Jeremiah Smith: “as President Reagan would say, ``Here we go again.'' This administration is now on the verge of making a commitment of…”

“as President Reagan would say, ``Here we go again.'' This administration is now on the verge of making a commitment of American forces to another 911 humanitarian crisis around the world, without the approval of Congress. As I stand here today, the United States is poised to launch airstrikes against the sovereign nation of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Given the apparent failure of the talks in France regarding the issue of the peacekeeping force, there is a real possibility that airstrikes may be imminent and that American forces, as part of a NATO force, may be committed in Kosovo. I would venture to say that many Americans would be hard-pressed to find Kosovo on a map; yet here again our sons and daughters are going to be asked to put their lives on the line for this administration without approval of their elected representatives in Congress, and without any declaration of war. Mr. President, this is very, very disturbing. I have spoken out in the past against the Bosnia operation. I have spoken out against our occupation of Haiti. But Kosovo is the last straw for me. Today I am introducing a bill to ensure that Congress exercises its constitutional right of approval before this administration commits us to an act of war against a sovereign nation.”