Bob Menendez: “the time has come for us to be resolute, and for us to act. As the leader of the free world, the United States of…”

“the time has come for us to be resolute, and for us to act. As the leader of the free world, the United States of America must no longer stand by idly as accomplices to a carefully planned and savagely executed genocide by Serbian war criminals. We must act now to allow the Bosnian people to assert their right to self-determination and their right to self-defense. The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a member of the United Nations. As a U.N. member Bosnia has an inherent and internationally recognized right to defend itself against armed aggression. Let us not deny the Bosnian people the right to fight their own fight. The United Nations Protection Force [UNPROFOR] no longer protects anyone. It is no longer a force for the protection of the innocent, but an object for our pity. The U.N. safe havens are no longer safe but sitting targets for more brutality. How much more blood will we allow to stain our hands? Let us not deny the Bosnian Government the right to protect their defenseless women and children. That is all that we propose here today--nothing more and nothing less. But this is not only about Bosnia's defense. This is about America's pursuit of her national interests. International peace and stability is most certainly in America's national interests. The Balkan crisis has threatened the viability and the stability of the international system.”