[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRAGIC MISTAKE IN LEBANON

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I thank the majority leader. I was not 
going to take the occasion today, but in light of the distinguished 
Senator from Rhode Island speaking on this issue, I do not take issue 
with what he said but emphasize a very important point, from my point 
of view: this issue of sovereignty in Lebanon and whether or not there 
was a tragic mistake made in this particular raid. I do not deny there 
was a tragic mistake that was made.
  I know we all know and heard that the Israeli military had no 
intention of striking the target they, in fact, struck. That happens in 
war. But the full responsibility, in my view, falls on the Lebanese 
Government and the Syrian Government. How can we talk about 
sovereignty, how can we talk about the notion that you cannot violate a 
nation's borders when, in fact, one nation--and the nation in this 
case, Lebanon--has within its borders Hezbollah that is, in fact, not 
under its control but within its mandate, and take no action to stop 
the action they are taking, firing Katyusha rockets into civilian 
populations into Israel and Syria, which has control of much of that 
area, refusing to do anything to stop it, and then criticize Israel for 
acting.
  I just ask you all, what would happen if across the Mexican border 
Katyusha rockets were being fired into El Paso, TX, on a regular basis 
and the Mexican Government did nothing whatsoever to stop the 
terrorists from that action? Is there any American who would say we 
should withhold taking action on the grounds that we are crossing an 
international border? I think we would not even think twice about it.
  I regret deeply the mistaken target that was, in fact, hit. I am 
confident the Israelis do as well. But we should be putting 
international pressure on Syria and Lebanon to act and deal with the 
Hezbollah operating almost in plain view across the Israeli border 
terrorizing Israeli citizens.

  I yield the floor and thank my colleagues.

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