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United Nations

Unclear Policy on Bosnia: Clinton Administration Faces Skepticism from Congress

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

President Clinton's commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy is expected to explain his administration's policy on Bosnia, including a potential mission to transport United Nations peacekeepers to more secure positions. However, the plans remain unclear, and Clinton administration officials have not specified how many troops would be involved or under what conditions. Defense Secretary William Perry's comments on the policy have sparked skepticism from Senator Nancy Kassebaum, a Republican from Kansas and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Clinton administration is considering dispatching U.S. troops to Bosnia to help redeploy peacekeepers to make them less vulnerable to attacks or hostage-taking.
  • Senator Nancy Kassebaum expressed skepticism about the policy, stating that it "seems to me that at this juncture it really is no good option."
  • Kassebaum questioned the administration's plan to use U.S. troops for extraction missions, citing concerns about escalation and the lack of a clear plan for achieving peace.
  • The senator called for allies to join in lifting the arms embargo, rather than unilateral action by the United States.
  • Kassebaum suggested getting all U.S. troops out of Bosnia, providing equipment and support remotely, and lifting the arms embargo as a swift policy solution.
  • The Republican senator predicted that President Clinton would receive little support from his party on his Bosnia policy due to public uncertainty and lack of clear goals.

Statistics:

  • No specific numbers on the potential deployment of U.S. troops to Bosnia were mentioned.
  • Senator Kassebaum stated that the Bosnian Serb leader, Mr. Karadzic, and Serbian President Milosevic are "not prepared to make meaningful efforts towards peace."
  • The senator also noted that the conflict has been ongoing for three years, with "no good solution" in sight.
  • Kassebaum predicted there would be "very little support" from the Republican party for President Clinton's Bosnia policy.

Sources:

  • "This is Morning Edition; I'm Bob Edwards" (Morning Edition, NPR)
  • WILLIAM PERRY, Defense Secretary, on the McNeil Lehrer New Hour (CNN)
  • SENATOR NANCY KASSEBAUM, Republican from Kansas and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Morning Edition, NPR)

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