The President's News Conference
01/04/1990
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
No, it was never strained. That's -- I think that's the mythology that's -- that we've escaped.
If we leave Iraq before our commanders say that we are ready we will be risking the future of Iraq.
History has a long march to it. Societies change, and relationships can constantly be altered to the good.
We have got a good friend. Americans have a good friend.