Political Quotes

“one of the bitter lessons of the Vietnam war was that before engaging in any military conflict, the United States should be clear in its objectives and assure that it has the support of the American people. This lesson served us well in the gulf war, but was forgotten during our operations in Somalia. Over the last several days, the Clinton administration seems again to have ignored that lesson, this time in an area that could be far more dangerous to American servicemen than was Somalia. Our airstrikes in Gorazde pursue vague goals, which by themselves do not seem worthy of American lives. Earlier this week, President Clinton said that the United States provided airstrikes in order to protect endangered peacekeepers, but peacekeepers have been endangered in a number of earlier instances, and neither the United States or any other country has provided air support. Instead, it appears that the administration has begun a wider campaign to use airstrikes to bring a peace settlement in Bosnia, and may be on the verge of increasing our engagement in a conflict in which victory is likely to be elusive, and in which we can discern no vital national interest. Last weekend's strikes appear to have increased Serb aggression in Gorazde.”