Sincerely,

the United States, its agencies, its officers,

or any person.

George Bush

George Bush

Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas

S. Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate.

The White House,

August 22, 1990.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:42 p.m., August 24, 1990]

Executive Order 12728-Delegating the President's Authority To Suspend Any Provision of Law Relating to the Promotion, Retirement, or Separation of Members of the Armed Forces August 22, 1990

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 673c of title 10 of the United States Code and section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, I hereby order:

Section 1. The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, are hereby designated and empowered to exercise, without the approval, ratification, or other action of the President, the authority vested in the President by section 673c of title 10 of the United States Code (1) to suspend any provision of law relating to promotion, retirement, or separation applicable to any member of the armed forces determined to be essential to the national security of the United States, and (2) to determine, for the purposes of said section, that members of the armed forces are essential to the national security of the United States.

Sec. 2. The authority delegated to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation by this order may be redelegated and further subdelegated to subordinates who are appointed to their offices by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Sec. 3. This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive branch and is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or proce

Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Mobilization of United States Reserves

August 22, 1990

The President today authorized the Secretary of Defense to call Reserve units of the Armed Forces to active duty. The order permits the Secretary of Defense to call to duty selected members and units of the Reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps as needed to support United States and multinational operations now underway. The President signed the order after the Secretary of Defense advised him that the effective conduct of military operations in and around the Arabian Peninsula may require augmentation of Active components of the Armed Forces. The actual number of Reserve personnel to be called to active duty will depend upon the operational needs of the Armed Forces, but at this time, we do not anticipate approaching the full 200,000 authority provided by law.

The Total Force Policy, which was established in 1973, allocates various military capabilities among the Active, Reserve, and National Guard components that together make up the Armed Forces of the United States. Under this policy, the capability to perform certain critical military activities has been concentrated in the Reserve component. Activating reservists to support operations such as those now underway has been a central feature of this approach.

The skills concentrated in the Reserve component include airlift, food and water handling, surface transportation, cargo handling, medical services, construction, and intelligence. By making judicious use of the

President's authorization, the Secretary of Defense will be able to ensure that essential capabilities such as these and others are available to support our operational require

ments.

The President issued the order authorizing the Secretary of Defense to call Reserve units to active duty in accordance with section 673b of title 10 of the United States Code. The order also authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to call to active duty elements of the Coast Guard Reserve. Another order signed by the President permits the Secretary of Defense greater flexibility in military personnel management actions.

Proclamation 6172-International
Visitors' Month, 1990
August 22, 1990

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For 50 years, Americans throughout the United States have welcomed participants in the International Visitors Program to their communities, offices, and homes. Through this program, which is sponsored by the United States Information Agency, current and future foreign leaders have been able to enjoy a professional and cultural orientation to our country. The extraordinary generosity of the American people their willingness to share not only their knowledge and skills but also the fabric of their daily lives-has ensured the remarkable success of the International Visitors Program.

More than 800,000 Americans, in communities in every state, volunteer their time to ensure that program participants receive a warm welcome to the United States. These volunteers help to answer our guests' questions and, in turn, give our guests the opportunity to share with us important insights about their native lands.

Through the International Visitors Program, our children have been able to learn more about other peoples and their cultures; American educators and business people have been able to establish valuable

contacts with their foreign counterparts. Clearly, our national interest has been well served by the American tradition of hospitality and openness on which the program is based.

Since its inception in 1940, the International Visitors Program has given participants from oppressed nations a chance to learn about freedom and self-government. In so doing, it has not only strengthened their sense of hope, but also helped them to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote the development of democracy in their own countries. In fact, a striking number of those individuals who have helped to bring about constructive change in Eastern Europe are former International Visitors. During their visits here, they saw how democracy works, and they learned that political and economic freedom is the key to real and lasting peace and prosperity.

The International Visitors Program, made possible with the generous voluntary assistance of citizens across the country, has helped to promote greater understanding and cooperation between the United States and other nations. This foundation of mutual respect and goodwill will enable leaders in both the public and private sectors to continue building meaningful relationships with their counterparts around the world.

The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 248, has designated September 1990 as "International Visitors' Month" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this month.

Now, Therefore, I, George Bush, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 1990 as International Visitors' Month. I invite the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies and activities designed to recognize the International Visitors Program as a valuable means of promoting the people-to-people contacts that can lead to greater understanding and cooperation among nations.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the

United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth.

George Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, noon, August 22, 1990]

The President's News Conference on the Persian Gulf Crisis August 22, 1990

Deployment of U.S. Armed Forces and
Mobilization of U.S. Reserves

The President. Let me make a brief opening statement, and then I'll be glad to take any questions.

