(26 Jul 1995) English/Nat
In a direct slap at Clinton administration foreign policy, the Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to lift the arms embargo over Bosnia.
The 69-29 vote took place in an emotionally charged atmosphere, with lawmakers reading news reports of fresh Bosnian Serb atrocities against ethnic Muslims.
The margin was enough to override a promised presidential veto, as Democrats and Republicans joined forces to end a ban that they said locked Bosnia into a military disadvantage against rebel Serb forces.
The U-S Senate has overwhelmingly voted for a lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the Bosnian government.
(UPSOUND of vote result)
Under the measure, the embargo would be lifted after U-N troops are withdrawn from Bosnia.
SOUNDBITE:
"A unilateral lift means in large measure unilateral responsibility. A unilateral lift means accelerated deployment of U-S forces and of that there can be no question. We lift, they leave. We lift, we help them leave. We lift, we're there, and the action spreads.
SUPER CAPTION:Senator Tom Daschle, (Democrat-South Dakota), Senate Minority Leader
SOUNDBITE:
"I don't know how you Americanize 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
That sentiment was then enhanced by members of President Clinton's own party.
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)
SOUNDBITE:
"In my view the worst is yet to come. For all that will be left is the pitiful land called Bosnia and two highly armed forces, locked in a death struggle, with no regard for everyone who happens to be in their way, including, my fear, their own people.
SUPER CAPTION:Senator Christopher Dodd, (Democrat-Connecticut)
The White House says 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 House must still consider lifting the embargo and President Clinton hopes he can stop it there.
If he cannot it will be a significant psychological victory for the Bosnian government which is eager to fight its enemy with both hands.
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