[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 186 (Monday, November 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2226-E2227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PROHIBITION ON FUNDS FOR BOSNIA DEPLOYMENT

                                 ______


                               speech of

                        HON. RICHARD A. GEPHARDT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 17, 1995

  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat this bill, 
which is nothing less than a dagger in the heart of the Bosnian peace 
process.
  In fact, this bill is without historical precedent. Never before has 
Congress banned U.S. involvement in a peacekeeping effort--before peace 
was even secured. And this is no time to start.
  There is no one who believes more strongly than I that Congress must 
have a vote on any deployment of United States troops in Bosnia. But 
that's not what this vote is about. The President has already promised 
us that vote--after a peace agreement is in place.
  What this bill does is something more destructive. It undermines the 
very fragile--and until now, very successful--peace talks that are 
occurring in Dayton, OH.
  Is there a single Member of this body who really wants to damage 
those talks? Who is willing to put his name on a bill that would pull 
the rug out from under our negotiators, and give both sides the 
incentive to continue the bloodshed, the killing, the age-old 
animosities?
  Our Secretary of State has said that this vote: ``could be 
misinterpreted and give the parties reason for delay and hesitation.''
  The Washington Times has urged the Republican Members of this House 
not to take this vote today, ``before there is even something to vote 
on,'' because doing so would have ``repercussions among our allies, our 
foes, and our trading partners.'' Is that what we want?
  Do we want to tell the Serbs and the Moslems that our negotiators 
didn't have the support of the Congress, or the country? That we're 
ready to revoke their promises before they are even made?
  Let's remember our ultimate goal in Bosnia: to finally stop the death 
and destruction. To end some of the worst atrocities since World War 
II. To stand up for peace throughout Europe.
  It's right for America to do this, because if we don't lead the 
world, no one else will. 

[[Page E 2227]]

  It is because of America's leadership that we have democracy in 
Russia. And racial equality in South Africa. And democracy in Haiti. 
Would we have wanted to bargain that away to make a poorly timed 
political point?
  I urge you to vote no on the Hefley bill--so that peace talks can at 
least proceed, without the baggage this bill would impose. Then we can 
have our vote on the proper role of U.S. troops. And we will know that 
we first gave the peace process a real chance to succeed.
  Defeat this bill.

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