Amory Houghton said "I agree with the Hamilton amendment. I think it hits the issue head-on and it does not put us all out there by ourselves. That is very, very important. There is a tremendous amount of frustration here. As my colleagues know, we see the killing going on, we want to lift the embargo, we do not want to sit on the sidelines, obviously we want to exert some leadership. But despite this frustration, we have got to recognize that an awful lot of people would like to throw this thing right in our lap and say, 'Go to it, U.S.A. You can handle it.' And then where are we? Our first responsibility is to ourselves, and we realize we cannot do anything we want, although we may want it internally. I say to my colleagues, 'Once you decide to work with the allies, you have got to work with the allies because, if you don't, then when you need them, where are they?'" @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordJune 9, 1994

I agree with the Hamilton amendment. I think it hits the issue head-on and it does not put us all out there by ourselves. That is very, very important. There is a tremendous amount of frustration here. As my colleagues know, we see the killing going on, we want to lift the embargo, we do not want to sit on the sidelines, obviously we want to exert some leadership. But despite this frustration, we have got to recognize that an awful lot of people would like to throw this thing right in our lap and say, 'Go to it, U.S.A. You can handle it.' And then where are we? Our first responsibility is to ourselves, and we realize we cannot do anything we want, although we may want it internally. I say to my colleagues, 'Once you decide to work with the allies, you have got to work with the allies because, if you don't, then when you need them, where are they?'

Said by

Amory Houghton

Republican · New York

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the need for U.S. leadership and cooperation with allies in response to international conflicts.

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