[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 52 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1896-H1897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           U.S. ARMED FORCES IN BOSNIA PROTECTION ACT OF 1997

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Jones] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the issue of Bosnia, America 
has fulfilled her promise. While many Americans, including myself and 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, were opposed to deploying 
United States troops to Bosnia, we found some comfort in knowing that 
they were to come home at the end of one year.
  Well, Mr. Speaker, as we know, the President has broken his promise 
and has extended our military mission in Bosnia until at least June of 
1998.
  Contrary to what some may say, Bosnia is not a vital United States 
national interest; it is at best a secondary interest. And contrary to 
the President's own declaration, Bosnia is not at the heart of Europe, 
it is a geographic fringe of Europe and devoid of

[[Page H1897]]

any strategic assets. It is, in other words, a regional problem for 
Europe.
  So why then are we spending 6.5 billion U.S. dollars, and why are we 
placing a division-size unit of troops in harm's way if it is Europe's 
problem to solve? Well, perhaps it is because administration officials 
have repeatedly warned that, if United States troops withdraw, the 
Europeans will withdraw and the mission will collapse.
  Frankly, I am troubled by the implication that we are hostages to the 
Europeans' unwillingness to solve their own regional problems.
  The fact of the matter is that the United States troops in Bosnia 
have been forgotten. The old saying, out of sight, out of mind, applies 
to our men and women in Bosnia. That is why I am an original cosponsor 
of H.R. 1172, the U.S. Armed Forces in Bosnia Protection Act.
  This bill limits the presence of United States ground troops in 
Bosnia to the end of 1997 and prevents mission creep. It also requires 
the administration to report on the steps it is taking to prepare our 
European allies to take over the mission.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for others to shoulder this military burden, 
as Uncle Sam already has a $6 trillion national debt problem of his 
own.
  Mr. Speaker, the time has come to bring our troops home. Please join 
me as a cosponsor of H.R. 1172, the U.S. Armed Forces in Bosnia 
Protection Act of 1997.

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