(27 Jul 1995) English/Nat
The US Senate Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to lift the arms embargo against Bosnia, casting aside President Clinton's fears that such a move could draw American troops into the bloody civil war.
President Clinton opposes the unilateral lifting of the United Nations embargo, but the 69-29 vote margin was more than enough to override his promised presidential veto.
If the bill becomes law, it would require Clinton to end U-S support for the arms ban after U-N peacekeepers withdraw or within 12 weeks of a request by the Bosnian government for their withdrawal - whichever comes first.
The U-S Senate overwhelmingly voted for a lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the Bosnian government.
UPSOUND vote result
Under the measure, the embargo would be lifted after U-N troops pull out from Bosnia or within 12 weeks of a request by the Bosnian government for their withdrawal - whichever comes first.
SOUNDBITE:
"I don't know how you Americanise the war if you withdraw the protection forces and lift the arms embargo. The Democratic leaders said as sure as that happens there are going to be American troops there. Who said so? I assume the President will come to Congress. They're not asking us to die for Bosnia, they're asking us to give them a chance to defend themselves, and they'll do the dying for their country."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Bob Dole (Republican-Kansas) - Senate Majority Leader
The Senate vote was a direct slap in the face for the Clinton administration's foreign policy.
President Bill Clinton, who is against unilateral lifting of the embargo, now faces an uphill battle to get the bill rejected in the House of Representatives.
SOUNDBITE:
"I do not believe the strong course for the United States and the strong course for the people of Bosnia is to unilaterally lift the arms embargo, collapse the U-N mission and increase the chances of injecting American troops there, I don't believe that. I think the strong course is to have a powerful use of air power and to support the Rapid Reaction Force that the French and British are putting on the ground that will prove they will attack back if they are attacked."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton
But even members of his own party went against him when it came time to vote.
SOUNDBITE:
"It's time to let the Bosnians defend themselves. It's been long overdue and the Senate today is going to make a statement which I hope is a powerful statement that is the genocide, if we can't stop it, we surely must let the victims of the genocide try to protect themselves from that horror."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Carl Levin (Democrat-Michigan)
A White House spokesman predicted U-S troops would be sent in to cover any U-N pullout.
SOUNDBITE:
"By voting for the Dole resolution, members of this Senate are inevitably putting U-S ground forces into Bosnia because the United States will be required then to going to extract European peacekeepers from Bosnia. It is easy to understand the frustration of the Bosnian government as they attempt to deal with what is clearly a disparity that exists in weaponry. But adding more gasoline to the fire at this point does not seem to the White House or to this president to be a good idea."
SUPER CAPTION: Mike McCurry - White House spokesman
The Senate vote margin was enough to override a promised presidential veto.
The House must still consider lifting the embargo and President Clinton hopes he can stop it there.
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