George Bush Sr. on Foreign Policy President of the U.S., 1989-1993; Former Republican Rep. (TX)

Sub-sections under Foreign Policy:
• China
• Cold War
• New World Order
• Other issues under Foreign Policy

OpEd: internationalist by instinct and upbringing

The second use of force was the 1991 Gulf War, which was triggered by Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Operation Desert Storm brought together the largest international coalition in history and was one of the only two wars to have been sanctioned by the UN

United Nations is "the light that failed"

I had no doubt that Bush, a former US permanent representative to the UN, who had called it "the light that failed," had a thoroughly realistic view of both the UN's potential and its problems. The issue, though, was to translate out intentions into a strategy that was more than just perpetual dissatisfaction with contribution levels. I created a conceptual framework called the "Unitary UN" for this purpose, hoping to take a global view of the entire system, to compare performance levels so we could allocate funds based on real accomplishments. No other country paid as much attention to what the UN actually achieved, as opposed to its aspirational rhetoric.

Called for repeal of UN "Zionism is racism" resolution

Firing the opening shot in the campaign in his annual UN address, President Bush included a call for repeal, signaling that this year we were serious indeed. Persistence paid off. As one of its last official acts before it dissolved, the Soviet Union voted to repeal the resolution it had inspired. "Z/r" was dead.

US troops to Somalia to alleviate starvation

Became UN Ambassador after campaigning against UN

Nixon said, "I told him our plan, which didn't go down too well at first. 'We hated the UN in Texas,' Barbara said. She reminded me that George had campaigned against the UN. George had said the UN 'has largely been a failure in preserving freedom.' I explained to George that there was no better way for him to stay in public life than to become US Ambassador to the UN."

After the President offered him some insignificant position, George said he'd rather have the UN because he felt that he could make friends for Nixon in a way that no one else could. And his unswerving loyalty would enable him to represent US foreign policy the way Nixon wanted it represented.

US gives Israel $1,000 for every Israeli citizen

1987: Visited concentration camps in Poland

Ronald Reagan would not budge. He had given his word. Former President Nixon backed him in his resolve, as did Vice President Bush, who sent him a secret note, which Reagan later published in his autobiography: "Mr. President, I was very proud of your stand. If I can help absorb some heat, send me into battle--It's not easy, but you are right!!!"

The outcry over Bitburg had convinced the Bush hardnoses that he needed to demonstrate his own sensitivity to the Holocaust. They scheduled a 4-day trip to Poland in Sept. 1987 with stops at the concentration camps of Birkenau and Auschwitz, where 4 million people had been exterminated. The trip was so blatantly political that the Polish press accused Bush of using their country to launch his presidential campaign.

1980s: Secretly assisted airlifting Ethiopian Jews to Israel

1991: Returned asylum-seeking refugees from Haiti

When the Bush administration, which appeared to be more sympathetic to Cedras than I was, began to return the refugees, there were loud protests from the human rights community. I wanted to make it easier for Haitians to seek and obtain political asylum in the US, but was concerned that large numbers of them would perish in trying to get here, as about 400 had done just a week earlier. So, I said that, instead of taking in all the Haitians who could survive the voyage to America, we would beef up our official presence in Haiti and speed up asylum claims there. In the meantime, for safety reasons, we would continue to stop the boats and return the passengers.

Resigned from Trilateral Commission during V.P. campaign

However, "The truth is rather mundane: It's a club of 15 students who meet regularly to learn more about each other." What Skull and Bones probably did for Bush, other than providing him with a moneyed old boy network, was to expose him to Bonies of vastly different backgrounds.

During his vice presidential campaign, the senior Bush was compelled to resign his membership in the Trilateral Commission when errant suspicious arose that he served the political agenda of the Council of Foreign Relations in pursuit of a "New World Order."

Though the Skull and Bones legacy would haunt both Bushes throughout their careers, the network it gave them opened important doors.

1980s-90s: Supported military junta in Haiti

This continued right through to when Bush and Clinton supported the military junta directly, right through the worst terror. That was another thing that I saw personally for a couple of days. Right now, in Queens, NY, one of their leading criminals, Emmanuel Constant, is hidden by the US. He's already been sentenced in Haiti for terrorist crimes. He was the head of the paramilitary force that was responsible for killing maybe 5,000 people in Haiti in the early 1990s when Bush and Clinton were supporting the military junta. Haiti has tried to extradite him, but of course the US doesn't even bother responding, and the press won't even comment on it

Supported 1990 South Africa sanctions

Clinton promised to overturn "immoral" Haiti policy

There certainly are those who will claim that Clinton's approach to Haiti eventually worked, since Cedras was ousted and Aristide returned to power. [Overall], Clinton would have considered Haiti a foreign policy victory.