First, Secretary Cheney and General Powell have just given me a very full and, I would say, encouraging briefing on the status of our deployment to the Persian Gulf. This has been a very complicated mission calling for precision, calling for maximum coordination with Saudi Arabia and the other nations providing forces. The process has gone smoothly, and we've now moved what amounts to a medium-sized American city completely capable of sustaining itself all the way over to the Middle East.

And the Secretary reports that the men and women in the Armed Forces have performed with extraordinary ability, their morale is high, and they've accepted the challenge of their mission with extraordinary dedication to duty. And I'm very proud of each and every single one of them, and I want them to know that the American people are behind them 100 percent, supporting them strongly.

And it's also crucial that everyone understand that we are not in this alone. We stand shoulder to shoulder right there in the Middle East with the Armed Forces of 22 other nations from the Middle East, from Europe, and around the world.

Secretary Dick Cheney reports an impressive alliance of multinational forces that stands behind the United Nations resolve that Iraq completely and unconditionally withdraw from Kuwait with the restoration of the legitimate government in that coun

try. The United Nations has provided enormous leadership to the whole world community in pursuing this objective and voting the sanctions necessary to carrying it out. And let's be clear: As the deployment of the forces of the many nations shows and as the votes in the United Nations show, this is not a matter between Iraq and the United States of America; it is between Iraq and the entire world community, Arab and non-Arab alike. All the nations of the world lined up to oppose aggression.

And as our forces continue to arrive, they can look forward to the support of the finest Reserve components in the world. We are activating those special categories of reservists that are essential to completing our mission. The United States considers its Reserve forces to be an integral part of the total military command. These essential personnel will soon be joining the cohesive organization required to support the military operations in and around the Arabian Peninsula, and I have the highest confidence in their ability to augment the Active forces in this operation.

We continue to pursue our objectives with absolute determination. I might add that I talked to the four leaders of Congress today, and I am very pleased that they are giving us the strong support they have been-the Speaker, Senator Mitchell [majority leader], Senator Dole [minority leader], Congressman Michel [Republican leader]. And the world simply cannot waiver in its opposition to the threat that Iraq has placed on the doorstep of all nations who cherish freedom and the rule of law.

Now what I plan to do is take some questions, and then I know you'll have more questions for Secretary Cheney and General Powell. And then the discussions that we've had with these two gentlemen and with Secretary Eagleburger and General Scowcroft, our Chief of Staff, and Bob Gates will continue for a little while this afternoon before they return to Washington.

But, Dick, I am very grateful to you for your successful mission. And, both to you and Colin, my sincere thanks for the superb leadership you are giving the United States military, the superb leadership you are

showing in working with other countries as we pursue these high moral objectives. Soviet Military Advisers in Iraq

Q. Mr. President, the Soviets have voted with us in the Security Council for the economic sanctions, but we learned today that they have 193 military advisers still advising the Iraqi army on how to use Soviet-built weapons against the allied forces. Do you call upon them to pull those people out?

The President. Frankly, I'd like to see Iraq do what is civilized and permit foreigners who want to leave, leave. But I'm not going to comment on that because I don't have this information that you're telling me about. Maybe Dick Cheney can comment on it later.

Q. Can I just follow, sir?
The President. Yes.

Soviet Cooperation

Q. You've talked to at least a dozen world leaders right from here in the past week and a half. Have you called President Gorbachev, and will you call President Gorbachev for his help in the crisis?

The President. Secretary [of State] Baker talked to Foreign Minister Shevardnadze less than 2 hours ago. And we are in close touch with the Soviets. At this point, I can say we are getting superb cooperation from the Soviets. There may be some differences. In fact, I think it's fair to say we've been discussing some of them regarding the timing of certain further U.N. action. But I have no argument with the way in which they have cooperated, and I would expect that Secretary Cheney would agree on that point.

Interdiction of Iraqi Shipping

Q. Could I follow on that, sir-talking about the U.N., the action that you would hope to have. The U.S. forces fired across the bow of a ship that then was allowed to continue on, is now in Yemen. Why did they not pursue that farther? Do you want to wait until you now have that U.N. authority?

