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26
20
7
7
BOB
simon
McNally/Simon
Oct. 10, 1990
Draft One (E:VETS)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: MEETING OF VETERANS LEADERS
ROOM 450, O.E.O.B.
THURS., OCT. 11, 1990, 11:40 A.M.
Thank you. It's good to see Secretary Ed Derwinski,
Ambassador Tom Pickering, and General Colin Powell -- three
Robert Gates
pillars of national leadership -- representing three pillars of
national unity: America's veterans, America's diplomats, and
America's fighting men and women.
righ ann
Metron
And I'm especially glad to see Bob Turner, Joe Andry, and
Jim Kimery here again. And I want to recognize Orval Hooten,
Joe
Samora
national commander of the Veterans of World War I. Born in
OPL
October, 1895 -- Happy birthday, Orval! We're pleased to welcome
all of you to the White House, and to tell you how much we
appreciate your efforts, your organizations, and your support.
During the past 10 weeks, the events in the Persian Gulf
have reminded us of the importance of a strong America. The
world is still a dangerous place, and America must be ready.
In World War II, the world paid dearly for appeasing an
aggressor who could have been stopped. We're not going to make
that mistake again.
Encyclopedia
of
Exactly 50 years ago today, America awoke to headlines of
4
Military
another massive air raid on London. The Battle of Britain was in
History
full rage. True, the democracies were battered. But their
p.1065
resolve was never more clear They stood up to tyranny. And two
a day days later, on October 12, Operation Sea Lion -- the invasion of
England -- was cancelled.
2
Bartletts
And you know the famous Churchill quote: "Never, in the
p.744 field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few.'
Since World War II, Allied strength and resolve have been
tested many times. But when we look back on that history of
valor and sacrifice, it's clear that the strength of our arms and
the strength of our will is up to the challenge in the Gulf.
And we're not alone. Thanks to the efforts of Ambassador
Molliamson
647-2392
Pickering and others, the U.N Security Council has now passed
eight major resolutions setting the terms + for solving the crisis.
The Iraqi regime has yet to face the facts. But as I've
said: The annexation of Kuwait will not be permitted to stand.
The regime is up against not only the law of nations -- but also
the law of mathematics. The numbers are against them.
Today, it's not Iraq versus Kuwait -- but Iraq against the
world. (And you know what they say: When it's you against the
world -- bet on the world.)
By waging a war of aggression, plundering a peaceful
neighbor, holding innocents hostage, and gassing its own people,
Iraq has violated every standard of international behavior.
We're not talking about international etiquette -- we're talking
about international law. And outlaw nations and outlaw leaders
must know: The stakes are high, the cause is just -- and today
more than ever -- the authority is real.
Here at home, your efforts to improve the lot of veterans
has been an important component in the success of America's all-
NYT
volunteer forces. Colin Powell recently returned from a visit
9-14-90
3
with our troops in the Gulf. And your support is evident in the
pride and high morale found today in the young American heroes
serving overseas.
Websters
It reminds me of another hero. It was this very week, in
1918, that Tennessee's Sgt. York captured 132 enemy prisoners and
am.
35 32 machine guns -- single-handedly. When asked how he did it, he
Biographies
answered simply: "I surrounded 'em." III Now that's about what
I'd expect from an American soldier. And that kind of spirit is
going to carry us to victory in whatever challenges we face. III
Tonight, as evening falls across America, there'll be
candles in our windows and prayers in our hearts. The Empire
NYT
9-23-90
State Building will be awash in lights -- lights red, white and
blue -- lights to honor the men and women in uniform now standing
Sec.
in
P.
watch in the Persian Gulf.
Like your presence here today -- like your good works every
day -- these gestures show that the folks at home haven't
forgotten the sacrifice of our soldiers and sailors, our airmen
and marines, tonight many miles from home.
And so I'm here to thank you for the important work you do
in defending our Nation's freedom, in keeping our nation strong.
Thank you for coming to the White House. And God bless the
United States.
#
#
#
1064
WORLD WAR II IN THE WEST
OPERATIONS IN 1940
1065
the combined Rome-Berlin Axis powers.
nat organized the French Congo. In Eng-
force to oppose British naval strength, the Luftwaffe's task was first to defeat the RAF
Her vital Atlantic sea lanes were menaced
land, Admiral Émile Muselier began or-
and then to neutralize the Royal Navy. French, Low Country, and Norwegian air-
by German submarines, her Mediterra-
ganization of a Free French Navy. Al-
fields were developed to maximum capability. As prelude, harassing air raids were
nean lifeline by Italy's fleet and army,
though supported to great extent by the
made daily against British coastal towns and shipping during July. Meanwhile, Ger-
with Soviet Russia an Axis silent partner
British government, this Free French
man armies were regrouping for embarkation, and the Navy was scouring Germany
on the sidelines. Furthermore, there was
movement was as yet regarded with some
and the occupied countries for landing craft.
danger that Hitler would seize the French
misgivings by both Britain and the United
fleet, which would provide the Axis with
States, whose leaders underestimated the
a clear preponderance of sea power. The
1940, August 8-18. First Phase. Goering
numerous Berliners were killed or injured.
dynamic driving force of de Gaulle.
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were
mustered 2,800 planes, with capability of
Düsseldorf, Essen, and other German cit-
1940, June 24. Arms from the U.S. In re-
intact though battered, but there were in-
sponse to Churchill's urgent purchase re-
putting up 900 fighters and 1,300 bombers
ies were also attacked. Hitler and Goering,
sufficient destroyers in the former to carry
in 3 fleets-Marshal Albert Kesselring's
in blind rage, after undergoing a week of
quest (June 3), a large shipment of small
out antisubmarine, convoy, and patrolling
Air Fleet Two, flying from northern
British reprisals, again shifted their strat-
arms, machine guns, light artillery, and
France; Marshal Hugo Sperrle's Three,
egy. At the moment that British air de-
activities. The British Army at home was
ammunition arrived in England.
from Belgian and Dutch bases; and Gen-
fense had reached its lowest ebb, and with
in sad state. Although the majority of the
1940, July 3-4. Seizure of French Warships.
victory almost in German reach, the Luft-
BEF personnel had been brought back
eral Hans-Jürgen Stumpff's Five (mainly
A British squadron appeared off Oran,
bombers), based in Norway. Against this
waffe was ordered to drop its assault
from Dunkirk, they had left all their arms
Algeria, and demanded that the French
and other matériel behind them in France,
force, British Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dow-
against British airfields and control cen-
squadron there choose (a) to join Eng-
ding's Fighter Command mustered but
ters.
and the remaining army troops in Great
land and fight Germany, (b) to turn in
Britain (29 divisions, with little armor or
650 operational fighters in 52 squadrons.
1940, September 7-30. Third Phase. Lon-
artillery) were not yet combat-ready. To
at an English port for internment, or (c)
German strategy was to coax the British
don became the target for tremendous
to sink itself in Oran Harbor. On French
most neutrals it appeared that Britain
into combat, by strafing seaports and
and incessant aerial bombardment. Fighter
must bow to the inevitable and make
refusal, Vice Admiral Sir James F. Som-
fighter bases, and then shoot them out
Command, its task simplified by the Ger-
peace. Hitler thought so, too, opening the
erville opened fire. In a short action, 3
of the sky. However, aided by Britain's
man singleness of objective, was thus able
door to a negotiated peace, which Church-
French battleships were sunk, a fourth
newly developed radar, Dowding was able
to concentrate its dwindling force. The
hold.
ill contemptuously slammed shut as Brit-
escaped, and 5 destroyers fled to Toulon.
to concentrate superior force at vital spots
bombing of London reached its crescendo
British damage was light. That same day
and the Luftwaffe's massive daily day and
ain girded herself.
(September 15) when more than 1,000
days
1940, June 23. De Gaulle and the Free
the French squadron at Alexandria-1
night attacks-1,485 sorties the first day
bombers and some 700 fighters swept all
V
French. A new element emerged from
battleship, 4 cruisers, and 3 destroyers-
(August 8), rising to 1,786 sorties (August
day over the city in wave after wave. By
disarmed itself on orders of Admiral Sir
the debris of fallen France. Brigadier Gen-
15)-were roughly handled in combats
nightfall, 56 assaulting planes had been
eral de Gaulle, exponent of armored war-
Andrew B. C. Cunningham, commanding
ranging in a 500-mile arc from southwest
downed at the expense of only 26 British
cand
the British Eastern Mediterranean Fleet. In
fare, had been called from his division
to northeast England. In continuous fight-
aircraft. British civilian casualties were
command (June 5) to become Undersec-
other English ports were 2 more subma-
ing during the rest of the period, Fighter
heavy during this phase-from 300 to 600
rines which, on British summons, joined
Command still dominated the air over
retary of State for National Defense in the
lives lost and from 1,000 to 3,000 persons
short-lived cabinet of Paul Reynaud and
"Free French" forces and served with the
Britain.
injured per day in the unrelenting as
had urged continued resistance. When Pé-
Royal Navy throughout the rest of the
1940, August 24-September 5. Second Phase.
saults, while a considerable portion of the
tain capitulated, de Gaulle fled to Eng-
war. These coups accounted for a large
German attacks were shifted to concen-
So
proportion of the French Navy. Some
city was wrecked. But English spirit re-
land, calling on all true Frenchmen to
trate against main inland RAF bases.
fused to falter, and the Luftwaffe's losses
rally and fight for freedom. The call was
ships remained at the naval base of Tou-
Large groups of bombers, each protected
lon, at Algiers, Casablanca, and Dakar.
were so great that daylight bombing had
day
answered by French officers and soldiers
by 100 fighters, crashed through by sheer
from the world over-by driblets at first,
The conflict at Oran, however, embittered
to be dropped. The aerial tide had turned.
weight of numbers, inflicting great dam-
many Frenchmen. Pétain's French Vichy
age on airfields and communication and
1940, September 14-15. British Counter-
then in mounting numbers. De Gaulle at
once utilized the best of these men to or-
government severed diplomatic relations
control centers. The German high com-
blow. Bomber Command, in conjunction
ganize outlying French territories. Captain
with Britain (July 5).
mand came close to cracking Fighter
with light naval craft, destroyed nearly
Jacques de Hauteclôche-who protected
1940, September 27. Rome-Berlin-Tokyo
Command. More than 450 British fighters
200 barges in French and Low Country
his family by changing his name to Jean
"Axis." A 3-power pact was concluded
were destroyed; 103 pilots were killed and
ports-one-tenth of the total gathered for
Leclerc-was flown to French Equatorial
at Berlin, each partner pledging the oth-
128 wounded.
the proposed invasion. Hitler suspended
Africa. General Georges Catroux went to
ers total aid for 10 years. The treaty did
1940, August 24-29. Berlin Bombed. In re-
Operation Sea Lion-scheduled for Sep-
Cairo as Free French commander in the
not, however, require Japan to go to war
taliation for a bombing of London, the
tember 27. Slowly the German aerial as-
Middle East. Colonel Edgard de Larmi-
against Britain or her allies.
RAF Bomber Command staged a night
saults tapered off. The last daylight raid
and
and
raid on Berlin. For 3 hours, 81 British
occurred September 30.
