[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S9631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 CONGRATULATING THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS FIRM STAND DURING THE OSLO LAND 
                        MINE TREATY NEGOTIATIONS

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, yesterday, President Clinton held a press 
conference in which he outlined his reasons for refusing to sign onto 
the Oslo Land Mine Treaty. As my colleagues know, this treaty is 
intended to eliminate the horrible and very real carnage thrust on 
people of war torn countries by abandoned and old-fashioned land mines. 
The President said that the refusal of the signatories to consider our 
Nation's security requirements with regard to our use of self-
deactivating, so-called smart mines, and our obligations to the defense 
of our loyal South Korean allies, represented a line which he simply 
could not cross for the good of the Nation.
  Honesty compels me to speak out when I disagree. It also demands that 
I recognize a person when he is right without regard to which side of 
the aisle he may occupy. I rise today to commend the President's act of 
courage in refusing to sign the Oslo Treaty, and for being willing to 
stand up and say we need to protect our soldiers when they have to be 
in the field. As we all know, the pressure on him to sign--especially 
during the last several weeks--has been worldwide, relentless, and most 
intense--even from his own party.
  Thankfully for our troops, the President understands the danger of 
taking this defensive weapon away from them. Thankfully for our troops, 
the President understands the importance of land mines to the defense 
of the hottest spot on the globe today--the Korean Peninsula. 
Thankfully for our troops, the President understands that taking smart 
mines away will not help one person in any mine-infested country in the 
world. Thankfully for our troops, the President understands that you 
simply cannot legislate the horror out of war.
  I commend President Clinton for his exercise of good judgment in the 
face of overwhelming public pressure to do otherwise. I also commend 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and all the many generals and admirals, both 
retired and active duty, including Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who have 
made their opposition to this treaty known. I commend so many of my 
colleagues who, during recent meetings with Canadian lawmakers, 
expressed their support for the President's efforts. Finally, I command 
Secretary of Defense Cohen, for his wise counsel.
  Regrettably, the effort to take this necessary defensive weapon away 
from our troops is still active. There is still legislation proposed 
that would do exactly that. But yesterday a battle was won in that 
struggle, and every American soldier, current and future, who might 
ever have to go into harm's way, and each mother, father, son, and 
daughter owes our President a debt of gratitude. He did the right thing 
for our country.

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