The President. Well, you know, we feel we have all the authority we need; and the world leaders I've talked to, particularly François Mitterrand [President of France] and Margaret Thatcher [Prime Minister of

the United Kingdom], agree that we have all the authority we need. We have been trying, and I think prudently so, to work with other countries around the world; and the more unanimity we get out of the United Nations, for example, the better. So, we're prepared to intercept shipping. But where I stand now is: I'm talking to my top advisers here and been on the phone to Secretary Baker a couple of times in the last 2 hours, talking about should the United Nations should we give the United Nations more time to take more productive action. And it has taken productive action, obviously; the chapter VII was a significant step. So, I think we've made clear to the shipping that they can be stopped and that we have the forces to stop them right now. And I believe that General Powell would back me up on what I've just said.

So, my question is: How much more United Nations action is required? And so, I'm going to continue the discussion, asking for the advice of my officials here. But at this juncture, I'm not prepared to say whether we're going to insist on U.N. action before we go further. But I think the signal must go out to the world that many countries are prepared to fully enforce these sanctions. And if there's some U.N. action that will help, so much the better.

Q. How long would you wait for that U.N. action?

The President. We haven't made a determination. I think the signal is out there, as we pursue certain vessels and clearly have the demonstrated ability to board these vessels, that we can do it. So, now the question is: How much more U.N. action benefits this idea of the world staying more closely together? And I might be prepared to give a little time, speaking just for the U.S.we're only one country there, important one though it may be—in order to get more collective action. But on the other hand, I need more advice in terms of the logistics: where these ships are, what the signal would be if we go ahead and take action to stop them, which we could confidently do. Closing of Embassies in Kuwait

Q. Mr. President, despite demands from the Iraqis that the U.S. and other countries close their Embassies in Kuwait and remove

all their diplomatic personnel, the State Department announced today that the U.S. would not do that. Why have you decided to take that course of action, and how can you possibly enforce that?

The President. Because the occupation of Iraq is illegal under international law, and other countries agree totally that we must not take the position that this illegal regime can shut down legitimate Embassies as a result of their aggression. That's why.

Q. But with Iraq in military control of Kuwait, how can you possibly hope to enforce that?

The President. My view is let's wait and see what happens. I don't go into these hypothetical questions. I'd like to explain this because I know there's a lot of them out there as to what I might not or might do under certain circumstances. But here, I think most countries that I'm aware of, and I defer to Secretary Eagleburger, would agree that they will not go along with agreeing to this kind of affirmation of Iraq aggression, aggression that has been thoroughly condemned by the United Nations. Foreign Nationals in Iraq and Kuwait

Q. I'd like to ask, please, about your hostage policy. You were very firm the other day in warning Saddam [Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq] not to harm the Americans. But I wonder: As Commander in Chief, sir, do you consider the U.S. has been provoked right now?

The President. Consider what?

Q. Has been provoked. Has the United States been provoked now by-—

The President. I don't think it's a question of the United States; I think it's a question of the world is being provoked by this illegal action-outrageous action.

Q. Do you have a plan for getting them, sir?

The President. I don't discuss hypothetical contingencies. But I would reiterate, it is a grave concern to all the countries whose leaders I've talked to.

Q. Mr. President, will the United States give safe haven to our citizens in Kuwait and Iraq in the Embassies if——————

The President. If citizens came to the Embassies seeking support and help, clearly we would do that.

Reduction of U.S. Embassy Staff in Kuwait

Q. Do you have plans to draw down the number of Americans in our Embassy in Kuwait?

The President. I'd like to defer that question to Secretary Eagleburger when I continue this. There has been talk of it. Indeed, I think we're talking about taking down some personnel. But I'd like to ask him to be a little more definitive.

Foreign Nationals in Iraq and Kuwait

Q. Mr. President, how constrained do you feel by the Americans trapped in Kuwait as you make your decisions?

The President. I think any decisionmaker in the United States or in any of these countries is concerned about the lives of innocent civilians, innocent people. And so, you weigh that very thoroughly against your actions. Having said that, international law, in this case the chapter VII sanctions, must be enforced.

Energy Conservation

Q. Mr. President, you said last Wednesday at the Pentagon that part of what we're fighting for, or standing for, in the desert is our way of life. Part of our way of life is heavy usage of energy, much more so than any other industrialized country. We haven't really heard you call upon Americans to conserve as part of this crisis. Will you do so now?

The President. I call upon Americans to

conserve.

Q. You won't elaborate?

The President. No. I think we ought to conserve in times like this. On the other hand, we're doing everything we can to guarantee that we don't panic Americans and that there will be an adequate supply of hydrocarbons. But I think it is a good time to conserve. So, I'm glad you reminded me of that, and I would call upon Americans to conserve. And I think that doesn't mean that life screeches to a halt. And, therefore, I would say that. But I also think that we're going to be able to guarantee an adequate supply of petroleum.