Political Quotes

“I opposed both amendments today because there is a certain ambiguity in each that could result in a much deeper involvement of our country in Bosnia. This is a conflict in Bosnia, or the former Yugoslavia, that is rooted in hundreds of years of history. It is religious; it is ethnic; it relates to borders. There is an instability among the peoples in that region that is almost without parallel. I was not present, but I am sure there are those here who witnessed the Olympics in Sarajevo several years ago. The same people who in the past 2 years have hacked each other to bits, danced in the streets, dined in the restaurants and enjoyed the good life. I have no explanation for why they have fallen upon each other in such a savage way. Historically, in World War II, Hitler's divisions occupied this part of the world. During the course of that occupation, the German forces had a very precarious hold on that geographic area. During the very period that they had a dozen or more divisions there, there was a civil war between the Croatian people, the Moslem people, and the Serbian people, which raged on for more than a year. Over 1 million casualties and deaths resulted from that civil war, at the very time that Europe was aflame in the battles of World War II. That is why we have to take our time and be very, very cautious as we make further commitments. I urge that committees look at the two amendments considered today.”