Clinton the campaigner had promised that he would change the policy of the Bush administration relative to the immigration of Haiti. Clinton characterized the Bush plan as immoral. The Haitians took Clinton at his word. A boatload of 400 Haitians set off on a journey to freedom in the US. They died in the attempt.

Built consensus with UN to move against Saddam Hussein

Panama: stealing elections requires response

"Today elected constitutional government is the clear choice of the vast majority of the people in the Americas, and the days of the dictator are over. Still, in many parts of our hemisphere, the enemies of democracy lie in wait to overturn elected governments through force or to steal elections through fraud. All nations in the democratic community have a responsibility to make clear, through our actions and our words, that efforts to overturn constitutional regimes or steal elections are unacceptable. If we fail to send a clear signal when democracy is imperiled, the enemies of constitutional government will become more dangerous."
(Remarks and a question-and-answer session with reporters on the situation in Panama, White House Briefing Room)

1971: Argued for dual UN representation for China & Taiwan

When the Taiwanese Ambassador walked out of the hall for the last time, George caught him & apologized for what had happened.

Tiananmen: deplored crackdown but maintained communication

US-China relationship needs to be preserved post-Tiananmen

Conciliation after Tiananmen if China freed jailed students

If forgiveness could be granted to the students and, yes, to their teachers, this would go a long way to restoring worldwide confidence. Such a move could well lead to improved relations with many countries. I could then publicly dispatch a high-level emissary to Beijing thus signaling to the world that our country was prepared to work our way towards more normal relations.

Deng's reply was respectful, but he held steadfastly to their position that this was their internal affair. Eventually, our relationship and friendship would recover, but it took a while to work through these problems.

Principled relations with China advances world peace

You think the US stands on 2 different policies--one for the PRC and one for Taiwan. But in fact, we have one policy--there is one China and we acknowledge the PRC view that Taiwan is part of China, a view that is shared by Taiwan. We remain a loyal friend to Taiwan while we simultaneously try to advance our relationship with the PRC. We believe that good relations between the US and the PRC advance the cause of peace worldwide and that we would be irresponsible to let the opportunity for improved relations pass us by without a principled effort on our part. Note, I say principled. We will not turn back on an old friend, Taiwan. We will uphold the law of the land.

One last point--every ally we have in Asia--all urge that we strengthen our relationship with the PRC. They see it as in their strategic self-interest.

Measured response to Berlin Wall to avoid alarming Soviets

1991: Met with Yeltsin but avoided embarrassing Gorbachev

30 minutes into the meeting, the President flung open the door. Yeltsin smiled broadly, jumped up, and embraced the startled leader of the free world in a bear hug. After about 30 minutes the President left, and I escorted a self-satisfied Yeltsin out to his car.

1989: Restraint about Berlin Wall, to avoid Soviet reaction

Given this dramatic development, there were many voices in Congress urging Dad to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall as the triumph of democracy.

"My restraint--or prudence, if you will--was misunderstood, certainly by some in Congress," Dad recalled. "Dick Gephardt, the leader in the House, was saying, 'Our president doesn't get it. He ought to go to Berlin, stand on the Wall, dance with the young people to show the joy that we all feel.' I still feel that would have been the stupidest thing an American president could do, because we were very concerned about how the troops in East Germany would react. We were very concerned about the nationalistic elements in the Soviet Union maybe putting Gorbachev out."

Do as much as possible to stabilize Russia

As you know, we are moving on the humanitarian food and medical aid front. Many American technologies are working with the newly energized private sector in Russia. More needs to be done. We are talking with the states of the former Soviet Union on a range of issues.

I am not sure what Russian goods are denied access to our markets. We are working with them on MFN. In my view, it is the EC that must open their markets more.

We are working on the prospects for a stabilization fund--though, we're talking megabucks here. We are also helping some on debt and perhaps can do more, along with the Europeans.

Thaw in Cold War revives repressed ethnic tensions

"Communism held history captive for years. It suspended ancient disputes, and it suppressed ethnic rivalries, nationalist aspirations, and old prejudices. As it has dissolved, suspended hatreds have sprung to life. This revival of history ushers in a new era teeming with opportunities and perils.

