[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
  Several Senators addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida [Mr. Graham], is 
recognized.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Madam President, are we now on the amendment offered by 
the Senator from Georgia?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are on the Bosnia amendment.
  Who yields time to the Senator?
  Mr. NUNN. I yield the Senator from Florida 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Madam President, it is ironic that as we have this debate 
today in August 1994, we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the 
Guns of August, the commencement of World War I, with the assassination 
of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo. That historical event underscores 
the complexity and almost the mystical character of these conflicts in 
the Balkans.
  I believe it is important in that context for the United States, and 
particularly for this Congress, to have a clear idea of what it is we 
are trying to accomplish in that region and what we are trying to 
accomplish relative to the tragedy that is occurring in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina.
  I would suggest that we have at least three major objectives. One of 
those objectives is to put maximum pressure on the Bosnian Serbs to 
accept the peace proposal which was placed before them on July 6 of 
this year.
  It is certainly not a perfect plan, but it is the surest plan to 
achieve the goal of a cessation of the killing and the process of 
commencement of reconciliation.
  Second, at least, we want to contain the war, to not allow this war 
to break out of Bosnia and inflame the entire Balkans.
  And third, we need to preserve the solidarity of the western 
alliance, an alliance that for 45 years protected us against the Soviet 
Union and which now has the potential of assuring a stable peaceful 
future.
  I believe the course of action which will best accomplish those 
objectives for the United States and a course of action which this 
Congress should participate in leading is that which has been outlined 
and detailed by Senator Nunn. It places a timeframe before the 
President to go to the United Nations and ask for a multilateral 
lifting of the arms embargo on Bosnia and the rest of the area which 
has been inflamed by this war.
  Number two, it lifts U.S. enforcement of the arms embargo as it 
applies to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It recognizes that by lifting the 
arms embargo alone we have not accomplished the objective of assisting 
the Bosnian Moslems.
  This provides for training of the Bosnian Moslems so that they will 
be able to effectively utilize equipment which they may receive. This 
also provides for interim steps if there are continued incursions in 
the safe areas. There will be those defensive weapons introduced which 
will allow for the Bosnians to assist in the sanctity of those safe 
areas. And it maintains the coalition by providing to primarily our 
European allies who have most of the combatants on the ground today a 
reasonable opportunity to exit without themselves becoming the object 
of hostage taking and violence directed at them.
  I believe, Madam President, that those are important tactics for the 
United States if we are to accomplish those goals of maximum pressure 
on the Bosnian Serbs, containing the war, and maintaining the 
coalition.
  It is very appealing to say let us let the Moslems defend themselves, 
let us lift the embargo unilaterally, and let the war go forth.
  I believe, Madam President, that there are some consequences to that, 
that are very adverse to our interest, the most significant of which is 
that the likelihood is that as soon as the Bosnian Serbs feel that, in 
fact, there is going to be a lifting of the embargo they will launch a 
massive violent and effective assault against the Bosnian Moslems and 
will likely end up controlling all of Bosnia by military victory.
  Madam President, I believe that the time has come for us to put 
reason ahead of passion. Senator Nunn has suggested a reasonable 
approach that will effectively buy us an additional 30 to 45 days to 
see if we can accomplish our multiple objectives in Bosnia. If we 
cannot, I will join with those who are urging a unilateral lifting of 
the arms embargo as the last step available to us. I do not believe we 
are at that stage of the last step, and now is the time to take a 
reasoned step, and the Senator from Georgia has given us that path to 
reason.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
  Mr. NUNN. Madam President, I reserve the remainder of my time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Hawaii.
  Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
consideration of the Bosnia amendment be temporarily set aside.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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