[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 44 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        LIFTING THE ARMS EMBARGO

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, the Senate minority leader just spoke 
about an initiative he plans to introduce to lift the arms embargo that 
now prevents the Bosnians from acquiring the weapons they need to 
defend themselves. I think that is the right course of action. I have 
felt that way for some while, and I believe that the minority leader 
and most of my colleagues believe this is the right course.
  However, I've heard a lot of comments on the talk shows and from a 
number of our colleagues about the terrible suffering and tragedy that 
is occurring in what used to be Yugoslavia. There always seems to be an 
undertone of criticism of the Clinton administration. I simply observe 
this: The Clinton administration, under difficult circumstances, is 
trying to provide leadership with very, difficult allies, in which 
there is no uniformity about how to proceed. Those who say we need to 
do something different or something more, need to clearly articulate 
what they specifically think. Do they think we ought to introduce U.S. 
ground troops in that region of the world to deal with this issue? I 
heard one of my colleagues questioned three times on a talk show on 
Saturday, and the reporter clearly asked, ``What is it you suggest? 
What should we do differently or more?''
  Clearly, we should do more. I agree with the minority leader. Let us 
lift the arms embargo. Beyond that, do you believe we should introduce 
American troops in that region that used to be Yugoslavia? Are the 
American people prepared to support that? This is the question none of 
us are preparing to answer, and the step that I do not see many people 
standing on the floor of the Senate preparing to support at this point 
in time.

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