[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 177 (Thursday, November 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H11977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NO UNITED STATES GROUND TROOPS TO BOSNIA

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about the Clinton 
administration's continued declarations about its intent to send United 
States ground troops to Bosnia for so-called peacekeeping operations. 
The Clinton administration has been completely inept at convincing 
Congress or the American people that we have a compelling interest in 
Bosnia.
  Mr. Speaker, the President has an obligation to build a public 
consensus before committing American forces to these kinds of hazardous 
missions. And, to term U.S. ground troops in Bosnia hazardous is an 
understatement. It would be a virtual death sentence for many 
Americans. I have yet to talk to a single soul who is in support of 
this kind of deployment.
  Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, Clinton made the promise he would send the 
troops, with no idea of what they will be doing, how long they will 
stay, or what the measure of success would be. Last week, we passed a 
resolution saying come to us before you do that. The next day, the 
President said, We do not care what they pass down there, we are going 
to do it anyway.
  Last night a conference produced a binding resolution which will come 
to the floor of this House hopefully next week. We will get an 
opportunity to debate this issue fully and to consider it.
  Mr. Speaker, when one of our young service men or women comes home 
from Bosnia in a body bag, how do I tell the parents he died serving 
his country?

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