[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3207-H3208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       UNITED STATES ON SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARD EXTENDED DEPLOYMENT

  (Mr. SKELTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous 
material.)
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth in a series of speeches 
I am giving on the status of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
  Our troops continue to do an outstanding job. They are fully 
deployed. They are completing tasks according to schedule, although not 
always under optimum circumstances.
  However, I have concerns about three conditions that may cause us to 
stay in Bosnia past our scheduled departure at the end of 1996. I 
outlined these three concerns in a letter I sent to the President this 
morning. I will place the letter into the Record at the end of my 
remarks.
  First, the March 21 edition of the New York Times reported the United 
States and NATO are being urged to keep our forces in Bosnia after the 
end of the year. International civilian and military authorities are 
alleged to be pressing for continued NATO presence beyond our scheduled 
departure.
  To keep American troops in Bosnia past the end of 1996 would be a 
major mistake. It flies in the face of a clear statement by Secretary 
of State Warren Christopher, who said:

       This is not a permanent commitment. This is approximately a 
     1-year commitment. If it can't be done in a year, perhaps it 
     can't be done in a longer period of time.

  Staying in Bosnia breaks faith with our American troops who are 
presently stationed in Bosnia, who expect to return to their families 
in 9 months. It also contradicts what the American people were told 
about the duration of the mission.
  American forces are facing a difficult and challenging assignment in 
the NATO peacekeeping mission. The 1-year deployment was intended to 
provide an opportunity for peace, not a guarantee of it. The people of 
Bosnia must assume the responsibility of ensuring their own peace.
  Second, American and NATO peacekeepers are being diverted from their 
original mission to the task of rebuilding Bosnia. This assignment 
shifts the focus of our military forces from peacekeeping to assisting 
in civil projects.
  Third, and finally, by several accounts, a cornerstone of the Dayton 
agreement--the continuance of the Muslim-Croat federation--appears 
severely weakened. The U.S. and NATO could well be in a quandary if 
that alliance should crumble.
  The push to keep United States and NATO forces in Bosnia, the 
expansion

[[Page H3208]]

of mission assignments and the possible disintegration of the Muslim-
Croat federation could compel us to extend our commitment in Bosnia. We 
are on a slippery slope toward a lengthy deployment of 5 or even 10 
additional years.
  Another issue that concerns me is the continued presence of Iranians 
in Bosnia who are training Bosnian Government soldiers. This is a clear 
violation of the Dayton peace agreement. Their presence also poses a 
threat to the safety of our troops, as some of these groups are opposed 
to our peacekeeping effort.
  I commend Maj. Gen. William L. Nash, commander of the American sector 
of NATO forces in Bosnia, who stressed his determination to withdraw on 
schedule. He properly stated that the burden for peace is ``on the 
shoulders of those folks that live here.''
  If the people of Bosnia truly want peace, 1 year is more than enough 
time to get it started.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the President to stick by the commitment and have 
our American troops home by Christmas.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask to include a copy of my letter to the President in 
the Record at this point.
  The letter referred to is as follows:

                                     House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, March 28, 1996.
     The President,
     The White House.
       Dear Mr. President: The March 21 edition of the New York 
     Times reported the U.S. and NATO are being urged to keep our 
     forces in Bosnia after the end of the year. International 
     civilian and military authorities are alleged to be pressing 
     for continued NATO presence beyond our scheduled departure.
       To keep American troops in Bosnia past the announced date 
     of departure at the end of 1996 would be a major mistake. 
     First, it flies in the face of a clear statement by Secretary 
     of State Warren Christopher: ``This is not a permanent 
     commitment. This is approximately a one-year commitment. . . 
     . If it can't be done in a year, perhaps it can't be done in 
     a longer period of time.'' Second, it breaks faith with our 
     American troops who are presently stationed in Bosnia, who 
     expect to return to their families in nine months. Third, it 
     contradicts what the American people were told abut the 
     duration of the mission.
       American forces are facing a difficult and challenging 
     assignment in the NATO peacekeeping mission. The one-year 
     deployment was intended to provide an opportunity for peace, 
     not a guarantee of it. The people of Bosnia must assume the 
     responsibility of ensuring their own peace.
       Already, American and NATO peacekeepers are being diverted 
     from their original mission to the task of rebuilding Bosnia. 
     This assignment shifts the focus of our military forces from 
     peacekeeping to assisting in civil projects.
       Further, by several accounts, a cornerstone of the Dayton 
     agreement--the continuance of the Muslim-Croat Federation--
     appears severely weakened. The U.S. and NATO could well be in 
     a quandary if that alliance should crumble.
       The push to keep U.S. and NATO forces in Bosnia, the 
     expansion of mission assignments and the possible 
     disintegration of the Muslin-Croat Federation could compel us 
     to extend our commitment in Bosnia. We are on a slippery 
     slope toward a lengthy deployment of five or even ten 
     additional years.
       I command Major General William L. Nash, Commander of the 
     American sector of NATO forces in Bosnia, who stressed his 
     determination to withdraw on schedule. He properly stated 
     that the burden for peace is ``on the shoulders of those 
     folks that live here.''
       Mr. President, if the people of Bosnia truly want peace, 
     one year is more than enough time to get it started.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
     Member of Congress.

                          ____________________