Susan Molinari: “Mr. Chairman, let us be clear, the war in Bosnia goes on whether we see it on the television or not. The rapes are…”

“Mr. Chairman, let us be clear, the war in Bosnia goes on whether we see it on the television or not. The rapes are continuing, the shelling of innocent lives goes on, and concentration camps throughout the region still have an open-for-business shingle hanging outside. Let us be clear: The United Nations has failed these people. Now it is time for the United States to give the Bosnians the only thing they have ever asked, the ability to defend themselves and their families. Let me be clear. By ending the arms embargo, we can in good conscience keep American ground troops out of the region, if in fact we conclude that we still have a national conscience left. I urge my colleagues not to echo the leadership disasters of Great Britain, not to seek to emulate the leadership and moral imperatives of France, and I certainly urge my colleagues not to seek as our goal to placate the Russians. Our goal is to restore international order, to send messages to other would-be dictators in the world that at least the United States will not stand by and, yes, our goal is to save a few more innocent lives in an area called Bosnia. My colleagues, this will not go away. We must give them the ability to defend themselves and to survive this bloody war with an ounce of integrity. It is within our grasp today.”