[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8201-8202]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               COMMENDATION OF THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, over the weekend, a glimmer of light broke 
through the war clouds shrouding Yugoslavia. That light was kindled by 
the release of the three American soldiers who have been held hostage 
in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia since their capture by the forces 
of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on March 31. The individual 
responsible for this remarkable turn of events is the Reverend Jesse L. 
Jackson. For his efforts, he has earned the thanks of a grateful 
nation. Due to the faith and determination of Mr. Jackson, the Reverend 
Joan Brown Campbell of the National Council of Churches and the 
delegation of religious leaders that Mr. Jackson led to Yugoslavia, in 
this one small corner of a terrible conflict, good has triumphed over 
evil.
  I have no doubt but that the motives of President Milosevic in 
freeing the American servicemen will be analyzed, dissected, and 
ruminated on by the commentators in the coming days. Despite all the 
conjectures, we may never know what he was hoping to achieve. Surely 
Milosevic will be disappointed if he believes that this gesture, 
welcome as it is, will blind the United States and the rest of NATO to 
the atrocities that he is inflicting on the ethnic Albanian population 
of Kosovo.
  But in contrast to Mr. Milosevic, we do know what the Reverend Mr. 
Jackson was hoping to achieve.
  He has faced some of the most ruthless strongmen in the world, 
including Syrian President Hafiz Assad, Cuban President Fidel Castro, 
and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
  In 1984, Mr. Jackson won the release from Syria of Navy Lieutenant 
Robert Goodman Jr., who was shot down over Lebanon. That same year, he 
persuaded Castro to release 48 American and Cuban prisoners. In 1990, 
he helped to win freedom for more than 700 foreigners who were being 
detained as human shields by Saddam Hussein following the invasion of 
Kuwait. His trip to Yugoslavia marks the fourth time that Jesse Jackson 
has won freedom for hostages.
  In the faces of the freed soldiers and their families, I am reminded 
once again that faith can move mountains. I salute the Reverend Mr. 
Jackson and his delegation for their remarkable success.
  Mr. President, as a mark of respect for Mr. Jackson and the 
delegation of church leaders, I am today submitting a Sense of the 
Senate Resolution commending Mr. Jackson for the deep faith that marked 
his mission to Belgrade, and for his successful efforts to free Staff 
Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez of California, Staff Sergeant Christopher J. 
Stone of Michigan, and Specialist Steven M. Gonzales of Texas. We 
welcome these soldiers home with open arms. We also salute the brave 
men and women of our armed forces who remain in harm's way in the 
Balkans. Their courage and patriotism, and the dedication and sacrifice 
of their families, are appreciated and honored by all Americans.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may send the resolution 
to the desk and that it be held there until the majority leader and the 
minority leader decide upon a proper disposition of it, but that it 
can't be held longer than a day, the end of business today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page 8202]]


  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask the distinguished Senator from West 
Virginia to add me as a cosponsor to that resolution, if he would.
  Mr. BYRD. I thank the distinguished Senator. Mr. President, I make 
that request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I have retrieved my resolution from the 
desk. I ask unanimous consent that S. Res. 94 be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the resolution was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                               S. Res. 94

       Whereas on March 31, 1999, Staff Sergeant Andrew A. 
     Ramirez, Staff Sergeant Christopher J. Stone, and Specialist 
     Steven M. Gonzales were taken prisoner by the armed forces of 
     the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia while on patrol along the 
     Macedonia-Yugoslav border;
       Whereas Sergeant Ramirez, Sergeant Stone, and Specialist 
     Gonzales conducted themselves throughout their ordeal with 
     dignity, patriotism, and faith;
       Whereas the Reverend Jesse Jackson led a delegation of 
     religious leaders to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that 
     succeeded in negotiating the release of Sergeant Ramirez, 
     Sergeant Stone, and Specialist Gonzales; and
       Whereas the Reverend Jesse Jackson has previously succeeded 
     in securing the release of hostages held in Syria, Cuba, and 
     Iraq: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate commends the Reverend Jesse Jackson for his 
     successful efforts in securing the release of Sergeant 
     Ramirez, Sergeant Stone, and Specialist Gonzales, and for his 
     leadership and actions arising from his deep faith in God; 
     and
       (2) the Senate joins the families of Sergeant Ramirez, 
     Sergeant Stone, and Specialist Gonzales in expressing relief 
     and joy at their safe release.

     

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