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
planes hovered unharmed over the fog-
1940, October 1-30. Final Phase. Sporadic
shrouded city. Damage was small, but the
German hit-and-run raids continued, do-
wwoul
Operation "Sea Lion." Hitler, against the recommendations of his army and
psychological effect immense. The raid
ing relatively little damage. London was
navy chiefs, but with the Luftwaffe's enthusiastic support, had decided to invade
was repeated (August 28 and 29), despite
lashed by another intensive air raid (Oc-
England (June 5). Control of the sea was essential. Having no adequate surface
Berlin's 2 rings of antiaircraft batteries;
tober 10). Hitler now canceled Operation
1066
WORLD WAR II IN THE WEST
OPERATIONS IN 1940
1067
Sea Lion (October 12). The Battle of
great that decisive victory in the air became
Britain had been won by the RAF, of
impossible, and without air victory there
Through it ran the empire's "life line":
FIRST WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN,
whom Churchill said: "Never, in the field
could be no invasion of England.
the short sea route to India and Australia-
SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER, 1940
of human conflict, was so much owed by
New Zealand. Egypt, where both the
SO many to so few." Over-all losses were
1940, November. The Blitz Begins. While
British Mediterranean Fleet and Middle
1940, September 13. Graziani's Invasion of
1,733 German planes shot down, to 915
the Luftwaffe had given up its effort to
East Command were based to protect the
Egypt. Marshal Rodolfo_Graziani (suc
British.
gain permanent air control, sporadic night
Suez Canal, was Britain's principal base
ceeding Balbo, killed in an air crash in
COMMENT. Four factors decided Brit-
raids continued through the rest of the
securing this life line. Mussolini planned
June) entered Egypt with 5 divisions,
ish victory in the air: first was an indomita-
year. Coventry was struck (November
to seize the Suez Canal by a pincer move-
moving on a narrow front along the coast.
ble will to win; second was radar, which
14-15) by about 500 German bombers
ment: from Libya on the west and from
British covering forces fell back before
pinpointed enemy presence, routes, and
and practically demolished. London was
Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland on the
him. Reaching Sidi Barrani (September
strength; third was a well-organized, efficient
again swept by a devastating raid, causing
southeast. At the same time he prepared
16), the Italians settled down in a series
ground-control system, which enabled con-
many explosions and fires (December
for invasion of Greece through Albania
of fortified camps extending over a 50-
centration of superior force at the right time
29). Before the "blitz" ended (May,
to secure the northern shore of the Medi-
mile area, while Wavell's forces-now
and place; and fourth was the Germans' own
1941), more than 43,000 civilians-men,
terranean opposite Egypt. Recognizing the
2 divisions strong-remained at Mersa
strategical blunder: dispersion of effort. By
women, and children-had been killed
danger, even though Hitler was threaten-
Matruh, 75 miles east. Both sides re-
mid-September Luftwaffe losses were so
and 51,000 others seriously injured.
ing to invade Britain, Churchill boldly
ceived reinforcements. General Sir Henry
and wisely rushed Britain's sole remaining
M. ("Jumbo") Wilson, tactical com-
Battle of the Atlantic
armored division to Egypt.
mander in Egypt, made plans for at-
Available British forces were General
Despite the convoy system, and the addition to the British merchant marine of
tack, but operations were delayed when
Sir Archibald Wavell's Middle East Com-
Wavell was ordered to occupy Crete and
a numberof Scandinavian vessels (most of these ships had escaped when their coun-
mand, with 36,000 troops in Egypt (mostly
send part of his air force to Greece to
tries were overrun), the toll of British shipping sunk by the roving submarines kept
administrative, plus the understrength ar-
assist in countering an Italian invasion
mounting. By August 15, 2.5 million tons of shipping had been destroyed. Britain
mored division), 9,000 in the Sudan, 5,500
there (see p. 1068).
just did not have sufficient light warships to provide adequate protection for her
in Kenya, 1,475 in British Somaliland,
merchant ships from the sea wolves, nor could the shipyards produce sufficient re-
27,500 in Palestine, 2,500 in Aden, and
1940, December 9. Wavell's Offensive.
placements.
800 in Cyprus. His air-force contingent
After a night approach march, Wavell's
was very small. Admiral Sir Andrew B. C.
Western Desert Force, 31,000 men, 120
Cunningham's Mediterranean Fleet con-
guns, and 275 tanks, commanded by Ma-
1940, September 3. Trading Bases for De-
ers. In late October the German pocket
sisted of 1 carrier, 3 battleships, 3 heavy
jor General Richard N. O'Connor, ripped
stroyers. Churchill expected his urgent
battleship Admiral Scheer, Captain Theo-
and 5 light cruisers, and a number of de-
through a gap in the Italian chain of de-
shipbuilding program would in a few
dor Krancke, slipped through the block-
stroyers. Against these forces were pitted
fenses. O'Connor's relatively small force
months produce destroyers in quantity,
ade to pursue commerce destruction in
the full strength of the Italian Navy (see
-1 armored and 1 infantry division, 2
but until February, 1941, the shortage
the North Atlantic. She encountered (No-
table, p. 1052), the land-based Air Force,
additional infantry brigades, and a battal-
would be tragic and perhaps fatal to Brit-
vember 5) a 37-ship British convoy, es-
and much of the Italian Army. Italy it-
ion of the new British "I" tanks-hem-
ain. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
corted by the auxiliary cruiser Jervis Bay,
self lay geographically threatening Wa-
stitched its way westward between the
alive to the worldwide threat imposed by
with 4 6-in. guns, Captain E. F. S. Fegen.
vell's westward line of communications,
desert and the coast, gobbling in turn
Nazism, agreed to a momentous immedi-
Fegen, radioing the alarm, ordered his
while light Italian naval forces based on
each Italian fortified area. Air and naval
ate exchange. For 50 old U.S. destroyers,
convoy to scatter and deliberately at-
Britain leased naval and air bases to the
Ethiopian and Italian Somaliland coast
elements assisted. By mid-December, the
tacked the Scheer. For more than an hour
U.S. in its Western Hemisphere posses-
ports threatened his eastern communica-
Italians had been thrown completely out
the unequal contest kept up until the Jer-
tions through the Red Sea and Indian
of Egypt, leaving 38,000 prisoners and
sions-Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Ba-
vis Bay sank. However, 32 ships of the
Ocean. Mussolini's ground forces in East
great quantities of matériel in British
hamas, Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, Trin-
convoy got away. The German heavy
Africa-Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian
hands. As the year ended, the Desert
idad, and British Guiana.
cruiser Hipper also got out (November),
Somaliland-numbered about 110,000,
Force, after a pause of 2 weeks, was as-
1940, September 22-25. Attack on Dakar.
but engine trouble later forced her into
A British-Free French amphibious expedi-
commanded by Amadeo Umberto, Duke
saulting the perimeter of Bardia where
Brest for repairs. The presence of these 2
of Aosta, while in Libya Marshal Italo
Graziani's disorganized forces lay.
tion attempted to take Dakar, French
powerful vessels in the shipping lanes
West Africa, to prevent its possible use by
Balbo had 200,000 men and a sizable air
COMMENT. This daring assault against
slowed down convoying and necessitated
Germany as a submarine base for South
force.
a force 4 times its size was well planned and
strengthening the escorts. The Scheer con-
Atlantic operations. General de Gaulle
1940, June 11. First Attack on Malta. Im-
superbly executed. O'Connor's ground forces
tinued a destructive raid into the South
commanded the Free French force. Due
mediately upon declaring war, Mussolini
were ably supported by the RAF under
Atlantic and Indian Oceans, returning
to bad weather and Allied mistakes, the
launched 2 waves of bombers against the
Wing Commander R. Collishaw and by the
safely to Germany 4 months later.
invaders were repelled by the Vichy
island of Malta-the first of many thou-
long-range naval gunfire of Cunningham's
French defenders. Churchill, hoping to
sands of such raids.
Operations in the Mediterranean
warships along the coast. In principle the
avoid further bitterness between the
1940, June-September. Italian Preparations.
operation resembled Allenby's breakthrough
Vichy French and Britain, ordered the
Area, 1940
There were minor border clashes and
in Palestine in 1917 (see p. 974), in which
attack canceled.
1940. Tune. The Situation
Italian air raids as the Italians prepared
Wavell had played a part. It must be noted,
1170 YOELSON
Park, Florida, which from 1942 were known as the
Mendon, Monroe County, New York Joseph
choice and irrigal
Yerkes Laboratories, and it was there that he
Smith's Book of Mormon was published the fol-
Lake and much 1.
acquired a worldwide reputation as one of the
lowing year in a nearby town, and Young was
they early establis
leading authorities on the great apes, especially
baptized into Smith's new Church of Jesus Christ
service operations
on the chimpanzee. He published many influential
of Latter-Day Saints (the "Mormon Church") on
Having accepted t
books and papers; among the books were The
April 14, 1832. After several successful missionary
he took 27 wives-
Dancing Mouse; a Study in Animal Behavior, 1907;
tours. for the church in the fall of 1833, he
as ceremonial rath
Introduction to Psychology, 1911; The Mental
"gathered" with the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, and
of whom survived
Life of Monkeys and Apes, 1916; Almost Human,
joined in the march of Zion's Camp to Jackson
on his death in Sal
1925; The Great Apes: A Study of Anthropoid
County, Missouri, a fruitless effort to help dis-
Life, 1929, written with his wife, Ada W. Yerkes;
possessed Mormons regain their lands. For his
Young, Chic, see Y
and Chimpanzees: A Laboratory Colony, 1943. He
faith and works, he was named one of the Twelve
also served as a consultant to army intelligence
Apostles when Smith organized this body in 1835.
Young, Clarence,
during World War II. The recipient of many
The failure of the Mormon bank along with the
awards and honors for his work with great apes,
constant hostility of non-Mormons made it neces-
Young, Cy (1867-:
he died in New Haven, Connecticut, on February
sary for Young, like Smith and other Mormon
Gilmore, Tuscaraw
3, 1956.
leaders, to flee first, in 1838, to northwestern
1867, Denton True
Missouri and by the following year, out of the
for a Canton team
Yoelson, Asa, see Jolson, Al
state entirely. By that time two older apostles had
land team of the
died or left the church and Young became senior
October of that yea
York, Alvin Cullum (1887-1964), soldier. Born in
member of the quorum. A chief figure in the suc-
stamina by pitchin
Pall Mall, Fentress County, Tennessee, on Decem-
cessful founding of Nauvoo, Illinois, he then went
double-header. He
ber 13, 1887, York had little formal education,
to England, where he preached for a year and
1898, then successiv
dropping out of school in the third grade to work
established a mission that was to contribute many
1899-1900, the Bos
in a blacksmith shop. In 1911 he underwent a
British converts to the church in the United States
Cleveland Indians
religious conversion at a revival meeting and when
during the next half-century. Returning home in
and the Boston Bra
the United States entered World War I he declared
1841, he lived quietly among the Saints in Nauvoo
of the 1912 season.
himself a conscientious objector. His petition for
until the assassination of Smith in June 1844. At
age of forty-five, to
exemption from the draft was denied, however,
the time of the assassination he was absent in the
more, and went into
and he was inducted into the army and served
East, but he quickly returned to Nauvoo. Young
in 906 games, a rec
overseas in the 82nd Infantry Division. While
succeeded in his bid to head the church and early
broken when the P
taking part in the battle of the Argonne Forest on
in 1846 the pressure of unfriendly neighbors forced
became common; b
October 8, 1918, York demonstrated outstanding
him to lead the majority of the Saints out of
games, 7377 inning
heroism by leading an attack on a German
Illinois. They spent the summer at the Missouri
likely never to be
machine-gun nest. He and his men killed 25 of the
River and in 1847 he conducted a pioneer company
especially extraordi
enemy, and, acting almost alone, he captured 132
to the West, where the site of Salt Lake City was
ever to win 500 ga
prisoners and 35 machine guns. When asked how
chosen as a settling place for the Saints. He led
and 3 no-hit games
he had done this all by himself, he replied: "I sur-
the emigration of the whole church to Utah in
first "perfect" game
rounded 'em. The act made him the major popular
1848, and Salt Lake City became the base of a
27 batters in 9 inn
hero of the war. On November 1, 1918, shortly
colonizing endeavor in which the Saints sought
base-on May 5, 1
before the armistice, he was promoted to sergeant
out irrigable land and settled every feasible local-
games in each of th
and later was awarded the Congressional Medal of
ity, including areas in what are now the four sur-
enjoyed seasons with
Honor and the French Croix de Guerre. Altogether
rounding states as well as in California. As the
times won over 30
he received some 50 other decorations and became
supreme authority in the cooperative Mormon
1892, his best seas
one of the most celebrated heroes of the war.
theocracy, Young supervised the most minute
National Baseball H.
After the war, however, he refused to capitalize
details of the settlements, and the agricultural
in Newcomerstown,
on his fame; he returned to Tennessee to live on
communities enjoyed phenomenal growth and
November 4, 1955. A
a farm granted him by the state. In 1928 he
prosperity and converts continued to arrive. When
Award was establish
published his autobiography and in 1940 allowed
Congress changed the Mormons' provisional state
major leagues each
the movie Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper, to
of Deseret to the Territory of Utah in 1850, he
pitcher in each majo
be made. Cooper won an Academy Award in
continued as governor. He was appointed to a
1941 for his performance. York himself lived very
second term in 1854, but grinding friction be-
Young, Denton True,
modestly, giving away the bulk of the proceeds
tween the Mormons and the federal judiciary over
from his book and the movie to a foundation
the Mormon practice of polygamy and their eco-
Young, Murat Berna
organized to support an industrial school and a
nomic power finally led President James Buchanan
toonist. Born in Ch
Bible school in Tennessee. He died in Nashville,
to replace Young as governor in 1857. An army
Young grew up there
Tennessee, on December 2, 1964.
force under Gen. Albert S. Johnston was sent in
art schools in Chicago
1857 to establish the primacy of federal rule in
land before becoming
Young, Brigham (1801-1877), religious leader.
