Roscoe Bartlett: “relative to the issue of allegiance, I would just like to say it is my understanding that all of the commanders in…”

“relative to the issue of allegiance, I would just like to say it is my understanding that all of the commanders in Macedonia take an exclusive oath of allegiance to the United Nations. I would like to say to my friends on the other side of the aisle that this is not an issue of safety or identification. Our troops have performed spectacularly in past U.N. operations in which they wore the standard U.S. uniform. I think everybody recognizes a U.S. soldier. Second, a bright baby blue cap and shoulder pads do not make our troops any safer. I believe this is equivalent to when we removed the brass from our officers' battle dress uniforms. However, if the administration determines it is absolutely necessary for our troops to wear some kind of additional identification, Congress has the power to authorize such wear. Although the Clinton administration has chosen to ignore U.S. law, all U.N. peacekeeping operations that are mandated under chapter 7 of the U.N. charter must receive prior congressional approval before such a deployment. Therefore, there is ample opportunity for Congress to authorize the wear of such identification symbols if they are needed and requested. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is about what our military is; it is about what our military stands for and what our soldiers' allegiances are.”