[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 187 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17529-S17530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 BOSNIA

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, just quickly on another matter, I will just 
say that tonight the President of the United States is going to deliver 
a very important message to the American people. He will attempt to 
persuade the American people that the United States, as a member of 
NATO, has a responsibility to commit 20,000 Americans to keep the peace 
or to enforce the peace--I think there is some confusion of exactly 
what it might be at this point--in that part of the world.
  The President talked to me, called me yesterday from Camp David. We 
had a good discussion. I said, ``Mr. President, you need to persuade 
the American people if you are to persuade Congress.'' I must say that 
it is difficult, particularly when this administration virtually sat on 
its hands the past 30 months while many of us talked about lifting the 
arms embargo. I still believe had we done that--and we had the debate 
on the Senate floor a number of times. We had strong bipartisan votes, 
Democrats joining Republicans, Republicans joining Democrats. The 
President indicated his opposition to that legislation. He said he 
would veto it.
  Now, it is always easy to second-guess. I am not trying to second-
guess the President of the United States. But it seems to me, and many 
who are experts, that had we lifted the arms embargo 6 months, a year 
ago, we would not be talking about sending American forces to that part 
of the world, to Bosnia, to Tuzla, wherever the Americans will be 
stationed.
  Now, in my view the President has the authority and the power under 
the Constitution to do what he feels should be done regardless of what 
Congress does. But we also have a responsibility to our constituents 
and, I think, to the President of the United States to give him our 
best advice. So, I would guess that after the President makes his 
remarks and after the American people respond and after we finally have 
a signing of the peace agreement on December 15, is my understanding, 
that then the Congress will take some action. I am not certain what 
action that would be, because I think we need to consult with one 
another.
  I remember when President Bush asked a previous Congress to authorize 
the use of offensive force in the gulf crisis, not a single Member of 
the Democratic leadership in either the House or the Senate would 
support the President of the United States. But, fortunately, in the 
Senate there were 11 Democrats who stood with President Bush, and by a 
narrow margin, after the President rolled the dice, we prevailed.
  One thing I recall from that debate and the positive response after 
the vote was that the American people, once the Congress had given 
their--I do not say their stamp of approval, but at least authorized or 
backed up the President of the United States--as I recall, public 
approval for the operation rose rather significantly.
  So, I will just say to the President, I wish you well tonight. I 
think you have a difficult job. I think the rest of us should keep an 
open mind--not an empty mind, an open mind--an open mind, assuming we 
had the same responsibility, keeping in mind that those in the armed 
services are now volunteers. They are volunteers. And I assume when 
they volunteer they know that the good and the bad can happen. But they 
are still young and still Americans and they still have a right, 
perfectly understandably, as do their families, to know what risks will 
be taken, how long they may be there, what the costs may be, is there a 
vital national security interest and American national security 
interest, do we have an exit strategy, how long will they stay, how 
many, and many other questions on which I think we should focus.

  I will just say, it seems to me if I pick out one thing where I think 
the President can make a case, it is all these people came to America 
and they went to Dayton, OH, and they stayed there for a couple of 
weeks or longer, and they finally hammered out a fragile peace 
agreement and initialed it--it has not been signed yet--and initialed 
it, all under the auspices of American leadership--the President, the 
Secretary, the Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Holbrook, and others--
and all this was premised on the fact that there would be 20,000 
Americans there.
  So it seems to me the President may have at least laid some 
foundation, and there may be some obligation--some obligation--
obviously that we follow through on that agreement. But the agreement 
has not been signed finally. We have not heard from the American 
people. We have not heard from Congress. We have heard from the House 
where they, by a pretty good margin, indicate they want to cut off all 
funds. That bill has not yet been taken up in the Senate and it may not 
be taken up this week.
  I only hope that all of our colleagues will understand this is a very 
important decision all of us must make, and it must not be made just 
for today, but for next year and the next year and the next year. It is 
a question of Presidential authority, Presidential power, 
constitutional responsibility, and the responsibility of the Congress 
of the United States.
  So I look forward to listening carefully to the President tonight and 
wish him success.
  Mr. THURMOND addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina. 

[[Page S 17530]]

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I wish to associate myself with the 
remarks made by our able majority leader on both subjects. He has shown 
leadership here, just as he has shown in so many other instances.
  (The remarks of Mr. Thurmond pertaining to the introduction of S. 
1426 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

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