Utah, and Young passively resisted the incoming
paper Enterprise Assc
Born in Whitingham, Vermont, on June 1, 1801,
troops until the spring of 1858. His statesmanship
he switched to the
Young was raised in western New York State and
avoided a real break with the United States, how-
joined the King Featt
received only a few months of formal schooling in
ever. Although he never again held political office,
mained during the re
the towns where his poverty-stricken family
he effectively ruled the people of Utah as president
to 1926 he drew a dail
drifted. He grew up to be a farmer, carpenter,
of the Mormon church. As a result of his foresight
Dora. In 1930 he orig:
painter, and glazier, and in 1829 he settled in
and firm command, Mormons held nearly all the
about a jazz-age fla
A12
9/14/90
THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL FRIDAY, SE
Confrontation in the Gulf: No. 1 General Tours the Desert
Troops' Message to Powell:
When Can We Go Home?
By MICHAEL R. GORDON
Special to The New York Times
IN SAUDI ARABIA, Sept. 13
As General Powell left a hospital
Wherever Gen. Colin L. Powell went to-
ward, another airman said, "Are you
day on his tour of American forces
going to get me out of Here, sir?"
here, he was confronted with one ques-
Rotating Troops to U.S.
tion: When can we go home?
General Powell, Chairman of the
"I'd like to get everyone out of here
Joint Chiefs of Staff, insisted that the
fast," the general responded. "I'm
spirits of the American forces here
trying."
were high.
When General Powell met in the
The morale is high," General Pow-
desert with soldiers from the Army's
ell said at a news conference at an air
24th Mechanized Division, he again
base here. The troops are hot. They
faced shouted questions about how long
are doing a great job. There is not a
the deployment would last.
high level of frustration.
"I want to get you home as fastias
They are good for the long haul, he
possible but bear with me," General
said, referring to the soldiers, marines,
Powell said. "I can't give you an exact
sailors and airmen in the Persian Gulf
date."
region.
Seeking to mollify the troops, Gen-
Better IfI Was Home'
eral Powell told reporters at the end of
his tour today that the United States
But the general appeared to encoun-
would start rotating troops home "as
ter an enormous restiveness on his
soon as it is practical to do so.'
swing through Saudi Arabia.
When General Powell visited a hospi-
Allowance Suspended
tal for the Air Force's 1st Tactical
The troops' unease over the the pos-
Fighter Wing, he shook hands, with Sgt.
sibility of a long, open-ended deploy-
Robert Tate and asked how he felt.
ment in Saudi Arabia was also accom-
"I would be better if I was home,"
panied by complaints from some serv-
Sergeant Tate said.
icemen about the loss of some benefits.
Some servicemen have said, for ex-
ample, that they lost a special allow-
Dear Joe
ance provided to them for living off
base when they were deployed here.
The allowance, called "basic allow-
Mail by Fax
ance for subsidence," is given to serv-
iceman when the Government does not
Special to The New York Times
feed them, and many of the troops have
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13
come to rely on it as a source of in-
United States troops in the
come.
Persian Gulf will soon be able to
Some servicemen and members of
get mail from home by fax.
Congress have said that duty in Saudi
Herb Linnen, a spokesman for
Arabia is SO arduous that the troops
A.T.&T. in Washington, said the
should be provided the allowance even
/company's program would be-
though they are being fed Government
Pool photo
gin on Sept. 21. He said drawings
rations.
or one-page letters could be sent
Gen. Colin L. Powell, left, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
ifree from any of the company's
Enthusiasm Is Urged
a Marine unit yesterday on his tour of U.S. forces in Saudi
400 phone stores across the
"Now the suggestion is, for Desert
country. The sender will be re-
Shield, provide the food and also pay
quired to know the recipient's
them for the food," General Powell
"We will not be satisfied until Mr.
the deployment of
identification number and
said. But I have soldiers, sailors, air-
Hussein takes his army out of Kuwait,"
forces was somewhat 1
A.P.O. address. The addresses
men, coastguardsmen and marines all
General Powell said while visiting
of A.T.&T. phone centers may be
over the world who get that allowance
Army soldiers from the 24th Mech-
Sea-Lift Shij
obtained by calling 1-800-555-
cut off when they go to the field. And I
anized Infantry Division. General Pow-
"Sure there are gl
8111.
have to make sure we handle an item
ell also visited Marine units.
adding that some ves
Fax mail will be sent to Army
like that in an equitable fashion."
But General Powell declined to de-
form as expected.
post office stations set up in the
"We have got to be a little careful be-
He said that one fas
fine the potential scope of the mili-
Middle East and then distrib-
fore we put all of these benefits out
tary's mission - specifically, whether
experienced mechani
tuted through normal military
there," he said.
it could go beyond the defense of Saudi
"Ships we have ha
mail channels to troops in the
During his trip in the field, General
territory to include offensive action
serve fleet came up a
Saudi desert and those serving
Powell repeatedly exhorted the troops
rate than I would like
against Iraq.
on ships patrolling the gulf.
to enthusiastically carry out their mis-
said.
MCI Communications offi-
sion.,
Asked when the United States would
Some senior Amer,
cials said their fax program
have the military capability to force
said that as a result
Deployment Behind Schedule
would be started as soon as
the Iraqis out of Kuwait, General Pow-
the deployment of
"Don't have any second thoughts
(logistical problems in Saudi
ell said he could not address such hypo-
was delayed from m
Arabia were solved.
about the importance of your mission,"
thetical questions about possible mili-
October.
General Powell told some airmen from
tary operations.
Then he departed
the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing.
But the general acknowledged that
visit to Navy forces.
S
T
E
A
Y
he Gulf: No. 1 General Tours the Desert
ige to Powell:
Jordan P
We Go Home?
And Its
EL R. GORDON
e New York Times
As General Powell left a hospital
AQABA, Jordan, Sept.
ward, another airman said, "Are you
streets seem virtually des
o-
going to get me out of here, sir?"
hotels are empty, most of
es
structures lie still and mo
:S-
Rotating Troops to U.S.
percent of the 11,000-stron
he
"I'd like to get everyone out of here
trailor fleet sits parked and
fast," the general responded. "I'm
Aqaba, Jordan's only port
he
trying."
most a ghost town today, a
ere
When General Powell met in the
pending on whom you ask
desert with soldiers from the Army's
Hussein's aggression agai
)W-
air
24th Mechanized Division, he again
or of American gunboat dipl
faced shouted questions about how long
"Aqaba is the lifeline for
ey
t a
the deployment would last.
now we are almost at a stan
"I want to get you home as fast as
Bassam E. Kakish, a reti
he
possible but bear with me," General
who is chairman of the Aqa
Powell said. "I can't give you an exact
Authority. "For God's saki
es,
date."
strangle here, tell your pe
Gulf
Seeking to mollify the troops, Gen-
your armies back. Go hon
eral Powell told reporters at the end of
us alone!"
his tour today that the United States
Aqaba, a somnolent litt
oun-
would start rotating troops home "as
for decades, doubled in si:
his
soon as it is practical to do so."
wealthy on all the money
Allowance Suspended
shipping mountains of a
spi-
starting in 1981, after Ira
tical
The troops' unease over the the pos-
was blocked in the war wit
Sgt.
sibility of a long, open-ended deploy-
Town Is Transfor
ment in Saudi Arabia was also accom-
ne,"
panied by complaints from some serv-
At the height of that 1
icemen about the loss of some benefits.
ships sat in the harbor e'
Some servicemen have said, for ex-
the ripple effect through
ample, that they lost a special allow-
brought on by all that sl
ance provided to them for living off
formed the town.
base when they were deployed here.
The port more than C
The allowance, called "basic allow-
stallations and work forc
ance for subsidence," is given to serv-
people worked there, un
iceman when the Government does not
Business blossomed fo
feed them, and many of the troops have
owners, mechanics and
come to rely on it as a source of in-
serving the fleets of ti
e
come.
goods to Iraq.
to
Some servicemen and members of
Aqaba's population bo
Congress have said that duty in Saudi
22,000 10 years ago to 45
or
Arabia is so arduous that the troops
the gulf crisis began. r
he
should be provided the allowance even
cient Arab village, a nev
e-
though they are being fed Government
Pool photo via Associated Press
up - dozens of clean W
igs
rations.
Gen. Colin L. Powell, left, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visiting
buildings that housed
ent
Enthusiasm Is Urged
a Marine unit yesterday on his tour of U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia.
Egyptian workers and c
y's
But most of those iti
the
"Now the suggestion is, for Desert
have now gone home; t]
re-
Shield, provide the food and also pay
hollow shell of its for:
them for the food," General Powell
"We will not be satisfied until Mr.
the deployment of some American
it's
said. "But I have soldiers, sailors, air-
forces was somewhat behind schedule.
leaders seethe with res
and
Hussein takes his army out of Kuwait,"
Ahmed Haayari, d
ses
men, coastguardsmen and marines all
General Powell said while visiting
Sea-Lift Ship Fails
Aqaba Customs Auth
be
over the world who get that allowance
Army soldiers from the 24th Mech-
anized Infantry Division. General Pow-
"Sure there are glitches," he said,
eyebrows among six (
555-
cut off when they go to the field. And I
ell also visited Marine units.
adding that some vessels did not per-
ers in the room this af
have to make sure we handle an item
form as expected.
said: "This is the jiha
my
like that in an equitable fashion."
But General Powell declined to de-
He said that one fast sea-lift ship had
hope I will be given th
the
"We have got to be a little careful be-
fine the potential scope of the mili-
experienced mechanical difficulties.
ing Americans in the
trib-
fore we put all of these benefits out
tary's mission - specifically, whether
"Ships we have had in the ready re-
killed there. That woul
tary
there," he said.
it could go beyond the defense of Saudi
serve fleet came up at a slightly slower
the
During his trip in the field, General
territory to include offensive action
Only 3 Ships
rate than I would like to have seen," he
ving
Powell repeatedly exhorted the troops
against Iraq.
said.
Three ships were in
to enthusiastically carry out their mis-
Asked when the United States would
Some senior American officials have
when before, Mr. Kak
offi-
sion.
have the military capability to force
said that as a result of such problems,
average was 20. The
;ram
Deployment Behind Schedule
the Iraqis out of Kuwait, General Pow-
the deployment of additional forces
blockade in the Red
when it became clear
n as
"Don't have any second thoughts
ell said he could not address such hypo-
was delayed from mid-October to late
Saudi
about the importance of your mission,"
thetical questions about possible mili-
October.
not enforcing the Uni
General Powell told some airmen from
tary operations.
VITSO
Then he departed into the night for a
tions against Iraq, h:
the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing.
But the general acknowledged that
visit to Navy forces.
the shipments bound
A
Y
23)
LOS ANGELES TIMES
bn
MILITARY: Baghdad Renews Attack
one-day tour, Powell was remind-
for
ed that patience is growing short
CANADA
9rl
among U.S. military personnel ea-
Continued from A6
no
[Iraq] now, and with each passing
ger to go home.
Continued from A10
day, our defensive capability gets
saw no reason to hurr
-9 are the fault of the blockade and
better and better."
"It's a natural question I would
bers back. That angere
-12 that shipments should enter the
At a news conference, Powell
expect every GI to ask who is far
even more. In 1987, aft
-n
country like regular imports.
from home, who is in an uncertain
responded to repeated questions
roney had recalled Pa
me
On Thursday, the Red Cross and
about the U.S. deployment's ulti-
situation," Powell said. But he told
discuss the arrival in
blt
its Islamic counterpart, the Red
mate size and purpose by saying
reporters that "morale is high"
of a shipload of Sikh as
on Crescent, reached an agreement to
the U.S. military has not been
among U.S. troops here.
ers. Surely, Canadia
ne supply medicines to civilians.
assigned an offensive mission.