"You may wonder about America's role in the new world I have described. Let me assure you, the US has no intention of striving for Pax Americana. However, we will remain engaged. We will not retreat and pull back into isolationism. We will offer friendship and leadership. And in short, we seek a pax universalis built upon shared responsibilities and aspirations."
(Address to the 46th sessions of the UN General Assembly)

Recognized Baltics to encourage Gorbachev

Today I have a press conference. I recognized the Baltics. I talked to the Presidents of Estonia and Latvia today, having talked to Landsbergis of Lithuania a couple of days ago. I told them what we've got to do. I told them why we waited a few days more. What I tried to do was to use the power and the prestige of the US, not to posture, not to be the first on board, but to encourage Gorbachev to move faster on "freeing the Baltics." Yesterday, he did make a statement to this effect and today there is an agreement where the various republics would be entitled to determine their own relationship with the Center [the union].

Dissolution of USSR is death knell for Communist movement

Q: Do you think these events mark the impending death of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union? And shouldn't Americans take some kind of satisfaction?

A: The answer is yes and yes. Yes, it is clearly the death knell for the Communist movement around the world. There's only a handful of people that stick out like a sore thumb. I think of one down there in Cuba right now that must be sweating because you can't stop this quest for freedom.

Q: Should Americans be taking satisfaction--

A: Of course we should. The days when we talked about the Cold War and what it meant, and the fear of aggression--those days are gone now. And so, the American people should take great pleasure that regardless of politics, they have always stood against totalitarianism.
(News conference at Kennebunkport, Maine.)

Economic sanctions for Soviet actions in Baltics

In view of the events of the last 2 weeks--resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people in the Baltic states--I cannot continue along this path. I had hoped to see positive steps toward the peaceful resolution of this conflict; [but in their absence], I will freeze many elements of our economic relationship including Export-Import credit guarantees and most of our technical assistance programs.

I would not take these steps to, in any sense, punish the Soviet Union. I viewed the expansion of our economic and commercial relationship not as a reward but rather as a natural response to Soviet political and economic reform. Sadly, events in the Baltic states call into question the Soviet government's commitment to the very reforms that provide the basis for much of what we are trying to do in the economic sphere.

Warsaw Pact falling was fragile time: don't provoke USSR

Funding Warsaw Pact rebellions makes them look American-run

I keep hearing the critics saying we're not doing enough on Eastern Europe; here the changes are dramatically coming our way and, if any one event--Poland, Hungary or East Germany--had taken place, people would say, "This is great." But it's all moving fast--moving our way--and you've got a bunch of critics jumping around saying we ought to be doing more. What they mean is, double spending. It doesn't matter what, just send money; I think it's crazy. And if we mishandle this and get way out [in front] looking like [the rebellions are] an American project--you would invite crackdown, and invite negative reaction that could result in bloodshed. The longer I'm in this job, the more I think prudence is a value and experience matters

Democrats see America as just another pleasant country

1989: A new breeze is blowing in world refreshed by freedom

Need public relations to change how others view America

That diplomat, of course, was George H.W. Bush, at the time the US liaison to China under President Ford. His belief that the nation's problem with the world was merely a "public relations" issue is simply mystifying.

Is it really possible that a man like Bush, whose job it was to understand world opinion, could really have believed that all these other people in the world, the Europeans, the Africans, the Asians--all of them merely misunderstood what the US's objectives were?

Informally called world leaders often, while President

"This had never been done before, and in fact some of the foreign leaders thought they were phony calls at first," said [future Secretary of Defense] Bob Gates. "It was like somebody saying, 'This is Queen Elizabeth calling.' It took probably a year and a half before we had some procedures smoothed out with some of these other people. It went the fastest with the British and the Germans and the French, but it was really funny some of the time when he would reach out and try and talk to some of these leaders, because they just weren't prepared for him."

Made deals with Gorbachev’s USSR, then Yeltsin’s Russia

Since I became President, 43 countries have gone democratic

BUSH: Since I became President, 43 or 44 countries have gone democratic. No longer totalitarian, no longer living under dictatorship or communist rule. This is exciting. This new world order to me means freedom and democracy. I think we will have a continuing responsibility, as the only remaining superpower, to stay involved. The Soviet Union is no more. Now we're working to help them become totally democratic through the FREEDOM Support Act that I led on. Ross, you're for that, I'm sure, helping Russia become democratic.

PEROT: Well, it's cost-effective to help Russia succeed in its revolution. It's pennies on the dollar compared to going back to the cold war. Russia's still very unstable.

CLINTON: The end of the cold war brings an incredible opportunity for change, the winds of freedom blowing around the world, Russia demilitarizing. It also requires us to maintain some continuity, some bipartisan American commitment.

New World Order: open borders; open trade; open minds

The United Nations can help