From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Thu Apr 29 23:23:04 1993
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 21:14-0400
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: Remarks by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff  4.29.93
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org,

         E X E C U T I V E   O F F I C E   O F   T H E   P R E S I D E N T

                             29-Apr-1993 07:22pm  
 
         TO:        Jonathan P. Gill                   

         FROM:      Anne Horel
                    Office of the Press Secretary

 
         SUBJECT:   POWELL STAKEOUT

                           THE WHITE HOUSE

                    Office of the Press Secretary

______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                             April 29, 1993     

	     
                             REMARKS BY 
      CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL COLIN POWELL
            IN QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH THE PRESS
	     
                          The North Portico  

5:25 P.M. EDT
	     
	     Q	  General, thank you for being patient.
	     
	     GENERAL POWELL:  Not at all.  I just might say that my 
colleagues on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and I have just had a couple 
of hours of meetings with the President, a very useful exchange of 
views on the situation in Bosnia.  
	     
	     We explored a wide range of options having to do with 
the diplomatic efforts, as well as some of the other items under 
discussion.  And I would just characterize it as a full discussion of 
a wide range of military options as well as consideration of the 
current diplomatic situation.
	     
	     Q	  Have you ruled anything on or off the table?
	     
	     GENERAL POWELL:  We haven't ruled anything off the 
table, other than what the President had previously ruled off the 
table.  And I don't want to get into any specifics of details of any 
of the military options; I think they have been covered rather 
broadly in the press.  And, as you know, it is not our practice to go 
into the details.
	     
	     Q	  It's been widely reported, General, that many in 
the Pentagon, including many of those in the Joint Chiefs, are 
reluctant to endorse limited air strikes against either artillery 
positions or supply lines, that sort of thing.
	     
	     GENERAL POWELL:  Well, lots of things are always 
reported about the views of the Pentagon.  What we do is examine all 
of the pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages of all military 
options, and then we give the results of that analysis to the 
President, and the President has been very, very kind in taking the 
time to hear that analysis.  
	     
	     We also discuss with our political leaders the proper 
linking of military actions to political objectives and policy 
objectives to make sure there is that linkage, and the President 
understands the need to have that kind of conversation.
	     
	     But it is also clear that once all of that consideration 
has been given and the President makes his decision, the Armed Forces 
of the United States will be fully able to carry out the instructions 
that we have been given.  And at that point, there is never any 
reluctance.  We have demonstrated repeatedly, especially in recent 
years, our ability to accomplish any assigned mission.
	     
	     Q	  Does the meeting this weekend between the Croats 
and the Muslims and the Serbs, the meeting this weekend, does that 
change the equation at all -- the military equation in your mind?
	     
	     GENERAL POWELL:  We will continue with our thinking and 
planning on this issue.  I'm, of course, pleased, as everybody, that 
there is another chapter unfolding in this diplomatic effort.  But 
we've seen previous chapters unfold and close right away, so let's be 
hopeful, let's be optimistic that there is a breakthrough; but, 
nevertheless, we'll continue with our planning and thinking.
	     
	     Q	  General, do you believe that air strikes can be 
effective and can be accomplished without too much risk to our 
people?
	     
	     GENERAL POWELL:  Air strikes, depending on the nature of 
the strike and the target and a lot of other considerations, can have 
an effect.  Whether they have the effect that some of the more 
strident advocates hope that they would have is the question to be 
answered.  There is always a risk associated with it.  We will do 
everything possible, if we are ever called upon to conduct air 
strikes anywhere, to minimize that risk, but there is always a level 
of risk.
	     
	     Q	  General, as you understand it right now, what is 
the political objective in Bosnia -- as you understand it right now?
	     
	     GENERAL POWELL:  I don't speak political objectives.  
Thank you.
	     
	     THE PRESS:  Thank you.
	      

                                 END5:27 P.M. EDT