    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [July 28, 1993]
    [Page 1212]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1212]]

    Exchange With Reporters on Bosnia
    July 28, 1993

        Q. Mr. President, are you going to send air power to Bosnia?
        The President. Let me say, I saw the stories this morning. The
    position of the United States has long been that if the United Nations
    troops were attacked there, we would do our part to protect it and by
    making available air power. We have not yet been asked to do that. If we
    are asked, that's something we'll give good consideration to. But we
    have not been asked to do it, and I----
        Q. The French did not ask you?
        The President. Not yet. But we've had some conservations with them.
    I'm very upset by the shelling of Sarajevo. And we're going to take a
    look at what the situation is and what the options are. But they have
    not formally asked yet.
        Q. Does that mean the answer could be--a request is made that the
    answer will be yes, sir?
        The President. It means just what I said. It means that the United
    States has always had the public position and the private position--
    we've made it very clear that if the United Nations operations in Bosnia
    were attacked, we would be prepared to defend them with air power. And
    we have not been asked yet. If we are asked, that's something we will
    seriously consider.
        Q. You certainly are expecting it, aren't you? I mean, Bosnia has
    been attacked and they are on the----
        The President. We'll just have to see. I am going to be reviewing it
    in the next couple of days. I asked the Secretary of State to come home
    to discuss the Middle East before he goes to the Middle East. So he will
    be here. We'll have a chance to discuss it, and as soon as we make a
    decision we'll let you know.

    Note: The exchange began at 8:34 a.m. in the State Dining Room at the
    White House, prior to a meeting with freshman Democratic Members of
    Congress. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    this exchange.