"Don't sell them short. They are,
themselves, the possibi
XIX Meanwhile, in Dhahran, Saudi
"The only mission I have been
good for the long haul," Powell
ada going to war was n
Arabia, the chairman of the Joint
assigned is to deter and defend," he
said.
of debate than the arri
Jul Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin L. Pow-
declared. "The force is being struc-
Staff writer Melissa Healy, In Dhah-
seemingly peaceable So
ai ell, visited with U.S. forces and said
tured for that purpose."
ran, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this
The ships crossed the
90 the American troops "are deterring
At virtually every stop on his
report.
good time, however, an
ONE
DAY
SUPER
SALE
SATURDAY 8 A.M. TO 10
50%
EVERY DISCONT
d
Week Ending Friday, March 10, 1989
s-317
-323
Remarks at the Annual Washington
you also know him as a fighter. And he's
y-304
Conference of the Veterans of Foreign
fought for his country as a 17-year-old en-
try-
Wars
listed man in the United States Navy. And
March 6, 1989
now he and I are fighting for what I think
are some very important principles, princi-
tter-
Well, thank you very much, Larry. I re-
ples that the American people understand,
tter-
member when Larry Rivers first took over.
like fairness and truth, and principles like
I was Vice President-came in to greet me.
the prerogative of a President of the United
I wasn't sure he knew what he was getting
States to assemble the most talented and
into. But he's holding up real well-[laugh-
qualified team to guide this nation forward.
309
ter]-and doing a first-class job, and you're
And I have asked the Senate to vote on this
lucky to have this dynamic young man as
nomination with those principles in mind,
your leader.
asked the Senate to put aside partisanship.
You know, it's a pleasure to be here. I
I've asked them to use their own experi-
also want to express my best wishes to a
ence with John Tower as an expert on de-
real institution of the VFW; you know who
fense issues; as a former colleague; and as a
I'm talking about-Cooper Holt. I can't be-
tough, hardnosed negotiator to guide them
lieve it, I can't believe that he's stepping
as they move towards a vote on this nomi-
down this year, after more than a quarter of
nation. It is very interesting that not one
-304
a century of distinguished service as execu-
single United States Senator has challenged
tive director. But let me tell you something:
John Tower's knowledge on defense mat-
Members of the VFW, others who stand for
ters or his experience to do this job-not
the
a strong defense, whoever they may be,
one single Senator. And I stand by this man.
etary-
Cooper has earned the gratitude of veterans
I stand by him because he is uniquely quali-
urity in
everywhere for making the VFW his life-
fied as the right man to take charge of the
long cause, but also the way he has conduct-
Pentagon.
ed himself in Washington and elsewhere in
Enough of that now. [Laughter] I wanted
te
this high office. He has my respect and my
to get it off my chest. I'm getting sick and
friendship, and I don't know what it's going
tired of some of the rumors and the innuen-
to be like without him around here, I'll tell
dos that are used against this decent man.
you.
Back to the gentler and kinder message.
-333
I want to pay my respects to General Al
[Laughter]
ments—
Gray, member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a
Look, it's always an honor to meet with
Commandant of the Marine Corps, out-
fellow members of the VFW. The love of
333
standing soldier-outstanding marine, I
liberty is the birthright of all men, certainly
should say. Sorry, Al. [Laughter] Really
all Americans, and that's why our nation
know how to hurt a guy, but-[laughter]-
owes a special debt of gratitude to its veter-
an outstanding leader. And also, to my
ans, who freely and courageously took up
former colleague and dear friend, the veter-
the defense of freedom. I am especially
1 CFR Part
an's friend, Congressman Sonny Montgom-
pleased to welcome the Department of Vet-
ery, over here.
erans' Affairs to a place in the Cabinet, and
nt of Docu-
Before I begin-and I want to talk to you
it's a cause, I might add, that you were in
C 20402. The
be furnished
about two or three major issues-but before
the lead on. And it's a sign of America's
($105.00 for
I begin, let me just say a word about an
commitment to her veterans, of the impor-
.00 per year,
issue that is of particular importance, I'd
tance we place in repaying in some way the
nment Print-
single copy is
say, to the people in this room. You know
sacrifice that veterans have made in an-
John Tower as a fellow veteran, and you
swering their country's call. And in my
material ap-
know him as a lifelong public servant. And
view, it is important that the first Secretary
ocuments.
285
Mar. 6 / Administration of George Bush, 1989
is someone who is close to the President,
to Congress last month, I set a 90-day dead-
who has the President's full confidence on a
line for this important work. And I won't
personal basis, and Ed Derwinski, my
rush the final results. The insights we will
former colleague in Congress and my friend
gain into the problems we will face in the
of longstanding, fits that description to a
decades ahead are worth waiting for. And
tee. He will be an outstanding Secretary.
the other day I went over to the Pentagon
Some facts: Today there are six times as
and met with certain members of the Joint
many veterans alive as there were when
Chiefs and those running that building, and
the VA was created in 1930. Ed already has
I must tell you, I'm very pleased these re-
come to see me to discuss some of the chal-
views are going forward.
lenges facing us in these programs. With
the pressure the country is under-and let's
But today I want to speak about the foun-
make no mistake about it, the pressures are
dations of an adequate national defense pro-
great-to solve our massive Federal deficit,
gram, about the world we live in, and the
we may not be able to do everything we'd
challenges and opportunities we'll encoun-
like to do in the way of adding resources,
ter, and about the approach I'll take on
but I can tell you that Ed is your strong
issues integral to our own national security.
advocate. And like me, he understands the
First, the foundations. A month ago, I
needs, including the crying need for strong
presented to the Congress a sound defense
health care for the veterans. He already is
spending plan that makes sense, strategical-
an advocate for that.
ly and fiscally. As a sign that my administra-
I want to speak this morning about a
tion is serious about the deficit, I called for
matter of the utmost importance to the
a freeze in defense spending in 1990, ad-
VFW-keeping America strong-today and
justed only for inflation. And I'm well
then, just 11 years from now, into the 21st
aware that our national strength rests ulti-
century. Opinion is nearly unanimous that
mately on the health and vigor of the
today is a time of transition in world affairs.
American economy. And we need a strong
That means our powers of observation and
defense, and we need a strong economy.
analysis, our ability to sort out change and
And I mean to preserve both. But our cru-
continuity, will be put to the test. And
cial military modernization plans and the
when it comes to predicting the future,
diverse defense commitments that we must
Winston Churchill's rule is the best. It is: "I
keep cannot be achieved without additional
always avoid prophesying beforehand be-
defense funding. And that's why the budget
cause it's much better policy to prophesy
plan follows the freeze for 1990 with real
after the event has already taken place."
You've got to think about that one for a
increases-albeit they small-with real in-
while, and maybe I'm the guy to do that.
creases: 1 percent in 1991 and 1992, and a
Last year I told the American Legion about
2-percent increase for 1993. And my aim is
Pearl Harbor being on September 7th.
to put defense spending on a modest, man-
[Laughter] Just think, if Franklin Roosevelt
ageable growth path, one that we can
had listened to me, think what we could
afford and one that will allow us to modern-
have spared the Nation. [Laughter]
ize and maintain forces that are formidable,
You know, maybe you've read and maybe
flexible, and ready. But in the defense
you haven't that we are in the midst of a
debate, what we can and can't afford isn't
series of systematic strategic reviews, and
just a matter of economics. It's a matter of
I've asked the members of my national se-
vital national security. And I say, We can't
curity team to look hard at the international
afford to continue the downward trend in
landscape and to look forward to assess the
defense spending. 1989-now listen careful-
combination of security threats, technologi-
ly to this-1989 will be the fourth straight
cal change, and political and economic de-
year that budget authority for defense has
velopments that will shape our security ho-
declined in real terms. And we've worked
rizon well into the next century. And I am
hard to rebuild America's strength, and it's
convinced that this important review, this
paid off. Today America is strong. Its voice
important exercise, will have lasting bene-
is heard. Its forces are ready. And the
fits to our national security. In my address
values we stand for are more secure.
286
Administration of George Bush, 1989 / Mar. 6
Secondly, we can't afford to mistake a
formidable military power facing the free
more stable international environment as
world. We must be ready to cope with
a 90-day dead-
k. And I won't
proof that we can spend less on national
change and favorable opportunities and
defense. The secret to our success can be
ready in any event to defend our interests
nsights we will
summed up in a single word: Strength. And
and ideals. And what this means in terms of
will face in the
let's sustain the military strength that
our national security should be clear: We
aiting for. And
helped turn the world situation around.
need to maintain and modernize our forces,
0 the Pentagon
And finally, we can afford adequate de-
nuclear and conventional. For America and
ers of the Joint
fenses. The defense budget that I'm calling
its allies, a survivable nuclear force will
at building, and
for in 1990 represents 5.5 percent of our
remain the ultimate deterrent of aggres-
eased these re-
annual gross national product. And that's a
sion.
far smaller share of our national wealth
We need to make a concerted effort to
about the foun-
than the United States spent on defense at
nal defense pro-
any point throughout the 1950's or the
turn our technological strengths into a
live in, and the
1960's-periods of rapid and sustained eco-
source of advantage to our national security.
S we'll encoun-
nomic growth though they were. The
And that includes, in my view, vigorous
ch I'll take on
bottom line is not a question of cost or a
pursuit of the Strategic Defense Initiative.
ational security.
question of resources: It's simply a question
And we need to make an active effort in
of will. And you have my word, as long as I
arms control, to strive for increased stability
month ago, I
1 sound defense
am President: America will stand fast on
at lower levels of armaments. But I will
nse, strategical-
the front line in defense of freedom.
strongly oppose legislative attempts to with-
my administra-
Today around the world, a number of
draw U.S. troops from Europe unilaterally.
icit, I called for
longstanding regional conflicts are closer
Imprudent unilateral reductions are not the
now to resolution than ever before. The
ng in 1990, ad-
path to peace and security and freedom.
And I'm well
stirrings of freedom and the advance of
And I've been listening to General Gray.
democratic rule are evident and undeni-
ength rests ulti-
We need to keep our forces ready and well-
able. In the economic sphere, the free
trained. The dedicated men and women
1 vigor of the
market is increasingly seen as an engine of
e need a strong
who serve our country deserve no less.
growth and development unmatched by
We need to reform our procurement
trong economy.
any other system. And freedom is on the
th. But our cru-
process to deliver a dollar's worth of de-
march. But there are still forces arrayed
plans and the
fense for every dollar we spend. And the
against it, regimes whose interests and sys-
ts that we must
way to do that is to begin to follow through
tems are at odds with our own and with
thout additional
on the sensible reforms suggested in the
those of our allies. And then there's the-of
why the budget
Packard commission report and the findings
spread chemical and biological weapons-
1990 with real
of the defense management review now un-
along with the means to deliver them. It's
-with real in-
derway. I'll look carefully at those manage-
likely to make the flashpoints that always
and 1992, and a
exist more dangerous than ever before.
ment review findings and then move to im-
And my aim is
And the key issue of change within the
plement them.
a modest, man-
Soviet Union-there are still far more ques-
And we need to maintain the alliance of
that we can
tions than answers. There is no doubt that
like-minded nations in Europe and Asia that
V us to modern-
the changes taking place are significant and
have helped us keep peace in the postwar
are formidable,
far-reaching, but it is equally true that the
era. As strong as we are-and we are
in the defense
ultimate outcome of the events unfolding in
strong-as strong as we are, the United
an't afford isn't
the U.S.S.R. remains certain [uncertain].
States of America in this complex world
It's a matter of
My view is this: We should press for
cannot go it alone. Keep our alliances
I say, We can't
progress that contributes to a more stable
strong.
nward trend in
relationship between the United States and
Before I close, I want to focus for a
W listen careful-
the Soviet Union, but we must combine our
moment on a threat no less real than the
fourth straight
readiness to build better relations with a
adversaries you have battled. And I'm
for defense has
resolve to maintain defenses adequate to
speaking about not a military threat; I'm
I we've worked
secure our interests. America and her allies
speaking about the insidious threat to our
trength, and it's
must recognize that even in light of the
society and our values: drug abuse. The
strong. Its voice
military cuts proposed by President Gorba-
notion that America is a nation at peace is
eady. And the
chev the Soviet Union remains the most
only partly true as long as the violence and
e secure.
