[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 164 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 164

 Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should adhere 
   to a consistent policy with respect to the introduction of United 
              States Armed Forces into hostile situations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 1999

  Mr. Hayes submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should adhere 
   to a consistent policy with respect to the introduction of United 
              States Armed Forces into hostile situations.

Whereas since President Clinton took office in 1993, United States Armed Forces 
        have been introduced 19 times into hostile situations;
Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces voluntarily, and without 
        condition, carry out the orders of the President, their Commander-in-
        Chief;
Whereas American idealism and its imperative for democracy and freedom around 
        the world does not, in all cases, parallel the national interests of the 
        United States;
Whereas in 1992 President Clinton called for a peacekeeping mission into 
        Somalia, deploying approximately 25,800 members of the United States 
        Armed Forces, and this mission ultimately cost 29 American lives and 
        concluded with the withdrawal of such Armed Forces in the midst of civil 
        unrest and political instability;
Whereas in 1994 President Clinton called for a humanitarian mission into Rwanda, 
        deploying approximately 3,600 members of the United States Armed Forces, 
        that concluded with the withdrawal of such Armed Forces in the midst of 
        civil unrest and political instability;
Whereas in 1994 President Clinton called for a mission into Haiti to restore 
        constitutional order, deploying approximately 21,000 members of the 
        United States Armed Forces, and this mission ultimately cost one 
        American life and concluded with the withdrawal of such Armed Forces in 
        the midst of civil unrest and political instability;
Whereas in 1994 President Clinton called for a mission into Bosnia-Herzegovina 
        to suppress Serbian aggression and to eventually ensure implementation 
        of the conditions outlined under a negotiated peace settlement, 
        deploying approximately 16,500 members of the United States Armed 
        Forces, which has resulted in the partition of Bosnia-Herzegovina (thus 
        achieving a goal of the Serbians), and which has yet to conclude and 
        will require a long-term United States military presence;
Whereas in 1998 President Clinton called for a mission involving air strikes 
        against Iraq to reinstate inspections of the United Nations Special 
        Commission (UNSCOM) and degrade Saddam Hussein's ability to produce 
        weapons of mass destruction, using 650 strike and strike support sorties 
        and expending over 400 cruise missiles, that concluded with the 
        termination of UNSCOM inspections, has emboldened Saddam Hussein, and 
        has strengthened his stranglehold on the Iraqi people;
Whereas the frequency, and, at times, seemingly cavalier use of the United 
        States Armed Forces calls into question the Clinton Administration's 
        policy of military engagement; and
Whereas during the Reagan Administration, the deployment of United States Armed 
        Forces into hostile situations adhered to the ``Weinberger Doctrine'', 
        the philosophy of then Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, which 
        stated clear and consistent objectives prior to the introduction of 
        United States Armed Forces into hostile situations: Now therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the President should, with 
respect to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into 
hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in 
hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances--
            (1) adhere to the ``Weinberger Doctrine'', the philosophy 
        of former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, which 
        states--
                    (A) such introduction of Armed Forces should take 
                place only if the vital national interests of the 
                United States are in jeopardy;
                    (B) the commitment to introduce the Armed Forces 
                should be framed around clearly defined political and 
                military objectives;
                    (C) prior to such introduction of Armed Forces, 
                there should exist a reasonable assurance that the 
                President will have the support of the people of the 
                United States and their elected representative in 
                Congress for such introduction;
                    (D) such introduction of Armed Forces should be a 
                last resort;
                    (E) such introduction of Armed Forces should be 
                done wholeheartedly and in a manner by which the Armed 
                Forces have an overwhelming superiority so that a swift 
                victory is virtually certain; and
                    (F) the President should continually reassess and, 
                if necessary, readjust the commitment to introduce the 
                Armed Forces if conditions and objectives invariably 
                change after such introduction; and
            (2) in addition to adhering to the requirements of the 
        ``Weinberger Doctrine'' under paragraph (1), should, after the 
        mission of the Armed Forces has been defined and the Armed 
        Forces have been introduced, allow senior general officers of 
        the Armed Forces to carry out the mission in an unhindered 
        manner.
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