jshen@watdragon.waterloo.edu (Jun Shen) (01/24/91)
Here is a transcript of President Bush's address to the nation Wednesday
night:
Five months ago, Saddam Hussein started this cruel war
against Kuwait; tonight the battle has been joined. This mili-
tary action, taken in accord with United Nations resolutions and
with the consent of the United States Congress, follows months of
constant and virtually endless diplomatic activity on the part of
the United Nations, the United States and many, many other coun-
tries.
Arab leaders sought what became known as an Arab solution,
only to conclude that Saddam Hussein was unwilling to leave
Kuwait. Others traveled to Baghdad in a variety of efforts to
restore peace and justice. Our Secretary of State, James Baker,
held an historic meeting in Geneva only to be totally rebuffed.
This past weekend, in a last-ditch effort, the Secretary
General of the United Nations went to the Middle East with peace
in his heart - his second such mission, and he came back from
Baghdad with no progress at all in getting Saddam Hussein to
withdraw from Kuwait.
Now, the 28 countries with forces in the gulf area have ex-
hausted all reasonable efforts to reach a peaceful resolution,
have no choice but to drive Saddam from Kuwait by force. We will
not fail.
As I report to you, air attacks are under way against mili-
tary targets in Iraq. We are determined to knock out Saddam
Hussein's nuclear bomb potential. We will also destroy his chem-
ical weapons facilities. Much of Saddam's artillery and tanks
will be destroyed.
Our operations are designed to best protect the lives of all
the coalition forces by targeting Saddam's vast military arsenal.
Initial reports from Gen. Schwarzkopf are that our opera-
tions are proceeding according to plan.
Our objectives are clear. Saddam Hussein's forces will
leave Kuwait. The legitimate government of Kuwait will be re-
stored to its rightful place and Kuwait will once again be free.
Iraq will eventually comply with all relevant United Nations
resolutions and then when peace is restored, it is our hope that
Iraq will live as a peaceful and cooperative member of the family
of nations, thus enhancing the security and stability of the
gulf.
Some may ask, "Why act now? Why not wait?" The answer is
clear. The world could wait no longer.
Sanctions, though having some effect, showed no signs of ac-
complishing their objective. Sanctions were tried for well over
five months and we and our allies concluded that sanctions alone
would not foarce Saddam from Kuwait.
While the world waited, Saddam Hussein systematically raped,
pillaged and plundered a tiny nation - no threat to his own. He
subjected the people of Kuwait to unspeakable atrocities, and
among those maimed and murdered - innocent children. While the
world waited, Saddam sought to add to the chemical weapons arse-
nal he now possesses an infinitely more dangerous weapon of mass
destruction, a nuclear weapon.
And while the world waited, while the world talked peace and
withdrawal, Saddam Hussein dug in and moved massive forces into
Kuwait. While the world waited, while Saddam stalled, more dam-
age was being done to the fragile economies of the Third World,
the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe, to the entire world,
including to our own economy.
The United States, together with the United Nations, ex-
hausted every means at our disposal to bring this crisis to a
peaceful end.
However, Saddam clearly felt that by stalling and threaten-
ing and defying the United Nations, he could weaken the forces
arrayed against him.
While the world waited, Saddam Hussein met every overture of
peace with open contempt. While the world prayed for peace, Sad-
dam prepared for war.
I had hoped that when the United States Congress, in histor-
ic debate, took its resolute action, Saddam would realize he
could not prevail and would move out of Kuwait in accord with the
United Nations resolutions. He did not do that.
Instead, he remained intransigent, certain that time was on
his side. Saddam was warned over and over again to comply with
the will of the United Nations - leave Kuwait or be driven out.
Saddam has arrogantly rejected all warnings. Instead, he tried
to make this a dispute between Iraq and the United States of
America.
Well, he failed. Tonight, 28 nations, countries from five
continents - Europe and Asia, Africa and the Arab League - have
forces in the gulf area standing shoulder-to-shoulder against
Saddam Hussein. These countries had hoped the use of force could
be avoided. Regrettably, we now believe that only force will
make him leave.
Prior to ordering our forces into battle, I instructed our
military commanders to take every necessary step to prevail as
quickly as possible and with the greatest degree of protection
possible for American and allied servicemen and women. I've told
the American people beforehand that his will not be another Viet-
nam.
And I repeat this here tonight. Our troops will have the
best possible support in the entire world. And they will not be
asked to fight with one hand tied behind their back.
I'm hopeful that this fighting will not go on for long and
that casualties will be held to an absolute minimum. This is an
historic moment. We have in this past year made great progress
in ending the long era of conflict and Cold War. We have before
us the opportunity to forge for ourselves and for future genera-
tions a new world order, a world where the rule of law, not the
law of the jungle, governs the conduct of nations. When we are
successful, and we will be, we have a real chance at this new
world order, an order in which a credible United Nations can use
its peacekeeping role to fulfill the promise and vision of the
U.N.'s founders.
We have no argument with the people of Iraq. Indeed, for
the innocents caught in this conflict, I pray for their safety.
Our goal is not the conquest of Iraq. It is the liberation of
Kuwait.
It is my hope that somehow the Iraqi people can even now
convince their dictator that he must lay down his arms, leave
Kuwait and let Iraq itself rejoin the family of peace-loving na-
tions.
Thomas Paine wrote many years ago: "These are the times
that try mens's souls." Those well known words are so very true
today.
But even as planes of the multinational forces attack Iraq,
I prefer to think of peace, not war. I am convinced not only
that we will prevail, [and we will,] but that out of the horror
of combat will come the recognition that no nation can stand
against a world united, no nation will be permitted to brutally
assault its neighbor.
No president can easily commit our sons and daughters to
war.
They are the nation's finest. Ours is an all-volunteer
force, magni- ficently trained, hightly motivated. The troops
know why they're there. And listen to what they say, for they've
said it better than any president or prime minister ever could.
Listen to Hollywood Huddleston, Marine lance corporal.
He says, "Let's free these people so we can go home and be
free again." And he's right. The terrible crimes and tortures
committed by Saddam's henchmen against the innocent people of
Kuwait are an affront to mankind and a challenge to the freedom
of all.
Listen to one of our great officers out there, Marine Lieu-
tenant General Walter Boomer. He said, "There are things worth
fighting for. A world in which brutality and lawlessness are al-
lowed to go unchecked isn't the kind of world we are going to
want to live in."
Listen to Master Sergeant J.P. Kendall of the 82nd Airborne.
"We're here for more than the price of a gallon of gas. What
we're doing is going to chart the future of the world for the
next 100 years. It's better to deal with this guy now than five
years from now."
And finally, we should all sit up and listen to Jackie
Jones, an Army lieutenant, when she says, "If we let him get away
with this, who knows what's going to be next?" I've called upon
Hollywood and Walter and J.P. and Jackie and all their coura-
geous comrades in arms to do what must be done.
Tonight America and the world are deeply grateful to them
and to their families.
And let me say to everyone listening or watching tonight:
When the troops we've sent in finish their work, I'm determined
to bring them home as soon as possible. Tonight, as our forces
fight, they and their families are in our prayers.
May God bless each and every one of them and the coalition
forces at our side in the gulf, and may He continue to bless our
nation, the United States of America.