Diskussionsbeiträge
der Projektgruppe Friedensforschung Konstanz, Nr. 53, 2004
New York Times, 17.01.1991
Comments
by Bush on the Air Strikes Against the Iraquis
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 Aug. 2, 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 Congress, follows months of consent and virtually
endless diplomatic activity on the part of 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
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 Mittle 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.
No Choice but to Attack
Now,
the 28 contries with forces in the gulf area have exhausted all reasonable efforts
to reach a peaceful resolution, and 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 military tragets in Iraq.
We are determined to knock out Sammam 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 Schartzkopf 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.
"Why Not Wait?"
Some
may ask, why act now? Why not wait? The answer is clear. The world could wait
not 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 withdrawal, 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 the
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 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 an the United States of
America.
Well he failed. Tonight 28 nations - countries from five
continents, Europe and Asia, Africa and the Arab
Leage have forcees in the Gulf area standing shoulder to shoulder against Saddam
Hussein. These contries 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 suppport 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 casualities will be held to an absolut minimum.
An Historic Moment'
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 or 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 peacekeepng 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 familiy
of peace loving nations.
Thomas Paine wrote many years ago: "These are the times that try men's
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 am 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, because they've said it better than any President or Prime Minister ever
could. Listen to Hollywool 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.
Worth Fighting For'
Listen
to one of our great officers out there, Marine Lieut. Gen. 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 Sgt. J.P. Kendall of the 82d 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.
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 lieutnant,
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
of forces at our side in the Gulf, and may He continue to bless our nation,
the United States of America.
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