[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 107 (Friday, August 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   LIFTING THE ARMS EMBARGO ON BOSNIA

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to talk about Senator Dole's 
amendment that he will offer in the very near future, once again asking 
this Senate to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia.
  Mr. President, what has happened today in that part of the world 
shows once again the necessity for this Senate and this Congress to 
act, to say firmly and swiftly the Bosnians should be able to defend 
themselves with both arms, not with one arm tied behind their back.
  The Serbs have shown time after time after time that they are not 
serious about peace; they are not going to accept the proposal that is 
on the table. And yet, the Bosnians sit there half armed and unable to 
really fight for their country the way they ought to be able to and the 
way they can.
  Mr. President, we have talked for months while the people of Bosnia 
have died. We have talked and we have talked and we have talked. This 
is an untenable situation.
  Many people have said, ``Are you prepared to send American troops 
into Bosnia?'' And the answer is no. It is a very firm no. This is not 
a United States mission.
  In fact, it is very important, I believe, that the United States 
clarify our policy as it regards Bosnia. It is time for us to speak and 
be heard and be sincere and be firm, and that is that there is not an 
American interest in Bosnia that would require our troops to get into 
this conflict.
  There is, of course, an American interest in fairness. There is an 
American interest in the elections and democracy that they are trying 
to get started in that country. There is an American interest in 
friendship, trade, help for Bosnia. But we should not send American 
troops there.
  So, what should we do? We should try to help them have peace, at the 
table, but we should not let them fight without being armed.
  I will never forget meeting with Vice President Ganic, the duly 
elected Vice President of Bosnia when he said, ``Please, lift this 
embargo.'' He pleaded with the Senate Armed Services Committee. He 
said, ``We are dying anyway. Let us die fighting for our country.''
  Mr. President, the time has come for us to do that. So, when Senator 
Dole does in fact put his amendment on the floor, and we will be able 
to vote on it once again, I hope this Senate will see from the actions 
of today by the Serbs that this is not ever going to change with one 
party to the conflict unarmed. I hope we will have swift action. I hope 
we will go to the United Nations. I hope we will get world support to 
let the Bosnians fight--armed --and let them fight for their country.
  I appreciate the Senator from Pennsylvania, I appreciate the Senator 
from Kansas, [Mr. Dole], who has taken a leadership position in this 
effort.
  I hope the President will listen to the Senate this time and work 
with us to take a firm position on our role in the world, our role in 
Bosnia. And I hope we will help these people be able to pick up arms. 
And I hope we will let them be able to say at least that the 250,000 
people who have already died, did not die in vain.
  I yield the floor.

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