[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16574-S16575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 BOSNIA

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Last, Mr. President, we hear about the concerns 
expressed by people on both sides about Bosnia and about whether or not 
we ought to have American service people in Bosnia as part of a 
peacekeeping operation. I think that question is yet to 

[[Page S 16575]]

be resolved. I think it is a dangerous practice to simply say that we 
will not do it, to describe the situation as throwing our people into 
the meat grinder.
  Mr. President, when America lacks the ability to stand up for human 
rights, to stand up against abuse of men, women, and children such as 
we have seen in Bosnia and such as we saw 50 years ago in Europe, when 
for a long period of time, America was silent while the slaughter went 
on--Mr. President, we have troops in Korea. They are there to protect 
democracy. They are at risk. There is some danger that something could 
go awry and people could get killed or injured, and we do not want that 
to happen. I want us to have a careful debate about Bosnia. But when 
America withdraws, as we see what is taking place in Europe, in the old 
Yugoslavia, where women are routinely raped, where young men are 
routinely killed, and we stand by doing nothing about it, shame on the 
free world, shame on America.
  I am not talking about troops. A long time ago I felt we should have 
men supporting the Bosnians by lifting the arms embargo because they 
were taking a terrible, terrible beating at the hands of a brutal 
invader. So, Mr. President, I think that as we talk here about the 
President, about programs, about ridicule, about lack of respect--
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted 2 more 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Hearing no objection, it is so ordered.

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