Lee Metcalf: “I rise in strong support and pride in our service personnel in this most difficult Kosovo situation. But I cannot vote…”

“I rise in strong support and pride in our service personnel in this most difficult Kosovo situation. But I cannot vote for this motion. I can neither support nor condone this military bombing of Kosovo. Bombing is by definition an act of war which if I read the Constitution correctly must be supported by a vote of Congress. There was no such vote for a declaration of war. I am very reticent to allow any President to commit acts of war without such a declaration. The bombing probably killed 7,500 people and did an immense amount of damage. Now we will be asked to go in and repair it. I think the Congress should notify the President that from now on, no money will be available for acts of war without a declaration of such by Congress. I believe the cost in billions of dollars now will be borrowed--we have not got the money to pay it--now will be borrowed from our children and grandchildren and they will pay interest on it the rest of their lives. I think this is atrocious.”