287
Mar. 6 / Administration of George Bush, 1989
destructive power of drugs assault our com-
over again. And the 50 young people that
munities.
you've honored here today, with whom I
As I talk, our Attorney General [Richard
had a chance to meet very briefly a minute
L. Thornburgh] is holding a series of talks
ago, underscore the VFW's interest in our
with three South American Presidents and
nation's youth and in our future. I know
their attorney generals or their ministers,
that we can count on the veterans of Amer-
seeking their full participation in this war
ica all across this country to help us wage
and offering our full cooperation. My able
and win the war on drugs. Your country
drug czar, Bill Bennett [Director-designate
needs you once again.
of National Drug Control Policy]-some of
Veterans share a special bond. We've
you know him, able man-he will be con-
seen the face of war. We know its terrible
firmed as my hard-hitting point man to be
costs. Americans never willingly choose
at my side in the White House to keep the
conflict. But we know, as well, that we must
focus on winning this unconditional war;
be ready and willing to respond when our
and I mean to mobilize all our resources,
interests and our ideals come under threat.
wage this war on all fronts. We're going to
Let me be very clear. I prefer the diplo-
combat drug abuse with education, treat-
ment, enforcement and, yes, interdiction
matic approach. Nations can and should ex-
and, yes, with our nation's Armed Services.
plore every avenue toward working out
When that prudently can be done and
their differences without resorting to force
when that's what it takes, we are going to
or military intimidation. But I'm also a real-
ist. I know that there is no substitute for a
have to go all out. We need to break the
deadly grip of drugs and prevent the drug
nation's ability to defend its ideals and in-
scourge from taking hold.
terests. And too often we hear that we face
And the VFW can help. Many of you
a stark choice in coping with conflict. We
have already started. Many of your posts
can pursue a diplomatic situation, or we can
are actively involved. You've got 2.3 million
seek a resolution through military means.
members, 750,000 auxiliary members,
One, we're told, is incompatible with the
10,000 chapters nationwide. The VFW is,
other.
and always will be, a respected member of
Well, this doesn't square with real-world
communities across our country; and today I
experience. Diplomacy and military capabil-
call on you to form a community of action.
ity are complementary; they're not contra-
"For America, whatever it takes"-that's
dictory. Creative diplomacy can help us
the motto of the VFW. And you've fought
avert conflict. Negotiations stand the great-
for your nation once, and your nation needs
est chance of success when they proceed
you again. And today I want to enlist you in
from a position of strength. The fundamen-
the antidrug campaign. Meet with other
tal lesson of this decade is simply this:
leaders in your community-church, clergy,
Strength secures the peace. America will
law enforcement officers-tell them the
continue to be a force for peace and stabili-
VFW volunteers are ready to help. And go
ty in the world provided we stay strong.
to the schools and put the full weight of this
Let me close with a word to these young
magnificent organization behind the anti-
people, who you appropriately are honoring
drug education effort that provides our kids
here today. If I were in your shoes, I'd be
with the reasons and willpower that they
an optimist. I'd be an optimist about world
need to resist drugs. Speak to your State
peace, changes in the Soviet Union. As I
and local elected officials. Urge them to
said earlier in this talk, nobody is talking
make the passage of strong antidrug legisla-
about the Socialist model or the Communist
tion a priority.
model as to a way to solve their problems.
I am reaching out to you, SO I want to
But never forget that when a President of
extend my help as well. Bill Bennett stands
the United States goes to the negotiating
ready to meet with the VFW leadership to
table the way to enhance our values, the
share ideas that can help you map a strate-
way to enhance the principles that every-
gy. VFW has proven many times over its
body in this room holds dear, is to be deal-
dedication to the health and well-being of
ing from a position of a strong America. We
our nation, proven it over and over and
have the ideals. Keep America strong.
288
Remarks by General Colin L. Powell,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
at the 72d Annual National Convention
of the American Legion, Indianapolis,
Indiana, 30 August 1990
As Delivered
1
Thank you very much, Miles, for that
very, very kind introduction. I want to
apologize for being a few minutes late.
Although I don't like to keep anybody
waiting, at least you're not waiting out in
the sun. But I do appreciate the fact that
you've been patient and allowed me to linger
a little in Washington to clear up a little
business before coming here.
I can't tell you how pleased I am to be
with you, my fellow veterans, today. It
allows me to thank you and, through you, all
Legionnaires for the marvellous support you
are providing to our Armed Forces. Your
support is a source of great strength to
every last GI in the ranks and I want you to
know how very grateful we all are to all of
you. We will need that support even more in
the future than we have in the past.
Several months ago, when I accepted your
invitation to speak today, I thought I would
be talking to you about the remarkable era
of peace we were entering. Instead today my
thoughts -- as your thoughts -- are on the
young GIs, your successors, who are on
2
guard in the Middle East. Instead, I am once
again reminded that in today's world hope
lives with uncertainty, promise lives with
danger, and the new lives with the old.
We have seen freedom break through the
barbed wire and concrete walls of a divided
Europe. And in the Persian Gulf we have
seen tyranny break through the borders of a
peaceful neighbor. We have seen the idea of
democracy liberate the human spirit, and
the scourge of aggression enslave it.
Saddam Hussein is the latest in a long
line of leaders who rule by fear, who argue
by the gun, and who live by conquest.
Leaders who dismiss reason, the rule of law,
and basic human values. And leaders who
will be stopped. Why? Because --
-
- they underestimate the resolve,
-
- they underestimate the determination,
- - and they underestimate the strength of
our great nation, America.
3
But America's strength is only part of the
problem that Saddam Hussein faces. For in
this struggle, we are not alone. Saddam can
look north, he can look south, he can look
east and west and the message he hears is
the same: aggression such as yours will be
stopped by the nations of the world united
against tyranny.
Just look at the United Nations. For
many years it didn't work. It was a joke.
Now, in 1990, it is finally beginning to
fulfill the promise of its founders. Five
Security Council resolutions have
condemned Iraq. Five resolutions have
passed without a dissenting vote. Can this
give Saddam Hussein any comfort from his
aggression? None whatsoever.
Look at the response: From Canada in the
north to Australia in the West -- a
multinational naval force is gathering in the
Persian Gulf to enforce the UN's actions.
Look at the nations of the Middle East.
The Arab League has come to the defense of
Saudi Arabia, and has taken up the cause of
4
an occupied yet defiant Kuwait. In the
deserts of Saudi Arabia, Americans stand
side by side with Saudis, Egyptians,
Moroccans, Syrians, Brits, and many others.
This is not a struggle between Moslem and
Christian. It's a struggle between those who
believe in the rule of law and those who
still, in this new era, believe in the rule of
the gun.
Today the Secretary-General of the
United Nations begins a dialogue with Iraq.
I hope -- we all hope, the world hopes --
that he convinces Saddam Hussein to accept
the judgment of the world community. A
judgment that is moral, a judgment that is
fair, a judgment that is right.
I cannot predict what Saddam Hussein
will do. But I can say this with assurance:
America and the world are prepared. I can
say to Saddam Hussein, do not dismiss us.
Do not interpret our interest in peace as
weakness. Do not think for one moment that
we are cowed or coerced by your actions or
your threats. We're made of much tougher
stuff than that.
5
The facts of the matter are that Saddam
Hussein must do what is right. He must
return to his borders. He must let the
legitimate government return to Kuwait. He
must free the hostages. And finally, he
must learn that in this new era he has to use
the wealth of the Iraqi people for peace and
not squander it on war.
Enduring Realities
But I come to you today not to speak only
of Saddam Hussein and the crisis in the
Persian Gulf. He will not prevail and the
crisis will pass. I come to talk to you about
America's strength. The strength that we
draw from our Constitution, the strength
that we draw from our way of life, the
strength that we draw from our history of
over two centuries. I want to talk to you
about our values and our military might.
Our purpose and our power. For we know
that our strength lies not only in the arms
we bear but in the values we cherish.
6
Our values have nurtured and sustained
us through many bleak times -- times many
of you remember. Times spent in Europe
and in the Pacific and, now, in the deserts
of Arabia.
And while our values have nurtured us,
our power has protected us. Purpose and
power. It's an unbeatable combination. One
that fascism could not destroy. One that
communism could not defeat. One that has
always been ready to meet aggression.
My responsibility is to do all that I can,
all that is in my power, to maintain
America's military strength -- the power
that defends our purpose and our
principles. It is an enduring need even in
these times of revolutionary change. It is a
need that all of you here understand.
The challenges to our security will
change. But the enduring need for a strong
America will remain. This fact -- this need
to keep ourselves strong -- guides all of my
actions as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. My task is to help Secretary of
7
Defense Cheney and the President shape our
armed forces of today -- and tomorrow -- to
be responsive to the new era, and yet
adequate to deal with the old era of the
uncertain and the turbulent.
What are the enduring realities that
require a strong America? Let me start with
our relations with the Soviet Union, and the
enduring reality of Soviet military power.
Some experts think this may be a bit out of
date. After all, the Soviets have embarked
on a revolutionary program both home and
abroad. One that holds the promise of
burying forever the Cold War that
dominated our relations for nearly half a
century.
I have met over the last three and a half
years five times with President Gorbachev.
I read everything he writes. I watch
carefully his speeches. And I believe,
based on that experience, that he is
absolutely sincere in reforming his nation's
way of doing business. And I know that, in
the process of change, I, along with many of
you in this hall, have lost some of our old
8
tried and true buddies: the Iron Curtain is
gone, the Warsaw Pact is going, the Berlin
Wall is gone.
Nor are these positive changes confined
only to our military-to-military relations
with the Soviet Union. Soviet performance
in the United Nations in the past couple of
weeks has been commendable. Around the
world the Soviets have been working hard to
demonstrate that they want to be a
contributing, constructive member of the
world community.
If all this is so, then why do I as
Chairman still think of enduring defense
needs and the enduring reality of Soviet
military power? It's simply because now
and in the future the Soviet Union will
remain a military superpower. President
Gorbachev wants his country to improve
economically, he wants to give his people a
better standard of living, he wants to join
the technology age of the 21st century. But
he doesn't intend that his country give up
its status as a military superpower. Nor
should we expect him to.
9
A few months ago I was watching
television on a Sunday afternoon and there
suddenly on CSPAN was the gentleman we all
had gotten to know over the past several
years -- a Soviet by the name of Gennady
Gerasimov, who used to be President
Gorbachev's public spokesman. You saw him
at the end of all the summit meetings when
he explained in flawless English what went
on.
On this occasion, Mr. Gerasimov was
speaking to a group of American students at
a college in New England, and he was going
on at some length about the problems they
were having in the Soviet Union, about how
70 years. of experience with Communism had
not worked, about how they needed to
change. And how the future would be
different but how difficult things were
right now. And then as he concluded his
remarks, he said: "But we haven't done
everything badly. We have had some
success." And I leaned forward to listen to
what he would describe as success. And his
answer was very simple. He said: "We are a
10
military superpower. We are a nuclear
superpower."
I'll never forget that presentation. And I
use it every day to remind myself that now
and in the future .. regardless of what
happens in the Soviet Union -- it will
remain the only country that can destroy us
and our way of life with nuclear weapons in
thirty minutes. We must never lose sight of
that simple fact. That is why we are
continuing the fight for the B-2 bomber.
That is why we must continue to modernize
our land and sea-based nuclear systems,
and we must continue to work for the
promise of the Strategic Defense Initiative
as the Vice President discussed with you
yesterday. Our enduring military need is to
make sure that America is never second best
when it comes to strategic nuclear weapons
and our survival as a nation.
Another enduring reality that remains
constant in this world of revolutionary
change, lies across the Atlantic Ocean -- in
Europe, and in the Middle East. For 40 years
we have remained committed across the
11
Atlantic Ocean in Europe. For 40 years our
leadership, our determination, our military
strength provided the shield behind which
freedom and democracy flourished. We won
and the Iron Curtain fell and the Soviets
said "enough."
But we must remain engaged, leading,
showing resolve, supporting our allies and
friends. This is essential because our
friends want us there, because our interests
lie there, and because we want no one to
mistake our hope for a peaceful world for
weakness or lack of will. It is essential to
remain engaged in Europe where our allies
look to us for leadership. And, as the crisis
in the Middle East demonstrates, it is
essential to remain engaged across the
Atlantic -- in the Persian Gulf, in the
Middle East -- to protect our vital interests
and those of our friends and allies.
So even as we draw down forces in Europe,
we must maintain enough force there to
continue to deter and to defend. We must
remain able to reinforce rapidly across the
Atlantic -- either to Europe or to the
12
Middle East, as we are doing now. And not
with just light forces that can get there
quickly, but with the heavy armored forces
that you now see arriving in the Persian
Gulf area.
