[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  WHO SHOULD BE IN COMMAND OF AMERICAN TROOPS UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 13, 1994

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, two American F-16s hit Bosnian Serb targets 
Sunday, an episode that bothers me for several reasons.
  Leaving the merits of the action aside for a second, what concerns me 
today is this whole idea of American troops taking orders from anyone 
but American commanders.
  Listen to this chain of command.
  The request for air strikes went from British Lt. Gen. Michael Rose, 
to a French general whose name neither I nor one American out of a 
hundred could pronounce to a Japanese diplomat who reports to the 
Egyptian Secretary of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
  I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker, but there are too many Americans who will 
never like the sight of our sons and daughters wearing the blue berets 
and helmets of the United Nations, or shedding their blood to preserve 
the new world order.
  Because, Mr. Speaker, isn't that what this is all about?
  Is this action Sunday the first step in getting the United States 
mired in a civil war that has nothing to do with America's vital 
interests?
  Mr. Speaker, it may be time for this House to reassert its role in 
shaping American foreign policy.

                          ____________________