James Lightfoot: “I rise in reluctant opposition to the amendment. I understand and deeply admire the intent of those offering this…”

“I rise in reluctant opposition to the amendment. I understand and deeply admire the intent of those offering this amendment. It is difficult to view the ongoing carnage in Bosnia and not want to do something to help. But the ramifications of this amendment, no matter how well intended, go beyond just arming the Bosnians. This debate must be based on the cold, hard reality of the current situation and not on emotion. Approval of this amendment would effect other ongoing U.N. embargo's, change the relationship between the United States and Russia and possibly put American troops at risk. I simply do not see how this House could take action to unilaterally lift the arms embargo on Bosnia and then expect other nations to honor U.N. embargo's on Haiti, Iraq, Libya, and one day North Korea. Further, policy changes like this do not occur in a vacuum. Surely Russia, with its ethnic ties to Serbia, could not be expected to maintain its embargo if we do not maintain ours. Finally, I am concerned that lifting the embargo puts us on the slippery slope toward full scale intervention.”