Action that moves toward a partial
solution would be self-defeating
appeasement.
And should there be any doubt
about the awful consequences of a
partial solution, I would urge a close
look at what Saddam Hussein is doing
to the people of Kuwait. Because
Saddam Hussein controls access to the
true story of Kuwait, this is a story that
is not told frequently enough. So I
commend the Congress' effort to secure
eyewitness testimony of the brutalities
now taking place.
It is the rape of Kuwait. Hospitals
have been looted without regard for the
sick. Parents have been tortured and
executed in front of their children.
Children have been tortured and
executed in front of their parents.
Even after his military conquest,
Saddam has continued to make war on
the people of Kuwait.
Let me be blunt: Saddam Hussein
has invaded and tortured a peaceful
Arab neighbor purely for self-aggran-
dizement. He is not raping Kuwait to
advance the Palestinian cause.
We cannot allow this violent way to
become the wave of the future in the
Middle East. Saddam Hussein must
fail if peace is to succeed. The pros-
pects for a just and lasting peace
between Israel and its Arab neighbors
will be shattered if he prevails.
It is time to clear the air once and
for all about the relationship between
Saddam's aggression in Kuwait and
other conflicts and problems in the
region. I will put it to you simply: Does
anyone seriously think that if this
aggression succeeds, that prospects will
be better for peace between Israel and
the Palestinians? Can anyone seriously
believe that if Iraq wins this contest
with the international community, it
will be easier to eliminate chemical
weapons or biological weapons or
nuclear weapons in the region? Of
course not.
Every hope for peace in this
conflict-ridden region depends on
stopping Iraq's aggression and ulti-
mately reversing its capacity for future
aggression.
Defeating Aggression
Since we met last, a great coalition of
nations has gathered to isolate Iraq and
its dictator. Where before his aggres-
sion Saddam Hussein found allies of
consequence, today he finds none.
Where before the invasion, the Iraqi
economy had important international
links, today it has none. And where
once there were prospects for success-
ful Iraqi aggression against Saudi
Arabia, today there are none.
Unity remains essential. I do not
believe we could have come this far if
most nations did not agree with
President Bush that we all have a stake
in a world where conflicts are settled
peacefully. And that unity, expressed
in political, economic, and military
terms, remains the best hope for a
peaceful solution to this conflict as well.
It is gratifying that the vast
majority of Americans have rallied
behind the President in support of both
our goals and our strategy in the
Persian Gulf Indeed, most of the world
has done so, as well. Saddam Hussein
cannot be allowed to ruin the region.
He cannot be allowed to spoil this time
of hope in the world for a more secure
and prosperous future. There is a
morality among nations. That morality
must prevail. M
Published by the United States Department
of State • Bureau of Public Affairs • Office
of Public Communication • Washington, DC
October 1990 • Editor: Phyllis A. Young •
This material is in the public domain and may
be reprinted without permission; citation of this
source is appreciated.