Russ Feingold: “the editorial, ``Calling a Coup a Coup,'' argues that the United States and the international community should condemn…”

“the editorial, ``Calling a Coup a Coup,'' argues that the United States and the international community should condemn Hun Sen's actions as a coup and halt aid to his government. Mr. President, I agree. I believe the administration should officially recognize Hun Sen's actions as a coup. This is the right policy. While nobody wants to increase the suffering of the Cambodian people, the United States cannot legitimize Hun Sen's actions by maintaining the current flow of aid and development assistance. As we all know, the United Nations spent over $2 billion in 1993 to bring peace and democracy to Cambodia. We made a large investment, but an important one. Now, even though this long-suffering nation appears to be slipping back into a civil war, we should not conclude that the efforts of the United States and the international community have been in vain. In 1993, Cambodia's citizens overwhelmingly rejected tyranny, and they will do so again. U.S. support for democracy, though, will seem shallow if we do not take action against the use of violence. Like the military dictators of Burma, the Hun Sen regime too should be subject to the toughest sanctions. The United States must do all it can to insure that Hun Sen does not become the next Cambodian dictator.”