[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 90 (Monday, June 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7651-S7652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AMERICAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, this morning I want to talk briefly about 
two subjects in morning business.
  The first is the issue of Bosnia. I believe that President Clinton 
has made the right decision in the last couple of days with respect to 
the introduction of American troops into Bosnia. I know there was 
discussion by the White House and others about the potential of 
committing American troops under certain circumstances, particularly if 
United Nations peacekeepers need to redeploy within Bosnia. However, in 
the last few days the administration has been saying that they have no 
intention of introducing American troops into Bosnia under that 
circumstance.
  Frankly, I think the moving of United States troops to Bosnia would 
be a very serious mistake. It is true that the war in Bosnia is an 
international tragedy. It is also true, I think, that sending American 
troops to Bosnia will do very little, if anything, to resolve that 
tragedy. This country's support of the efforts by the United Nations in 
Bosnia has been significant. It has included flyovers and logistical 
support and other things. We should continue that kind of support. But 
I think the support should not include the sending of American troops 
to Bosnia. I believe it poses enormous risks to our troops and our 
country with the potential of very few gains for Bosnia.
  We should expect, I think, that the Europeans, through NATO, will 
play a significant role in responding to the issue of Bosnia. It is not 
as if this issue does not matter and it is not as if our country should 
be isolationist. We are not isolationist, and what is happening in 
Bosnia does matter. But under the term of internationalism, it ought 
not [[Page S7652]] be suggested that this country must send troops 
everywhere in the world.
  Bosnia is in the European neighborhood. We have spent a great deal of 
money and offered a great deal of support over the years to NATO. It 
seems to me that under the aegis of NATO and in the European Community 
we should be able to expect a substantial commitment from the Europeans 
to try to resolve the issue of the current role in Bosnia. I notice 
that is essentially what is now happening. The European countries are 
committing more and are getting involved in a more aggressive way to 
respond to this, and I appreciate that because I think that is the way 
this needs to be resolved.
  I most especially do not think it is wise or appropriate to send 
United States troops to the ground in Bosnia. I think a couple of 
centuries of history in the Balkans ought to tell us that foreign 
powers attempting to achieve certain goals in that region of the world 
have generally paid a terrible cost and with none of their goals 
achieved.
  So, Mr. President, I think the President of the United States has 
made the right decision in the last couple of days. I support that 
decision, and I hope that will remain the decision of the 
administration as the months go by.
  I do hope and pray for the sake of the people in that region that 
somehow and some way this war can be stopped. As I have said, I think 
the United States has participated and will participate in an 
appropriate way to the logistics and equipment, overflights, and other 
approaches under the aegis of the United Nations.
  I think war is a tragedy always, but in this circumstance--I have 
been to what was formerly the country of Yugoslavia. I recall, in fact, 
when I was there, there was a forest fire in the country. I recall the 
people of that region coming together, as people do in crisis 
situations, and working together to try to respond to a natural 
disaster.
  It occurred to me that people of the then Yugoslavia are very much 
like the people I grew up with in North Dakota, like the people of the 
United States--good, wonderful, hard-working people. Yet that society 
has split apart, and we see in that former Yugoslavia now unspeakable 
horrors of war visited upon so many families and innocent people. I 
hope and pray that one day there will be peace in that region.

                          ____________________