GOP Leaders Slam Clinton Over Bosnia Aid, Call for Funding to be Terminated

Strategic Insights -

Senate and House GOP leaders, including Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich, have expressed frustration and disappointment with President Clinton's decision to provide further U.S. aid for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The leaders argue that the U.N. operation is "hopelessly incompetent" and have called for the termination of funding for the entire UNPROFOR operation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Clinton administration has authorized $15 million to transport 12,000 British, French, and Dutch troops and their equipment for a multinational rapid reaction force to be based near Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • The mission of the force has yet to be decided, but the Pentagon plans to spend up to $60 million to deploy several ships and planes to ferry supplies to Croatia.
  • The administration has committed to providing sea and air lift as well as military equipment but has resisted contributing troops to the force.
  • President Clinton has said he may seek congressional approval for U.S. troops to help redeploy beleaguered U.N. peacekeepers to safer positions.
  • Bob Dole has been a vocal critic of President Clinton's handling of the Bosnia crisis, advocating for the arms embargo on the Muslim-led Bosnian government to be lifted to enable them to battle outnumbered but better-armed Bosnian Serbs.
  • The Senate is expected to consider legislation upon its return from recess to place conditions on continued U.S. participation in efforts to bring peace to Bosnia, including securing an agreement among participating nations to lift the arms embargo.

Statistics:

  • $15 million: authorized by the Clinton administration for transportation costs for the multinational rapid reaction force
  • $50 million: estimated by the Pentagon for deployment costs for the force
  • $60 million: estimated by Bob Dole for deployment costs, which is up to $30 million more than the Pentagon's estimate
  • 12,000 troops: number of British, French, and Dutch troops to be transported by the U.S. aid
  • 22,000: number of U.N. peacekeepers in the region

Sources:

  • [Associated Press, "GOP Leaders Blast Clinton on Bosnia Aid," June 29, 1995]
  • [Reuters, "US Senate to Consider Bosnia Aid Conditions," June 29, 1995]
  • [New York Times, "Clinton Seeks $15 Million in Aid for Bosnia," June 29, 1995]