[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20787-20788]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                               EAST TIMOR

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, before I leave, I want to take a 
moment to also talk about one other issue. That is the issue of what is 
happening in Indonesia.
  All of us have seen atrocities and read of atrocities in many parts 
of the world--most recently in Indonesia where we have seen the people 
of East Timor vote for independence, and they were told by the 
Government of Indonesia that vote would be respected. Now we see bands 
of militia-type people that, it is said, could be connected with the 
Indonesian Government going in and committing terrible acts. This is a 
terrible thing. It is horrible. We hate to see it.
  I think there are many things that can be done.
  First and foremost, we must call on Indonesia to do what they said 
they would do and respect the right of the people of East Timor in 
their independence.
  I also think we should be supportive of those who are volunteering to 
go over there if necessary. This is where I think we can show some 
leadership from the United States. I would call on the President to do 
that. That is not to

[[Page 20788]]

all of a sudden start talking about sending American troops into East 
Timor.
  I think by beginning to start bandying that around, all of a sudden 
you are going to start seeing people depend on American troops. I don't 
think we have to start talking about American troops in East Timor. I 
think it would be harmful if we did that because of the vast commitment 
we have in the Balkans right now as well as the DMZ in Korea, as well 
as in Japan, as well as in Europe, and other places in the world.
  No one would ever walk away from the responsibility that America must 
shoulder as a superpower. But Australia has stepped up to the line to 
try to help bring an end to the chaos that I hope is temporarily 
erupting in East Timor. I think we should help them do that by offering 
logistical support but letting people volunteer.
  This is a time when we can look at the areas of the world that have 
regional conflicts, and we can let the sophisticated countries that 
have quality military operations be the main part of a force in those 
areas.
  In fact, it appears that Australia, New Zealand, and many others are 
volunteering to take this policekeeping mission. I think it would be 
wise for us to let them do that. Let them take that responsibility and 
offer our logistical help if they need it. But don't start bandying 
about the possibility of U.S. troops going in on the ground when our 
troops are stretched so thin--when we have had the worst recruiting 
year and the worst retention year since the early 1970s because our 
troops are in mission fatigue. They are not able to stay in top 
training because they are stretched so thin.
  I hope the President will take this opportunity to set a U.S. policy 
and to work with our allies to have a division of responsibility that 
is fair.
  If we do that, then America will be able to do what only it can 
uniquely do, and that is the air power that we have shown that we have 
in the last 6 months. Let us keep our role to responding where only we 
are able to keep the peace--in the Middle East, in Korea, in Japan, and 
in parts of Europe. Let's work with our allies for a fair 
responsibility sharing that will set a precedent so that we will all 
have the staying power to provide the critical needs in regions as they 
occur.
  I hope President Clinton will take this opportunity to be a leader 
and to represent the United States and our national security issues and 
our national security stability. If he will do that, I think you will 
begin to see a foreign policy that will evolve with all of our allies 
sharing and keeping all of us strong by not overburdening any one of us 
to the detriment of all.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative assistant proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Hutchison). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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