John Kerry: “Mr. President, I say to the distinguished minority leader I agree with what he said. I think President Clinton agrees…”

“Mr. President, I say to the distinguished minority leader I agree with what he said. I think President Clinton agrees with what he said. The President announced a policy yesterday that may do more, conceivably, to respond immediately to the need he has described than lifting the embargo, because, if we lift the embargo today on this bill or send a message today, we absolutely will invite them to rapidly do everything they can, and they will not get any arms. They are not going to get arms to save Gorazde. What is going to save them there, if anything will save them, will be the response that the Senator from Kansas has rightfully just called for. Under no circumstances should we do nothing. That is why I supported the strikes, and that is why I believe we ought to hold that on a very short fuse. All I suggest respectfully to my friend is let us try to send this message in a way that combines the best of both worlds, that sends the message but allows the President to move in the next days, hopefully, to prevent precisely what the Senator has just described. I would say to my friend from Kansas, if you read article 51, it is not an unlimited right of self-defense. It is a conditional right of self-defense.”