests in that vital region. Today we remain committed to defending
    the integrity of that nation and to protecting the stability of the Gulf
    region.
        Saddam Hussein has shown the world before, with his acts of
    aggression and his weapons of mass destruction, that he cannot be
    trusted. Iraq's troop movements and threatening statements in recent
    days are more proof of this. In 1990, Saddam Hussein assembled a force
    on the border of Kuwait and then invaded. Last week, he moved another
    force toward the same border. Because of what happened in 1990, this
    provocation requires a strong response from the United States and the
    international community.
        Over the weekend I ordered the George Washington Carrier Battle
    Group, cruise missile ships, a Marine expeditionary brigade, and an Army
    mechanized task force to the Gulf. And today I have ordered the
    additional deployment of more than 350 Air Force aircraft to the region.
    We will not allow Saddam Hussein to defy the will of the United States
    and the international community.
        Iraq announced today that it will pull back its troops from the
    Kuwait border. But we're interested in facts, not promises, in deeds,
    not words. And we have not yet seen evidence that Iraq's troops are in
    fact pulling back. We'll be watching very closely to see that they do
    so.
        Our policy is clear: We will not allow Iraq to threaten its
    neighbors or to intimidate the United Nations as it ensures that Iraq
    never again possesses weapons of mass destruction. Moreover, the
    sanctions will be maintained until Iraq complies with all relevant U.N.
    resolutions. That is the answer to Iraq's sanctions problems: full
    compliance, not reckless provocation.
        I'm very proud of our troops who tonight are the backbone of our
    commitment to Kuwait's freedom and the security of the Gulf. I'm also
    proud of the planners and the commanders who are getting them there so
    very quickly and in such force. They all are proof that we are
    maintaining and must continue to maintain the readiness and strength of
    the finest military in the world.
        That is what we owe to the men and women of America who are putting
    their lives on the line today to make the world a safer place. And it is
    what we owe to the proud families who stand with them. They are
    protecting our security as we work for a post-cold-war world of
    democracy and prosperity.
        Within the last 2 weeks, America hosted two champions of post-cold-
    war democracy. South African President Nelson Mandela came to thank the
    United States for our support of South Africa's remarkable democratic
    revolution and to seek a partnership for the future. And Russian
    President Boris Yeltsin came to further the partnership between our two
    nations so well expressed by the fact that now Russian and U.S. missiles
    are no longer pointed at each other's people and we are working to
    reduce the nuclear threat even more.
        In short, we are making progress in building a world of greater
    security, peace, and democracy. But our work is not done. There are
    difficulties and dangers ahead, as we see in Iraq and in Haiti. But we
    can meet these challenges and keep our commitments. Our objectives are
    clear, our forces are strong, and our cause is right.
        Thank you, and God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 8 p.m. from the Oval Office at the White
    House.