[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 36 (Monday, September 9, 1996)]
[Pages 1641-1642]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Announcing a Missile Strike on Iraq and an Exchange With 
Reporters

September 3, 1996

    The President. Good morning. Three days ago, despite clear warnings 
from the United States and the international community, Iraqi forces 
attacked and seized the Kurdish-controlled city of Irbil in northern 
Iraq. The limited withdrawals announced by Iraq do not change the 
reality. Saddam Hussein's army today controls Irbil, and Iraqi units 
remain deployed for further attacks.
    These acts demand a strong response, and they have received one. 
Earlier today I ordered American forces to strike Iraq. Our missiles 
sent the following message to Saddam Hussein: When you abuse your own 
people or threaten your neighbors, you must pay a price.
    It appears that one Kurdish group, which in the past opposed Saddam, 
now has decided to cooperate with him. But that cannot justify 
unleashing the Iraqi army against the civilian population of Irbil. 
Repeatedly over the past weeks and months we have worked to secure a 
lasting cease-fire between the Kurdish factions. The Iraqi attack adds 
fuel to the factional fire and threatens to spark instability throughout 
the region.
    Our objectives are limited but clear: to make Saddam pay a price for 
the latest act of brutality, reducing his ability to threaten his 
neighbors and America's interests. First, we are extending the no-fly 
zone in southern Iraq. This will deny Saddam control of Iraqi airspace 
from the Kuwaiti border to the southern suburbs of Baghdad and 
significantly restrict Iraq's ability to conduct offensive operations in 
the region. Second, to protect the safety of our aircraft enforcing this 
no-fly zone, our cruise missiles struck Saddam's air defense 
capabilities in southern Iraq.
    The United States was a cosponsor of United Nations Security 
Resolution 986, which allows Iraq to sell amounts of oil to purchase 
food and medicine for its people, including the Kurds. Irbil, the city 
seized by the Iraqis, is a key distribution center for this aid. Until 
we are sure these humanitarian supplies can actually get to those who 
need them the plan cannot go forward, and the Iraqi Government will be 
denied the new resources it has been expecting.
    Saddam Hussein's objectives may change, but his methods are always 
the same: violence and aggression against the Kurds, against other 
ethnic minorities, against Iraq's neighbors. Our answer to that 
recklessness must be strong and immediate, as President Bush 
demonstrated in Operation Desert Storm, as we showed 2 years ago when 
Iraq massed its forces on Kuwait's border, and as we showed again today.
    We must make it clear that reckless acts have consequences, or those 
acts will increase. We must reduce Iraq's ability to strike out at its 
neighbors, and we must increase America's ability to contain Iraq over 
the long run. The steps we are taking today will further all those 
objectives. Time and again, Saddam Hussein has made clear his

[[Page 1642]]

disdain for civilized behavior. He brutalized his own people, attacked 
his neighbors, supported terrorism, and sought to acquire weapons of 
mass destruction. Our policy is equally clear. When our interest in the 
security of our friends and allies is threatened, we will act with force 
if necessary. That is what we did this morning in Iraq.
    I know the thoughts and prayers of all Americans are with our 
military men and women who are conducting this mission. God bless them 
and the Nation they are serving.
    Q.  Mr. President, why do you think that only Britain is supporting 
our move? Why have the allies all retreated from any support?
    The President. Well, I believe that--first of all, you have to ask 
them their position. But I believe that we have historically, at least 
in recent history, taken the lead in matters like this, and I think this 
was our responsibility at this time. I talked to quite a large number of 
our allies, and I am satisfied with their response. And I believe that 
we will be able to go forward with this mission, and I think others feel 
that at this time there may be, for their own domestic purposes, some 
limits on how much they can do.
    But I think it's important to move now. We have not seen any 
withdrawal of Saddam's forces from the area, and we know that he has a 
history of seeing how far he can go, taking a little and then doing a 
little more, taking a little and doing a little more. So I can only tell 
you what I believe is right and that I have done my best to cooperate 
with others.
    Q. Is this the end?
    Q. Mr. President, he appears unbowed. He says that he's not going to 
recognize the no-fly zones anymore. He says that there has been only 
minimal damage to Iraqi assets, and that he urges his troops to resist 
strikes. Is this over, or is there going to have to be more?
    The President. Well, as always with Saddam Hussein, it depends 
entirely on what he does, not on what he says but what he does. And we 
were trying to have very limited damage to human beings and trying to 
take an action which would show our resolve and would protect our planes 
as they fly in an expanded no-fly zone. That's why the targets were 
picked, to make it clear what we thought and to secure the safety of the 
planes that will be flying the expanded no-fly zone.
    Q. Mr. President, at this stage do you see any other troop movements 
that alarm you?
    The President. The present deployments and the things that we have 
seen in support of them convince me that at least he has maintained the 
potential to take further military action in the region. That is the 
problem. He said, ``Well, we took our soldiers out of Irbil.'' That's 
true, but look where they are and look what they're doing. And the 
latest reports this morning are not encouraging.
    So again, I will say to you, let's look and see what he does, and 
that is, I think, what should drive our actions. The words are not 
important; the actions are what matter.

Note: The President spoke at 8:07 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.