[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 190 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S17861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 BOSNIA

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, our Nation has always been willing to 
fight for the values and freedoms that our Nation, our flag, and our 
Constitution represents. We have always met that test. America and 
Americans have always stepped forward. My father served in World War 
II, my uncles, our neighbors, sons, daughters. That was a time and a 
war when every American understood that our basic way of life was being 
threatened. There was a direct obligation for each and every American 
to do his or her part, and Americans met that challenge, and 
individuals were willing to face the dangers of loss of life to protect 
and preserve the freedoms that the next generation of Americans share 
today.
  Mr. President, I submit, there is no compelling American interest in 
Bosnia that meets that standard that would jeopardize or put our 
children and our grandchildren in such a dangerous situation. It is an 
unwinnable, untenable civil war in a place called Bosnia.
  As a parent, I do not wish my sons or daughters put in harm's way, 
and I cannot imagine that any other parent would be willing to risk the 
lives of their children in a peacekeeping operation in Bosnia.
  The President has not made a compelling case to sacrifice one 
American life, let alone place 20,000 U.S. troops in a dangerous, 
dangerous situation. Sending American troops to Bosnia is unnecessary, 
it is wrong, and I will oppose it with every fiber in my body.
  Mr. President, I will have more to say about that. But let me suggest 
to you, getting 20,000 troops in may look somewhat grand as they come 
marching off, as the tanks roll in, as there will be crowds well 
orchestrated for the TV cameras to see them cheering, but how long will 
they have to serve? How will they get them out? Do we really believe 
they are going to come out in 1 year? The administration is already 
wiggling on this. How many lives will be lost?
  This administration's track record in being able to keep its promises 
and meet its obligations in similar situations has not been a good one. 
Certainly, it was a disaster in Somalia, when a mission that started 
out as one for peacekeeping and one to give food to people was changed.
  Certainly, as things are unraveling today in Haiti, we have every 
reason to believe that upon the withdrawal, if our American troops are 
withdrawn on time, there will be an unraveling, once again, and the 
citizens of Haiti will find themselves, once again, at war.
  I think it is naive to really think that by putting 20,000 troops--
and by the way, there are going to be about 40,000 troops in that 
region, 20,000 in Bosnia. The cost is astronomical, not to mention the 
danger to our troops.
  I think it is absolutely disingenuous for the administration to now 
come forward and say the United States will lose prestige abroad 
because they brokered this peace on the basis of sending U.S. troops 
there. They were warned repeatedly by this Congress, by this body, by 
the House of Representatives, that clearly we were opposed to sending 
troops there, and to say now that we are going to be having them there 
and for us to be less than supportive, and that this would embarrass 
the President, embarrass the Nation, endanger our relations with NATO 
is to ignore the fact that the President deliberately undertook this 
operation, was well aware of the opposition of the citizens of the 
United States and of the Congress and does not--and does not--deserve 
at this point in time our support.

  Our support should be to protect the lives of our U.S. troops, to see 
to it that if we are going to enter a conflict--and this is a conflict 
that has been brewing for hundreds of years--that there is a vital 
national interest.
  Should we work to bring about peace? Yes. But I suggest putting 
20,000 troops in and promising to take them out in 1 year is not going 
to end over 500 years of hostility. It is wrong.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thompson). The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, are we in morning business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

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