Romano Mazzoli: “I rise today to offer a few words in defense of Mr. Clinton concerning today's Herblock cartoon in the Washington Post.…”

“I rise today to offer a few words in defense of Mr. Clinton concerning today's Herblock cartoon in the Washington Post. The cartoon first states Mr. Clinton's quotes concerning Bosnia, which are to the general effect that until the people stop killing one another, bad things will continue to happen over there. But if you trace the history of that area, that is true because conflict goes back to that between the Ottoman Turks and the Austro-Hungarian Empire 500 years ago. Then Herblock continues by putting words into the mouths of former Presidents by using their quotes and paraphrasing them, President Jefferson, the two Roosevelts, and President Kennedy. The effect of all this, Mr. Speaker, is to make President Clinton appear to be weak and vacillating and even timorous as Bosnia. Now, I disagree with President Clinton with regard to the handling of Somalia, but I agree with him that we need to be cautious and circumspect before being drawn into a battle in Bosnia. So I think the President is on the right track.”