And for our heavy forces to defend our
interests, we must be able to deploy them in
a timely manner as we are doing now. So
now and in the future we need the very best
strategic air and strategic sea lift that we
can afford. We need maritime forces -- the
very strongest possible Navy and marine
forces. And the very best reserve forces to
provide us with staying power and critical
skills such as those being provided by the
selective call-up of reserves for Desert
Shield.
Another enduring reality now and in the
future lies to the West -- in the Pacific.
For many of us the Pacific has meant Korea
and Vietnam. Because for many of us, when
we were not defending collective security in
Europe we were fighting long and bloody
wars in Asia.
13
Today, the Pacific is home to an economic
dynamism that seems unbounded. Today the
nations of the Pacific look to us for
partnership, for security, for leadership.
We are in the Pacific to stay.
And then, for my final enduring reality,
let me turn to the unknown, the uncertain,
the crisis that no one predicted would
happen, the contingency that nobody had
planned for. For operations like "Just
Cause" in Panama we must have contingency
forces. The ones that require the best-
trained, most ready GIs we have -- forces
that are light, mobile, ready to go at a
moment's notice to defend our interests.
So I see our defense needs of the future
rather clearly. I see them in four
categories:
- - modern strategic nuclear forces .. to
include SDI -- to deter and defend
against a nuclear attack on this nation or
our allies;
14
-
- secondly, an Atlantic force forward-
deployed in Europe, the Mediterranean
and in the Persian Gulf, with reinforcing
forces here in the United States to
protect our interests across the
Atlantic;
- - third, a Pacific Force, forward deployed
and backed up by forces in the United
States, to defend our interests and those
of our friends and allies in Asia;
- - and finally, a fast-moving contingency
force for the unknown, for the conflict
the experts say will never come.
In the months ahead, Secretary Cheney and
I will be fighting to structure this force in
the right way. And the next three or four
months will be very, very critical. The
Congress will soon be back in session and
will be forced to make a judgment about the
President's budget that is up for their
consideration. We need that Congressional
decision to be the right one. We need that
decision to be one that allows us to move
prudently rather than precipitously toward a
15.
smaller but even better force. What
President Bush has asked for in his budget is
what America needs for its protection.
If we get a decision out of Congress that
won't allow for what we believe America
needs, a decision that cuts too much too soon
out of our Armed Forces, then we will be
unable to structure the kind of proud, ready
armed forces that our nation is most
certainly going to need in the years ahead.
Remember, our Armed Forces are all-
volunteer forces. All those volunteers are
under contract. All are ready to do what is
required to serve their country. These are
the people who will continue to protect
America and her interests around the world.
These are the people who believe in America
just as you do. These are the people who are
willing to sacrifice and serve just as you did.
But if we cut too sharply, if we cut too
deeply too soon, we'll lose those people.
We'll break the contract that we have with
each and every one of them. We'll destroy
the finest military America has ever fielded
16
in time of peace. Some of the fine young
volunteers you've seen in the desert on
television every night we'd be forced to fire.
when they come home. We can't let that
happen.
I want the Congress and the American
people to be aware of these facts, be aware of
our needs, be aware of the reality of today's
security environment. And I want you to
help me tell that story. I also want them to
know that we in the military -- the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and I -- understand that we
will get smaller. We can get smaller for the
new era we are facing. We will reduce our
budget. We know that in the Pentagon and
everywhere throughout the Department of
Defense and in every Service, we must re-
examine every program and every
organization to insure its relevance to a
changing world.
But it's a changing not a changed world.
It's a world still full of instability,
uncertainty and danger. It's a world where
ready armed forces will continue to be
essential.
17
Fifty years ago, when Congress --
prompted by the war in Europe -- began
funding our defense buildup after decades
of neglect, our army conducted the largest
ever peace-time maneuvers in this country.
The Louisiana maneuvers and some of you in
this hall may have been there. When the
maneuvers were completed, the Secretary of
War called in General Marshall and others
who had watched the maneuvers and asked
them to take stock of where we were with
respect to the nation's rearming and getting
ready for the conflict that clearly was just
ahead. They all agreed that the armed
services of the United States had come a
long way, but much, much more had to be
done. Maybe in six months or a year
America would stand ready to defend its
interests. The date of that meeting was
December 3, 1941. Six months suddenly
became four days.
If there is one lesson we learned then and
I hope we have not forgotten, it is that we
must always -- always -- have capable and
ready armed forces for friend and foe alike
18
to see. We owe that to the American people.
We owe that to our friends. We owe that to
our foes. We owe that to the cause of world
peace.
America as Superpower
When I began my career 32 years ago, I
learned the language of Communism, Cold
War, Containment. Those words are now
becoming history and good riddance to them.
But what hasn't changed is our
responsibility as the freedom leader of the
world. Our responsibility as the Free
World's superpower is unchanged.
We've heard it again and again. America
cannot be the world's policeman. Yet, as
I've learned time and again in the 11 months
that I've been Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, when there's trouble, when
somebody needs a cop, guess who gets called
to come restore peace? We do. In the words
of the President, "We're in a new era -- one
full of promise. But events remind us that
there is no substitute for American
leadership. And American leadership
19
cannot be effective in the absence of
America's strength."
You all know that the decision to send
soldiers overseas is never an easy one for a
President. Our industries have given us the
best weapons. But the American people have
given us this nation's most precious assets.
Their sons and daughters. Their brothers
and sisters. Their fathers and mothers.
Our success, whether in deterring war or
defeating aggression, rests ultimately on
the shoulders of these brave men and
women.
I've visited our deploying troops and I
can't tell you how proud I am of them and
how proud you should be of them. You've
seen the images on television. I know those
young GIs saying goodbye and heading off to
the Persian Gulf go with your best wishes
and blessings. No one knows more than you
what is in their hearts and what is on their
minds as they leave. No one knows more than
you the sacrifice being made by the brave,
proud families who will await their return
20
and whom we will take care of while their
loved ones are overseas.
The young volunteers in Saudi Arabia and
on the ships offshore are just like you were.
They are patriotic. They care. They want to
do the very best job possible. They know
America needs them. They know America's
friends need them. They know that American
citizens in danger need them. They believe in
America. They are the kind of Americans
who have always been there when the need
arose. These young men and women are your
most worthy -- worthy -- successors.
Many years ago, when D-Day became
etched in the memories of our nation, a
young soldier wrote, "We landed on the
beach as kids, and left a lot older in some
ways We were proud that we did our jobs as
best we could "
Today, we owe it to our troops overseas to
do the best we can. To watch over them and
their families. To support them with all our
hearts and with all our souls. To make them
as proud of us as we are of them. I know
21
that I can count on the American Legion and
its three million Legionnaires to do just
that.
Thank you all. God bless.
Administration of George Bush, 1989 / Sept. 7
national
strategy that offers hope to those little kids
pleasure for me to renew old ties, greet
I I have
we saw today.
new friends.
answer
Thank you very, very much.
Today, surprisingly, is September 7th-
el as we
If I would say to those non-Ambassadors
[laughter]-and I-{applause}-can you be-
v.
in the room-and please do not assume that
lieve it? And I'm determined not to repeat
K it was
this is a discriminatory policy, but I am one
the mistake I made exactly 1 year ago when
d points
who is very much indebted for the coopera-
I referred to this as Pearl Harbor Day.
u could
tion we're getting from abroad-if I could
[Laughter] I can still remember the gasp-
General
ask the Ambassadors from other nations just
it was on this side of the room. I don't know
re there
to come and maybe have a handshake here,
whether the seating has changed, but as
hey call
I would then at least have the feeling that I
long as I live, I'll remember the gasps from
een de-
have made you feel the special warmth that
the audience. [Laughter]
rted by
I feel toward you for coming and to your
Not surprisingly, anniversaries were on
em, I'm
countries for being interested in cooperat-
my mind then as I traveled here from
nothers.
ing on this strategy.
Washington. Events like this 71st national
at. But
convention of the American Legion or the
ive and
Note: The President spoke at 1:27 p.m. in
200th birthday of the Coast Guard or the
n it by a
Room 450 of the Old Executive Office
very first anniversary of the Veterans Af-
strict of
Building.
fairs Department, led by its able Secretary
; one of
and our good friend, Ed Derwinski-a de-
is more
partment intent on serving you as you have
will be
served your country. Well, as you can imag-
es to in-
ine, these birthdays in turn got me thinking
e of an-
Remarks at the 71st Annual
about another anniversary, the 175th this
In to be
Convention of the American Legion in
year of the "Star-Spangled Banner," and
ic as we
Baltimore, Maryland
how your convention lies so near its famous
September 7, 1989
birthplace. Tuesday you did something that
vant you
would have pleased Francis Scott Key and
our part
Justice Gierke-Sparky to me-as a fellow
for which I thank you. For by supporting a
e strate-
Legionnaire, let me first salute the first
constitutional amendment making it illegal
h horse-
Vietnam veteran to be selected national
to desecrate the American flag, you joined
for your
commander. And all of you who represent
the crusade to protect that unique symbol
è various
our nation's largest and fastest-growing vet-
of America's honor. Our flag is too sacred to
that I
erans organization, more than 3 million
be abused.
-so that
members strong-thank you for that warm
The flag, like our great country, America,
immedi-
welcome.
represents many things. It represents self-
I am proud to have been accompanied
expression and opportunity, democracy for
is some
here by a great friend of the veterans, Con-
all. Like America, too, Old Glory reflects
ically the
gressman Sonny Montgomery of Mississip-
the values, moral and intellectual, economic
1 I men-
pi-{applause}-I see we have a few Missis-
and military, that have made and keep us
IS stand
sippians back there-and, of course, to have
strong. And like America, the flag symbol-
south of
been greeted by Maryland's outstanding
izes the gallantry of veterans who love their
/n there.
Congresswoman, my great friend, Helen
country, giving themselves, often their
What I'd
Bentley, a great friend of the veteran; and
lives, to its protection-storming the beach-
e. And I
am pleased, because I hadn't been told they
es of Okinawa or scaling the cliffs of Nor-
were going to be here, to see our outstand-
mandy, taking shell-torn hills named Ham-
coming.
ing Commandant of the Coast Guard, Ad-
burger and Arrowhead. Fellow veterans, for
e support
miral Yost, who's doing a superb job, and
seven decades the American Legion, its
ue. Your
General Rowny, a old friend of mine, a
men and women, have helped write the
an count
great leader, great friend of the veterans,
story of America and the story of our flag.
h Judge
and a great leader in the whole field of
And today in peacetime as in wartime, you
say how
arms control and a strong defense. So, I feel
write their story still. For the flag, like
D him for
among friends. And as always, it's a great
America, is more than sentiment. It lives on
national
privilege to join you and a deep personal
the rugged island called Iwo Jima. It lifts
1323
Sept. 7 / Administration of George Bush, 1989
the tiny hand of a little girl that I saw on a
game dramatically: mandatory time for fire-
And in
street corner in Gdansk, Poland, waving the
arms offenses; no deals when criminals We
like Po:
Stars and Stripes. For both encapsulate free-
dom: the freedom to vote as we want, to
a gun; and for the most heinous crimes
sands of
pray when and where we choose, the free-
you remember my promise-for anyone
"You re
who kills a law enforcement officer, no
drugs."
dom to go about our daily lives without
You
tyranny or fear.
legal penalty is too tough. We want Con-
Fifty years ago this month, our allies went
gress to enact the steps needed to implo-
togethe every {
to war to protect this freedom, for as
ment the death penalty for those who kill
our law enforcement officers.
and rel
panzer tanks crossed the Polish frontier and
ment,
bombers savaged Warsaw, liberty confront-
Now, over the last few days, there's been
Lippm
ed the evil of fascism which even now de-
a lot of talk about our strategy. Some, in.
mercy
fines hell on Earth. And in the end, that
credibly, say, Well, it's not enough. This
surren
conflict took more than 50 million lives and
from the very people who oppose the death
crime.
underscored, as few things have, man's in-
penalty. It's that kind of thinking that's lost
on it.
humanity to man. Our challenge today is to
too many battles already. So, let's not let
This
prove man's humanity to man by preserv-
these critics lose the war. I ask you to sup.
sion t
ing liberty without war and thus secure
port our crime plan and also the other parts
but n
what Franklin Roosevelt called the four
of our national strategy. This strategy alms
missic
freedoms: freedom of speech, of religion,
to stop drug use before it starts, through
from
freedom from want and fear.
education and prevention, from grade
derfu
Today I want to focus on one of these
school to graduate school, and third,
up in
freedoms: freedom from fear-the fear of
through treatment, to help addicts who
one
war abroad, the fear of drugs and crime at
want to get clean, with special emphasis on
ar Wi
home. To win that freedom, to build a
expectant mothers.
