[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 198 (Wednesday, December 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SENDING TROOPS TO BOSNIA IS A MISTAKE

  Mr. PRESSLER. Madam President, I would like to say that I feel very 
strongly that the basic decision to send troops to Bosnia, under the 
circumstances, is a mistake. I voted today for the Hutchison 
resolution, and I did so as a Vietnam veteran, as one who served in the 
Army in Vietnam. I feel strongly that we have made a mistake by sending 
troops to Bosnia.
  Certainly, all of us want our troops to be well cared for and well 
equipped, but I oppose the basic decision to send troops there. Indeed, 
from my State, in the National Guard callup, 1 of 8 people who have 
been called up so far, probably to go to Bosnia, is a nephew of mine. 
And he will willingly serve his country, just as I did. But I disagree 
with the basic decision to send troops there and have so voted today.
  Those were not easy votes, and I feel that the last vote was more or 
less papering over the whole decision, so I voted against that 
resolution. I feel very strongly, and my constituents feel, that we are 
engaging in an adventure from which we will not be able to get out of 
easy, and if we do get out of it, it will be with a large foreign aid 
bill.
  There has been fighting in that country since the 15th century, and 
it has continued largely because foreign armies have come every time 
they have had a civil war, and it has never been resolved. That will 
probably be the case again.
  So, Madam President, I wish to state that, certainly, we all care a 
great deal for our troops. One of them is going to be my nephew. I make 
my decision based on experience as a lieutenant in the Army in Vietnam. 
I just do not think this will work. That is the reason I voted as I did 
today.

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