Diskussionsbeiträge
der Projektgruppe Friedensforschung Konstanz, Nr. 53, 2004
New York Times, 17.01.1991
Comments by Bush on the Air Strikes Against the Iraquis
No Choice but to Attack
"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 hav 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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