[Here is a transcript of President Bush's address to the nation
January 16, 1991.]

     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 constant 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 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 under way 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 Gen. 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 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 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, the
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
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 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 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 nations.

     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, 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 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 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 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.