Ha
better and safer life, will require the brav-
And finally, we're going to work with
Jimn
ery and sacrifice that Americans have
other governments to help crack the inter-
hero
shown before and must again. Already,
national drug rings. Yesterday's extradition
foug
we've done much, and now we must do
of a major drug dealer sends a strong signal
cana
more and achieve real peace, both domestic
of the courage and determination of Presi-
Bata
and foreign, the kind of peace which lasts.
dent Barco and the Colombian Government
itari
First, our mission at home: to free our coun-
to deal with the scourge which drugs are
be 1
try from the fear of drugs and crime. When
inflicting on all of us. And as veterans, you
free
we ask what kind of society the American
know how battles are often fought-house
ren
people deserve, our answer is and must be
by house, block by block. Well, we'll win
mai
a nation in which law-abiding citizens are
this battle the same way. But we're going to
our
safe and feel safe. And that is why, 2 nights
win it kid by kid, neighborhood by neigh-
doi
borhood.
II:
ago, I announced America's first compre-
hensive national strategy to win the war on
For years now, drugs have written a sad
an
drugs and crime which plague the United
chapter in the American story. And this
mi
States.
morning I ask you to help write an ending
is
First, our plan seeks to rid America of
all of us can be proud of. These cops out
m
violent criminals with an attack on four
here on the street-they can't do it alone.
ru
fronts: new laws to punish them, new
The teachers-God bless our teachers—
W.
agents to arrest them, new prosecutors to
those teachers in our schools-they can't do
P
convict them, and new prisons to hold
it alone. The addict really trying to get
W
them. Our crime proposals are based on
clean can't do it alone, weary of abuse, can't
C(
these principles: Criminals in this nation
do it alone. They all need your help. And I
CI
must understand that if they commit a
know they'll get it, just as you've helped
ti
crime, they will be caught; and if caught,
handicapped kids, donated blood, helped
t]
they will be prosecuted; and if convicted,
always that National League of Families,
a
they will do time. But, you see, by taking
and spurred good government through pro-
the hoods off the streets, we can and we
grams like Boys State and Girls State.
will take back the streets. You know, in
Today, for instance, Post 65 in Rosemont,
short, we propose to change the rules of the
Minnesota, runs the program "Drug Talk."
1
1324
Administration of George Bush, 1989 / Sept. 7
e for fire-
And in Russellville, Arkansas, I especially
tee. And there's just one problem: The
minals use
like Post number 20's giveaway of thou-
House version is totally unacceptable to the
crimes—
sands of rulers, and their message says it all:
Commander in Chief of the United States
r anyone
"You really measure up when you say no to
Armed Forces. It is unacceptable. It contin-
fficer, no
drugs."
ues unneeded programs costing nearly $20
You know as I do that we are in this
ant Con.
billion from 1990 to 1994, holding our de-
to imple-
together. So, let us fight on any front and
fense budget hostage to projects that will
who kill
every front: supply and demand, education
strip money from programs crucial to stra-
and rehabilitation, interdiction and enforce-
tegic modernization. You see, this modern-
ment, in the cities and the towns. Walter
re's been
ization is vital, vital because America must
Some, in-
Lippmann once wrote of a "nation at the
base its procurement decisions on the
mercy of violence." America must never
igh. This
future capacity-the actual weapons-that
surrender to the violence of drugs and
he death
any Soviet leader might have available.
crime. The future of our children depends
hat's lost
Here there are hopeful signs, for Mr. Gor-
on it.
$ not let
bachev is taking some steps to reduce that
This morning, I've talked about our mis-
1 to sup-
threat posed by the massive military ma-
sion to secure freedom from fear at home,
chine that is the Soviet Armed Forces. We
er parts
but now let me shift. We also have another
gy aims
mission, a global mission: to free America
applaud those moves, and we hope there
through
from the fear of war. Wouldn't it be won-
will be more, many more. But at the same
grade
derful if our kids or grandkids could grow
time, we cannot cause the Soviet Union to
third,
up in a world where they never had to give
reduce its forces by unilaterally disarming
ets who
one single thought to the horror of a nucle-
ourselves. Progress has been made precisely
hasis on
because we have been strong. So far, in
ar war.
Half a century ago, Ike and Nimitz and
terms of cutting strategic weapons systems,
k with
Jimmy Doolittle and millions of unsung
Soviet words have not been matched by
e inter-
heroes-many sitting right here today-
Soviet deeds. Our own strategic moderniza-
adition
fought to end a war. You fought at Guadal-
tion program must deal with deeds and en-
nn signal
canal and Monte Cassino, at Bastogne and
courage the Soviet Union to work with us in
Presi-
Bataan. You fought to rid the world of total-
reducing the threat of nuclear war.
mment
itarianism and tyranny. Our challenge may
And that's why we've begun a vital pro-
igs are
be less dramatic, but just as vital: to secure
gram to modernize our strategic triad, and
freedom in a world at peace. Today ours
by that I mean submarines, missiles, and
as, you
-house
remains a global stage, and America re-
bombers. We have called for two Trident
'll win
mains its leading player. And we must use
submarines to be funded in 1990 and 1991.
ing to
our strength to maintain peace and free-
And today I renew that call and reaffirm
neigh-
dom. For this we do know from World War
my commitment to the second part of our
II: The best way to protect that freedom
triad: strategic land-based missiles. Already
and ensure real peace is for America to be
the Soviet Union is deploying two mobile
a sad
1 this
militarily strong. Thankfully, today America
systems. We have none. We need to move
nding
is strong. And our strength has helped de-
forward with our mobile programs not only
S out
mocracy's tide run in, even as tyranny's tide
to modernize our forces into the 21st centu-
alone.
runs out. The new breeze of freedom,
ry but to gain leverage for arms control.
ers-
which I've spoken of before, is blowing in
You see, what we're talking about here is
i't do
Poland, in Hungary, in countries East and
simple logic; or as Sam Rayburn said, "If a
get
West. And yet with even hopeful changes
man has common sense, he has all the sense
comes uncertainty. And with uncertainty
there is." Accordingly, our ICBM program
can't
nd I
comes the need for vigilance. This is no
calls for a new single-warhead small ICBM
lped
time to declare freedom's victory before
missile and our ICBM missile, Peacekeeper,
lped
the fact. And that is why we need a nation-
multiwarhead ICBM. The small ICBM rep-
al defense that ensures a strong and secure
resents the future of our ICBM force: highly
ilies,
America and why I'm pleased that the
mobile single warhead, the very essence of
pro-
tate.
Senate largely agrees.
stability and deterrence. But it won't be
ont,
This week our defense authorization bill
ready until 1997, so I've asked Congress for
lk."
moves to House-Senate conference commit-
funds to make our existing Peacekeepers
1325
Sept. 7 / Administration of George Bush, 1989
mobile by utilizing our rail system in an
Remarks at the Ceremony
emergency, providing survivability at low
cost for this very effective and proven
of the "Star-Spangled
Commemorating the 175th Anniversary
system. The third part of our deterrent
Baltimore, Maryland
triad-the B-2, or the Stealth bomber-em-
September 7, 1989
ploys absolutely revolutionary technology to
make certain that it can penetrate defenses
What a lovely day. And thank you, Con
and assure the credibility of our deterrence.
gresswoman Bentley, my friend, Helen
And finally, there is the last part of our
Bentley, for, one, inviting me here, and for
defense equation; that's the Strategic De-
joining in the invitation for me to be here,
fense Initiative. SDI will begin the move-
have a very high regard for Maryland's
ment from offensive to defensive deter-
great Helen Bentley. I'm very pleased that
rence and deter not merely existing threats,
you have Tom Clancy, the esteemed
but also nations on the verge of possessing
author, my friend, involved in this project.
nuclear and chemical weapons. Now, if
What a marvelous contribution he's made
that's not common sense, then I don't like
to our literary world and, I also would like
fishing and I don't like playing horseshoes.
to think, to the national security interests of
[Laughter]
the United States by his writings.
Superintendent Tyler, I'm pleased to be
Fellow veterans, real peace is not an acci-
with you, sir, having heard of your tender
dent, so let us modernize our strategic
loving care for this and other of our great
forces and thus encourage arms control. We
monuments. I'm pleased that Congressman
need the Trident, the small ICBM. We
Montgomery, a great leader in the veterans
need the Peacekeeper, B-2, and SDI. And I
movement, was with me at the Legion and
have proposed to the Congress an afford-
here with us today-Mississippi's son.
able budget to pay for them. It is a solid,
I'm proud to share this platform with
well-thought-out, and essential program.
Mayor Schmoke. And of course, I have a
The Congress should support it and not try
few differences with your Governor.
to substitute pet projects in place of a close-
[Laughter] We went to the ball game when
ly integrated strategic program. For this,
the Rangers were in town, and I under-
above all, we know: When it comes to na-
stand that the Orioles are playing the Rang-
tional defense, finishing second means fin-
ers tonight. And I hope you'll excuse me if,
ishing last.
for the first time, I visibly differ with Don
We can have an America free from war,
on this one-I want my kid, who runs the
free from drugs and crime-an America
Rangers, to keep his job. [Laughter] So,
free from fear. What a wonderful legacy for
you'll have to forgive me, Governor, for this
this and generations of children to come.
one evening. But as for Don Schaefer, we
Some might call it only a dream. To them, I
may be in opposite parties, but I am grate-
say, okay, America is the land of dreams-
ful to him for his leadership in this State,
dreams that come true.
and I am grateful to him for his standing up
with us as we formulate it and now are
God bless you all. God bless the United
trying to advocate a national strategy to
States of America. And thank you for your
combat narcotics in this country. Your Gov-
hospitality. Thank you all very, very much.
ernor is out front and I am very, very
Remember Pearl Harbor. We'll see you.
grateful to him.
And what a lovely day to visit one of
Note: The President spoke at 10:05 a.m. at
America's most hallowed shrines. I'm grate-
the Baltimore Convention Center. In his re-
ful to all of you for the warmth of the re-
marks, the President referred to Herman F.
ception. One hundred and seventy-five
"Sparky" Gierke, national commander of
years ago, three events-the Battle of North
the American Legion, and Ambassador
Point, the Battle of Baltimore, and "The
Edward L. Rowny, Special Advisor to the
Star-Spangled Banner"-wrote one of the
President and Secretary of State for Arms
greatest chapters in the American experi-
Control Matters.
ence. And even now, they teach us, and
1326
Remarks by General Colin L. Powell,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
at the National Convention of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars, Baltimore, Maryland,
23 August 1990
As Delivered
1
Thank you very much, Commander in Chief Hogan, for that very fine
introduction. Let me apologize for being a few minutes late. We tried to
make it by helicopter, but the weather stopped us so we turned to an
automobile. And we got here from Washington in about 35 minutes and
we should shortly be joined by several Maryland State Troopers who were
observing our transit.
It is a very great pleasure to be here with you this morning, among my
fellow veterans. I am always pleased to talk to veterans, especially those
of the VFW.
Since the end of the Spanish-American War, your great organization has
fought relentlessly "to insure the national security through maximum
military strength." For 91 years you've pressed that objective in every
state in the Union, at every level of government, and in every board room
across America.
As your commander in chief said earlier this year, you "are all members
of a fraternity forged in wartime." When it comes to supporting America,
there is no other fraternity like it. You are not merely in the vanguard of
excellence, you are the vanguard of excellence.
You know, when you say you're going to talk to the VFW, people in
Washington say you are preaching to the choir. Well, I like preaching to
the choir. Every now and then the choir needs to hear the preacher
preach. And I love to hear this choir sing out, as it has for 91 years, for a
proud, free, strong America.
2
Three days ago, President Bush told you that by serving America's
veterans you have enriched America. You have also strengthened
America, and for that we are all very grateful.
For the past three weeks, world events have forcefully reminded us of
the need for a strong America. Reminded us that we still live in a world
of uncertainty, a world of instability and a world of continuing danger.
In the past three weeks, we haven't heard much about Perestroika or
Glasnost or a reunified Germany or market economies in communist
countries. Those stories are now much further back in the newspapers.
They don't dominate the airwaves every evening.
