Trent Lott: “I do want to say to the Senator from Texas and others who may speak on Bosnia that I think this is a very important…”

“I do want to say to the Senator from Texas and others who may speak on Bosnia that I think this is a very important issue and, frankly, I hope it will not be just kind of set aside or swallowed up by the supplemental appropriations bill. The supplemental appropriations bill is urgent. It is for 1 specific fiscal year. The Bosnia issue really is broader than 1 year's emergency appropriations. I agree with the Senator from Texas that we need to get a clearer understanding about what is our mission in Bosnia: Is there a mission creep occurring? How much is it going to cost? I do not think we can just give the President a time period with no end in sight, just an interminable presence. I saw one prediction the other day we might have to have troops in Bosnia for 10 years. Not with my vote. So I do think we need to have a full discussion about this. I try very hard to be bipartisan--nonpartisan on foreign policy issues. But in Bosnia I have never felt comfortable with what our situation is there, and I still do not.”