Benjamin Gilman: “Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that we are beginning general debate of a very important segment of the Contract With…”

“Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that we are beginning general debate of a very important segment of the Contract With America, H.R. 7, the National Security Revitalization Act. H.R. 7 confronts issues of real concern to the American people. Take for example the issue of foreign command of U.S. Armed Forces in U.N. peacekeeping operations. The Clinton administration broke new ground in this area. Indeed, few aspects of their foreign policy have been pursued with as much vigor as their efforts to promote U.N. peacekeeping operations in which U.S. forces have been placed under foreign command. They did it in Somalia, they did it in the former Yugoslavia, and they were prepared to do it in Haiti. H.R. 7 restores a proper balance with regard to foreign command of U.S. forces in U.N. peacekeeping operations. H.R. 7 doesn't forbid foreign command in all cases; only in those cases where the President is unable to certify that the foreign command arrangement is necessary to protect U.S. national security interests and that the U.S. forces will not be required to comply with illegal or militarily imprudent orders. The American people would be shocked to learn that the administration and its allies in Congress think the President should have a free hand to put U.S. forces under foreign command, even when it's not in our national interest and even when our forces could be compelled to obey illegal or militarily imprudent orders.”