Instead our attention has been riveted on the Middle East, on the
Persian Gulf, on a place called Iraq and another place called Kuwait, and on
a man named Saddam Hussein. Instead, U.S. troops, planes and ships,
rather than coming home from the Cold War, are once again on the move.
As many of you did in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's, American GIs are
moving to the sound of trouble.
I've visited our deploying troops and I can't tell you how proud I am of
them and how proud you should be of them. You've seen the images on
television. I know those young GIs saying goodbye and heading off to the
Persian Gulf go with your best wishes and blessings. No one knows more
than you what is in their hearts and what is on their minds as they leave.
No one knows more than you the sacrifice being made by the brave, proud
3
families who will await their return and whom we will take care of while
their loved ones are overseas.
The young volunteers in Saudi Arabia and on the ships offshore are just
like you were. They are patriotic. They care. They want to do the best job
possible. They know America needs them. They know America's friends
need them. They know that American citizens in danger need them. They
believe in America. They are the kind of Americans who have always
been there when the need arose. These young men and women are your
worthy successors.
The other day, I heard the Iraqi Foreign Minister say that our
operations in Grenada and Panama were a vacation compared with what
we might be confronting in the Middle East. Well, I want to tell you that
Grenada and Panama were not vacations. You know better than anyone
that war is never a vacation. Americans don't like war. We never have.
We love peace. But we know that it is better to obtain peace by standing
up to aggression early so you don't have to fight a war later. So we will
defend our interests. Don't try to scare us or threaten us. It won't work, it
never has -- and especially not threats from Mr. Hussein.
We will always come to the aid of our friends and our fellow citizens.
We will not abandon them when they are hostages. And that's what a
guest who isn't allowed to leave is -- a hostage.
No Iraqi leader should think for a moment that we don't have the will or
the ability to accomplish what might be required of us. All any Iraqi
4
leader needs to do is look at the history of American valor and sacrifice in
the 20th century. There lies all the proof he needs of American will.
There lies all the proof he needs of the strength of our arms and our ability
to do what is necessary.
Surely the people of Iraq must be asking themselves right about now
why their leaders have squandered their wealth to invade their neighbors
-- with nothing to show for it but world condemnation and the deaths of
thousands of innocent people. Mr. Hussein, the solution to this crisis is
simple. Leave Kuwait. Let the legitimate government return. Use your
wealth for peace not war.
In my almost 11 months as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I have
heard the too frequent sound of guns erupting against an overall
background of unprecedented opportunities for peace.
In Panama I've seen the force of arms used to restore an elected,
legitimate government. In Nicaragua I've seen the force of ballot boxes
used to throw out an illegitimate government.
In the Philippines I've seen U.S. planes used to keep a freely-elected,
democratic government safe. In Germany I've seen the walls of war come
down to bring a nation back together.
In Liberia I've seen U.S. citizens evacuated to escape the perils of war.
In Angola I've seen Cuban soldiers return home to be replaced by the
promise of peace.
5
And in. Europe, I've seen the Soviets change from the evil empire
incarnate to an apparently willing partner in a free and whole Europe.
The challenge before us is how to balance this world of unprecedented
opportunity and this world of continuing danger. How to take advantage
of the opportunities for peace while guarding against the danger of
instability.
The specific challenge for Secretary of Defense Cheney and me is to
shape our future Armed Forces so that they guard against the danger. In
meeting that challenge, we've focused on enduring realities and enduring
needs.
First, we are aware of the enduring reality of our Atlantic interests. For
40 years we have remained committed across the Atlantic in Europe. For
40 years our leadership, our determination, our military strength provided
the shield behind which freedom and democracy flourished. We won and
the Iron Curtain fell and the Soviets said "enough." But we must still
remain in Europe. Europeans will continue to need our presence and our
leadership to insure the promise of permanent peace.
Europe is not the only area of interest to us across the Atlantic. North
Africa and the Middle East and the Persian Gulf are also areas that we
must keep very much on our mind. And if we needed any reminder of
that, Saddam Hussein has given it to us.
6
So there are enduring needs across the Atlantic. The need to remain
engaged, to lead, to show resolve, to support our allies and friends. Our
friends want us there and we must remain because we want no one to
mistake our hope for a peaceful world for weakness or lack of will.
So even as we draw down forces in Europe, we must retain our
capability to deter and to defend there if that ever should become
necessary again. We must retain our capability to reinforce rapidly our
forces across the Atlantic in Europe and in the Middle East. And to
reinforce with heavy forces -- the kind we are now deploying to the
Persian Gulf.
Second, we must remain aware of the enduring reality of our Pacific
interests. While America was defending collective security in Europe, we
also had to fight two long and bloody wars in Asia. Today, the Pacific is
home to an economic dynamism that seems unbounded. Today the nations
of the Pacific look to us for partnership, for security, for leadership. Our
presence in the region has allowed democracy to grow and flourish. And
there is an enduring need for that presence. Therefore, we must not now
disengage. The presence of American military power in the Pacific is an
essential element for continued progress in the region.
Third, there is the enduring reality of uncertainty, instability and danger.
The crisis that no one expects is coming and then suddenly it is there. This
reality generates another enduring need. We must make sure that in the
future we maintain contingency forces to deal with crisis -- forces such as
the ones that executed Operation Just Cause in Panama under General
7
Stiner's superb leadership. Forces such as those we are now deploying to
the Arabian Peninsula. Forces that by their speed and aggressiveness, and
ability deter war. But also forces that can fight and win if deterrence fails.
Fourth, there is the enduring reality of Soviet nuclear power. A reality
that we and the Free World have had to face for 40 years. The reality that
no matter what happens in the Soviet Union, no matter how many walls
fall down, or elections are held, or who the President may be -- the Soviet
Union remains a military superpower. A nuclear military superpower with
the ability, if not the intention, to destroy. our way of life in 30 minutes.
This is an enduring reality I never forget.
Today, our eyes are on the Middle East. There, we are witnessing the
proof of another enduring reality. It is the reality that America is the only
superpower left in all the dimensions of power -- political, economic,
military, and the power of our values. And that reality creates another
enduring need: -- the need for world leadership. We cannot shrink from it.
America must remain the leader of the Free World.
In the nearly fifty years since World War II, American leadership and
American strength have been tried and tested many, many times. But we
have come through each time. What happened in the Freedom Revolution
of 1989 was largely a product of our leadership and the Free World's
resolve.
A new era of hope is dawning -- an era created out of your sacrifice and
out of the values and strength of the Free World.
8
There are striking differences between this new era and the old one it is
replacing. In the old era, NATO stood as the bulwark against Soviet
invasion of Western Europe. In the new era, we are discussing the
cooperation of our NATO allies in the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Many of our NATO allies now are answering the Desert Shield call to arms.
In the past, Soviet leaders moved relentlessly to create and exploit
crises in the name of ideology. Today, Soviet leaders work with us to help
stem the crisis in the Middle East.
In the past, the Security Council of the United Nations would be in a
hopeless stalemate over any crisis. This time, the vote of the Security
Council was 13 to 0 for sanctions against Iraq, and 15 to 0 to condemn
Iraq's restrictions on innocent civilians. The Arab Council, NATO and the
Western European Union all joined together in saying "no" to further
tyranny.
So we are moving into a new world. But in this new world there will
still be a need for American leadership. President Bush reminded us only
last week that, "We're in a new era -- one full of promise. But events of
the past two weeks remind us that there is no substitute for American
leadership. And American leadership," he went on to say, "cannot be
effective in the absence of America's strength."
And we must put that strength where American interests dictate. We
must havé forces in Europe, in Japan, in Korea, and in the Persian Gulf. We
9
must have superior naval forces in waters that are crucial to our economic
interests and the interests of our allies. We must have contingency forces
here in the United States -- forces that are ready for any crisis.
And to deal with what I described as the enduring reality of Soviet
strategic nuclear weapons, we must maintain capable, modern nuclear
weapons of our own. So we need the B-2 bomber. We need to
continue to modernize the sea- and land-based legs of our nuclear
TRIAD. And we need to continue vigorous research into the Strategic
Defense Initiative. These systems are very, very expensive. I know
that. I know how expensive they are. But I also know it is a
necessary investment in order to preserve our security. No Soviet
leader, now or in the future, must ever be allowed to believe that he
could blackmail America with superior nuclear weapons.
So I see our enduring future defense needs rather clearly: modern
strategic nuclear forces that defend this nation and its allies; an
Atlantic force to protect our interests to the East, a Pacific force to the
West, reinforcing forces here in the United States, to include a
contingency force for the unknown: -- for the crisis no one expected
or predicted. And all of this supported by the best R&D program we
can put together and by the soundest industrial base we can devise
and sustain.
And we can build this armed force. We can put the whole package
together and keep America safe. And in the process, we can save
some money as well. We can do all of this and save money if we have
10
the time to do it. That's what concerns me most, that's what concerns
Secretary Cheney the most -- having the time to structure the right
military for America. Saddam Hussein will pass. Crises will come and
go. But America's need for strong armed forces will not pass -- ever.
In the months ahead, Secretary Cheney and I will be fighting to
structure this force in the right way. And the next three or four
months will be very critical. The Congress will soon be back and will
be forced to make a judgment about the FY 1991 President's budget
that is up for their consideration. We need that Congressional
decision to be the right one. We need that decision to be one that
allows us to move prudently rather than precipitously toward a
smaller but even better force. What President Bush has asked for in
his budget is what America needs for its protection,
If we get a decision out of our Congress that won't allow for what
we believe America needs, a decision that cuts too much too soon out
of our Armed Forces, then we'll be unable to structure the kind of
proud, ready armed forces that our nation will need in the years
ahead. Remember, our Armed Forces are all-volunteer forces. All
those volunteers are under contract. All are ready to do what is
required to serve their country. These are the people who will
continue to protect America and her interests around the world.
These are people who believe in America just as you do. These are
people who are willing to sacrifice and serve just as you did.
11
But if we cut too sharply and too deeply, we'll lose those people. We'll
destroy the finest military America has ever fielded in time of peace.
Some of the fine young volunteers you've seen in the desert on television
every night we'll be forced to fire when they come home. We can't let that
happen.
And we must not destroy the great team we've built of our Active and
Reserve Components. Yesterday President Bush announced a selective
call-up of the Reserves and he could do that without any hesitation about
their quality because they are the very best. The Total Force policy we
have is proving itself in the crisis in the Gulf. We're calling up only
selected units, ones that can do special tasks that are key to sústaining our
forces, or are crucial to selected areas of support. But we know that we
could call up any of these great Americans and their response would be
overwhelming. All of the Armed Forces of America are ready to go and to
serve.
I want the Congress and the American people to be aware of these facts.
And I want you to help me tell the story. I also want them to know that
we in the military the Joint Chiefs of Staff and I -- understand we will
get smaller. We can get smaller for the new era we are facing. We will
reduce our budget. We know that we must re-examine every program and
every organization in the Department of Defense to insure its relevance to
a changing world.
12
But it's a changing not a changed world. It's a world full still of
instability, uncertainty and danger. It's a world where ready armed forces
will continue to be essential.
On the cover of your June/July VFW Magazine you featured a montage
of symbols from the Korean War -- the X Corps patch, the Korean Service.
Medal, the Regimental flag of the 5th Marines, an F-86 Saber fighter jet,
each symbol set by the artist against a background of jagged Korean
mountains covered with snow.
Your resolution 346, featured in that magazine, declared June 25th as
"Remembrance Day" -- the 40th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean
War.
On that day, now over 40 years ago, our armed forces were hollow and
unready for action. It took the courage and valor of men and women,
many here today, to compensate for that failure to pay the peace time
price of freedom. Behind those symbols on the cover of your magazine
were the flesh and blood of American veterans.
Our aim should be to see that America never makes that mistake again.
Our aim should be to see that America never again has to send its sons and
daughters to war unready, poorly equipped and badly trained. We must
never again compensate for lack of readiness with the lives of Americans.
[pause]
13
President Bush spoke to our Armed Forces at the Pentagon last week.
"It is you," the President said, "the men and women of the Department of
Defense, who turn words into deeds that transform hope and promise into
reality."
The President could easily have been speaking to each of you here
today. Every one of you in your service helped turn words into deeds.
Every one of you transformed hope and promise into reality. Now I ask
you to help keep our Armed Forces strong so that America can continue to
lead the way in transforming hope and promise into an enduring reality.
Thank you so very much for letting me share this day with you.