Senate Proposes Alternative to Republican-Backed Resolution on Lifting Arms Embargo Against Bosnian Government

Strategic Insights -

In a move to avoid a possible political setback for President Clinton, the Democratic leadership in the Senate has proposed that he consult with U.S. allies about terminating the international arms embargo against the Muslim-led Bosnian government. This proposal, offered by Democratic leader George Mitchell of Maine, is an alternative to a Republican-backed resolution requiring Clinton to unilaterally end U.S. participation in the United Nations' arms embargo against the Bosnian government. The Senate scheduled a vote Thursday on the competing proposals, with Mitchell arguing that acting alone would endanger British and French peacekeeping forces in the former Yugoslavia and damage U.S. credibility and policies in the United Nations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Democratic leadership in the Senate has proposed an alternative to a Republican-backed resolution requiring President Clinton to unilaterally end U.S. participation in the United Nations' arms embargo against the Bosnian government.
  • The proposed resolution, offered by Democratic leader George Mitchell of Maine, would authorize Clinton to consult with the NATO allies about terminating the arms embargo, with the goal of obtaining a resolution from the United Nations Security Council to end the embargo.
  • If the Security Council resolution fails, Clinton would be required to consult with Congress within five days about a unilateral lifting of the arms embargo by the United States.
  • Senate Republican leader Bob Dole of Kansas supports the Republican-backed resolution, arguing that the current arms embargo has left the Bosnian Muslims virtually defenseless in the face of tank and artillery assaults by the heavily armed Bosnian Serbs.
  • The proposed resolution would not authorize the deployment of U.S. forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina for any purpose, including training, support, or delivery of military equipment.
  • The Senate vote on the competing proposals is scheduled for Thursday, with the Democratic alternative seen as a way to avoid a direct challenge to Clinton while giving him the political support to change U.S. policy.

Statistics:

  • The two-year-old fight between ethnic Serbs and the Bosnian government has resulted in the slaughter of civilians in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Clinton condemning the violence and warning against the United States acting alone to break out of the international effort to curtail the fighting.
  • Serbia is widely believed to be supplying ethnic Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina with weapons, a charge Belgrade has denied.
  • The proposed resolution would aim to involve the United Nations in imposing sanctions against Iraq and other nations, as well as in the Balkans.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, May 11
  • Los Angeles Times, May 11
  • Reuters, May 10