[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 198 (Wednesday, December 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H14372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         STILL NO EXIT STRATEGY

  (Ms. DUNN of Washington asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DUNN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I returned from 
Bosnia. Even a short visit left me with two powerful reactions. Seeing 
Sarajevo evoked a strong emotional response. The devastation is 
indescribable; it is surreal. Anyone seeing that firsthand would want 
to help end the suffering. The people want peace.
  My second reaction was analytical. As a Member of Congress, my job is 
to try to strip away the emotion and ask legitimate questions so I can 
analyze the President's decision to deploy ground troops.
  Here is what I found: First, we have no clear mission; second, the 
expectations of our troops are all over the map, some even expect our 
troops to be assigned the deadly task of finding 6 million land mines; 
and third, we still have no exit strategy at all.
  Mr. Speaker, this is troubling beyond words. Our troops are being 
placed between warring factions on the unrealistic assumption that 
peace will suddenly break out in the next 12 months after centuries of 
fighting.
  I implore the President, before signing an agreement in Paris, please 
define the mission, clarify the expectations, and develop a credible 
exit strategy. It is the least that should be done for the troops we 
are committing to this impossible task.

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