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President Bush's Address to the Nation
Wednesday, January 16, 1991, 9:00 PM E.S.T.
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Just two hours ago, Allied Air forces began an attack on military
targets in Iraq and Kuwait. These attacks continue as I speak.
Ground forces are not engaged.
This conflict started August 2d, when the dictator of Iraq
invaded a small and helpless neighbor. Kuwait, a member of the
Arab league and a member of the United Nations, was crushed; its
people brutalized. Five months ago Saddam Hussein started this
cruel war against Kuwait. Tonight, the battle has been joined.
This military action, taken in accord with United Nations
resolutions, and with the consent of the United States Congrees,
follows months of constant and virtually endless diplomatic
activity on the part on the United Nations, the United States,
and many, many other countries. 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, and 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 exhausted 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 underway against
military targets in Iraq. We are determined to knock out Saddam
Hussein's nuclear bomb potential; we will also destroy his
chemical 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 General Schwarzkopf are
that our operations are proceeding according to plan. Our
objectives are clear : Saddam Hussein's forces will leave Kuwait,
the legitimate government of Kuwait will be restored 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 accomplishing their objective.
Sanctions were tried for well over five months, and we and our
allies concluded that sanctions alone would not force 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
arsenal 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 withdraw, Saddam Hussein dug in
and moved massive forces into Kuwait. While the world waited,
while Saddam stalled, more damage was being done to the fragile
economies of the third world, emerging democracies of Eastern
Europe, to the entire world including to our own economy. The
United States, together with the United Nations, exhausted every
means at our disposal to bring this crisis to a peaceful end.
However, Saddam clearly felt, that by stalling and threatening
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, Saddam prepared for war.
I had hoped, that when the United States Congress, in
historic debate, took its resolute action, Saddam would realize
he could not prevail, and would move out of Kuwait in accord with
the United Nation 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 before, that this will not be another
Vietnam. 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 generations 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 peace-keeping 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 nations. Thomas Paine wrote, many years ago, "These are
the times that try mens' souls." Those well known words are so
very true today. But even as planes of the multi national forces
attack Iraq, I prefer to think of peace, not war. I'm convinced,
not only that we will prevail, 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, magnificently trained, highly 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 Lieutenant
General Walter Boomer. He said, "There are things worth fighting
for. A world in which brutality and lawlessness are allowed to
go unchecked isn't the kind of world we're going to want to live
in." Listen to Master Sergeant J.P. Kendel of the 82nd Airborne.
"We're here for more than just the price of a gallon of gas.
What we're doing is going to chart the future of the world for
the next hundred years. Its better to deal with this guy now,
then 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 courageous 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.