Lee Hamilton: “Mr. Chairman, let me observe today that I think the choice before us is really quite a clear one. The amendment…”

“Mr. Chairman, let me observe today that I think the choice before us is really quite a clear one. The amendment sponsored by my friends, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. McCloskey], the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Bonior], and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer], directs the President to lift the embargo unilaterally on the former Yugoslavia, but it is not just that. They also authorize the President to spend up to $200 million in military aid to Bosnia, thus starting a new foreign aid program. Mr. Chairman, in my judgment this amendment has a lot of risks for the United States. I think as we just heard a moment ago in the briefings given to us by administration officials, that the McCloskey amendment, if it becomes law, would certainly torpedo the peace talks, it would intensify and prolong the fighting, it would jeopardize the humanitarian relief, it would Americanize the war, and it would certainly encourage others to break U.N. sanctions in other parts of the world. It would create very serious problems between ourselves and our NATO allies and between ourselves and Russia. Mr. Chairman, I think the amendment if it becomes law would ensure that the war will continue, and it certainly will increase the risk of U.S. involvement in that area.”