[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 12 (Wednesday, February 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                                 BOSNIA

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I would like to make a comment concerning 
the events that have transpired today concerning Bosnia. I have 
frequently questioned the efficacy of air power to achieve a political 
settlement in Bosnia or even to relieve the siege of Sarajevo beyond 
the shortterm.
  My views on that matter are well-known. I am uneasy with many of the 
assumptions underlying this policy and with at least one of its command 
features granting the United Nations Secretary General final authority 
over the launching of the first air strike.
  However, the President has made his decision, and he has stated his 
objectives with admirable clarity. I sincerely hope that should NATO 
launch air strikes that they achieve their desired effect and the 
senseless slaughter in Sarajevo will cease.
  I suspect that air strikes, and perhaps even the threat of air 
strikes, will provide temporary relief to the people of Sarajevo. I 
hope they may have a more enduring effect, but I am uncertain that they 
will.
  I have great confidence that the men and women of the U.S. Armed 
Forces will execute the orders of their Commander in Chief to the 
letter and will do their utmost to achieve the objectives of their 
mission. I wish them all Godspeed and assure them that the Nation 
deeply appreciates the courage they will show as they again undertake 
grave risks on behalf of someone else's freedom.
  Mr. President, I appreciate the Senator from West Virginia yielding 
to me. I yield the floor.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I have joined Mr. McCain a number of times 
on the floor, and elsewhere, to address the serious concerns both of us 
have had about an expanded utilization of United States air power in 
this most complicated situation in Bosnia. I compliment my colleague, 
for he is a man without peer in terms of courage and expertise on the 
use of military air power. It was not easy for him to make this 
statement tonight; I commend him for his continued forthrightness and 
recognition of the constitutional role of the Commander in Chief, the 
President.
  I myself continue to have concerns about the utilization of air 
power, but I want to pay great credit to our President. This is one of 
the most complex situations--politically, internationally, 
diplomatically, militarily--that has ever faced a President of the 
United States in this century. I have been privileged to be with 
President Clinton on a number of occasions during consultations, this 
year and last, at the White House, like the one we had earlier this 
evening. To date he has carefully weighed all options and made sound 
decisions.
  Again, he is listening very carefully to all views on the limited 
number of options to deal with the tragic human carnage in Bosnia. I 
conclude my remarks by stating, in part, what I advised the leadership 
meeting today. The President should consult with the leadership of both 
the Senate and the House to determine a proper means by which to: 
first, have a full debate in the Congress so that we can more fully 
explain to the American people the complexity and risks of this 
proposed, added involvement of United States and NATO forces; and, 
second, whether the Congress should be on record, with a vote, such 
that we do not have a repetition of the situation--an open 
confrontation between the President and Congress--that followed the 
tragic loss of our troops in Somalia on October 3 and 4 of last year. 
The credibility of the United States as a reliable military leader and 
partner is on the line, now and for the future.
  My position is that the Congress should be fully informed, should 
fully debate this matter so as to inform the American people, and 
should vote to support, or not support, the proposal before our 
military and the military of our NATO allies to undertake this 
dangerous extension of our collective military involvements in the 
Bosnian crisis.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

                          ____________________