    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [February 19, 1998]
    [Pages 245-246]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Situation in Iraq and an Exchange With Reporters
    February 19, 1998

        The President. Good morning. I have just had a very good
    conversation with the President of France, Jacques Chirac. We agreed that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi
    Annan's mission to Baghdad is a critical
    opportunity to achieve the outcome that all of us would prefer, a
    peaceful and principled end to this crisis.
        The Secretary-General is backed by the unambiguous position of the
    Security Council. Saddam Hussein must give
    the weapons inspectors full, free, unfettered access to all suspected
    sites anywhere in Iraq. That is the clear standard which Saddam himself
    agreed to at the end of the Gulf war and that the Security Council has
    reiterated on many occasions since. He simply must adhere to that
    standard.
        Let me also say that I have asked Vice President Gore to postpone his planned trip to South Africa. In the
    coming days I want my full national security team on hand to take part
    in our deliberations and decisions on this vitally important issue.
        We hope the Secretary-General's mission will
    succeed. But let me be clear: If diplomacy fails, we must be--and we
    are--prepared to act. The choice is Saddam Hussein's. We hope he will accept the mandate of the world
    community. He has, after all, agreed to it already, years ago. If not,
    he must bear the responsibility for the consequences.
        Q. Mr. President, what did you learn, sir--sir, what did you learn
    from the divided town meeting yesterday?
        The President. Well, I thought it was a good old-fashioned American
    debate. But I would say, I was, first of all, very proud of the
    Secretary of State, the Secretary of
    Defense, and Mr. Berger. I thought they answered the questions well. And I believe
    strongly that most Americans support our policy. They support our
    resolve. I think an overwhelming majority of Americans also want a
    peaceful resolution of this, but if it's necessary for us to act, I
    believe America will do what it always does. I believe it will unite,
    just as we did in 1991. I believe it will unite behind taking the
    necessary action.
        Q. Mr. President, do you think Saddam Hussein is emboldened to
    stiff-arm the international community based upon what happened in
    Columbus yesterday?
        The President. Not if he understands the
    first thing about America.
        Q. Mr. President, are you ready to deal with a deadline if Saddam
    Hussein----
        Q. Does that mean you're going to start bombing next week?
        The President. I've made no decision about a deadline.

    Independent Counsel's Investigation

        Q. Mr. President, are you prepared to assert executive privilege in
    connection with the testimony of Bruce Lindsey and John Podesta, other
    of your top assistants before the grand jury?
        The President. It's my understanding that the White House Counsel
     is trying to resolve that issue today,
    and while he's working on it, I don't think I should comment about it.
        Q. Thank you, Mr. President.

    Situation in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, are you considering delivering a more formal
    address to the American people about the need to deal with Saddam--
    [inaudible]?
        The President. Well, if further action becomes necessary, I will
    obviously speak directly to the American people about it.
        Q. Mr. President, do you feel like you have articulated the goals of
    this policy, if we do indeed have to attack Iraq?

    [[Page 246]]

        The President. I believe that the speech I gave at the Pentagon was
    quite clear about that. We want to significantly reduce his capacity to produce chemical and biological weapons
    and his capacity to delivery them and to visit them on his people, his
    neighbors, and people throughout the world. I believe the more the
    American people learn about the dangers of chemical and biological
    warfare, the kinds of problems they can present to us now and in the
    future, the stiffer their resolve will be.
        And so I feel that time is on our side. And I believe that 10 years
    from now, not in the heat of this moment, 15 years from now, when people
    look back at this time, they will want to look back at a period when
    those of us in positions of responsibility fulfilled our responsibility
    by trying to rid the world of this danger.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:25 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House, prior to his departure for Baltimore, MD. In his remarks, he
    referred to White House Counsel Charles F.C. Ruff.