Floyd Spence: “as with most issues associated with the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, the question of whether to lift the current…”

“as with most issues associated with the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, the question of whether to lift the current arms embargo is complex. No one knows precisely how lifting the embargo against the Moslem forces will affect the attitudes and actions of the warring parties. One thing is certain, however. Policies we are considering today are certain to have an impact on the safety of peacekeepers--particularly United States peacekeepers--that may be deployed to keep the peace in Bosnia in the future. Therefore, we need to carefully consider the long-term consequences of the policies we will be voting on today. Shortly after taking office, President Clinton committed to deploying as many as 25,000 United States military personnel to Bosnia to serve as peacekeepers in the event of a negotiated political settlement. I opposed this commitment at the time and I oppose it now. Nonetheless, if deployed, these peacekeeping forces will inevitably be asked to separate and disarm the parties, deter, and respond to military attacks, and ensure compliance with territorial settlements. We ought to factor these elements of the President's longer range commitment to deploy U.S. troops into our deliberations here today on shorter range policy options. Mr. Chairman, the United States experience in Somalia taught us that peacekeepers seeking to mediate a civil war cannot take sides and not expect to be attacked by one or more parties involved in the conflict.”