[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 77 (Friday, June 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995

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                               speech of

                          HON. GARY A. FRANKS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4301) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1995 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for fiscal year 1995, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. Mr. Chairman, for 2 years now we have been 
seeing footage of the fighting in Bosnia and wondering if there is any 
way in which Americans could help. I think that this feeling was never 
stronger than during the winter Olympics this year, when we were 
reminded of the people of Sarajevo once welcoming the Olympic athletes 
to their city. Today we see bombed-out buildings and the common sight 
of simple markers marking the graves of the citizens who were so 
hospitable to the world that year. And despite the presence of a United 
Nations peacekeeping force and the proposal of many peace plans, 
fighting, atrocities, and massive displacement of civilians has and 
probably will continue to happen in this region of the former 
Yugoslavia.
  I am concerned with the implications of direct military intervention 
in the region. It may escalate the fighting and result in more loss of 
life. I do not support sending our troops to fight in Bosnia, 
especially under the United Nations. But the United States should 
continue to persevere with economic and diplomatic sanctions to 
pressure the Serbs to end their campaign against Bosnia and 
Herzegovina. The United States can also help by lifting our arms 
embargo on Bosnia.
  President Clinton has been unwilling to lift this embargo. He is more 
interested in collective efforts with other countries in the world. The 
Bosnians want to defend themselves against their aggressors. The 
Clinton administration instead follows the will of U.N. bureaucrats. It 
is time for this country to take some leadership and give the Bosnians 
a chance to save themselves. This is why I support the McCloskey 
amendment to H.R. 4301.

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