{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}
LEADER VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AT
THIS TIME. MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TODAY TO AGAIN DISCUSS THE
TUMULTUOUS EVENTS THAT HAVE UNFOLDED IN EAST TIMOR SINCE THE
AUGUST 30 BALLOT TO DETERMINE THEIR POLITICAL FUTURE AND TO
STATE WHAT THE UNITED STATES IS AND SHOULD BE DOING IN RESPONSE
TO THE CRISIS. HOW CAN ANYONE, MR. PRESIDENT, NOT BE HORRIFIED
AT THE BLIND EYE THAT THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS TURNED TO
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THE UNCHECKED VIOLENCE AND MASS MURDER BEING PERPETRATED IN
EAST TIMOR BY ANTIINDEPENDENCE MY LITTLE SHAH?
VIOLENCE THAT EVEN TODAY IS BLATANTLY SUPPORTED BY ELEMENTS OF
THE INDONESIAN ARMY. MR. PRESIDENT, IN JUST ONE WEEKS SINCE THE
BALLOT RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED ON SEPTEMBER 4, THE MILITIA --
THE MILITIAS HAVE DRIVEN OUT NEARLY ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE
CAPITAL OF DILI. EAST TIMOR IS DOTTED WITH CITIES THAT HAVE
BECOME VIRTUAL VERNMENT TOWNS IN A MATTER OF DAYS. MANY PEOPLE
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HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO MILITIA-RUN REFUGEE CAMPS IN WEST TIMOR.
THESE INNOCENT CIVILIANS ARE UNPROTECTED TARGETS FOR A GROUP OF
THUGS WHO ARE WILLING TO OBLITERATE EAST TIMOR COMPLETELY
RATHER THAN ALLOW IT TO START DOWN THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE,
WHICH MORE THAN 78% OF ITS PEOPLE VOTED FOR ON AUGUST 30. THE
MESSAGE OF THE MILITIAS IS CLEAR. IF INDONESIA CAN'T HAVE EAST
TIMOR, THERE WILL BE NO EAST TIMOR WORTH HAVING FOR THE EAST
TIMORESE. CITIES ARE IN COMPLAIMS AND MILITIA MEMBERS ARE
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STEALING ANYTHING OF VALUE THAT THEY HAVE NOT DESTROYED.
CHURCHES, WHICH ARE USUALLY RECOGNIZED AS PLACES OF SANCTUARY,
EVEN BY COMBATANTS DURING WAR, HAVE BEEN BURNED WITH REFUGEES
STILL INSIDE. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS LITERALLY A SCORCHED-EARTH
POLICY. IT IS LIKE FEW OF EVEN OF THE WORST EPISODES WE HAVE
SEEN IN THE OFTEN BLOODY 20TH CENTURY. NO SEGMENT OF THE
PROINDEPENDENCE POPULATION IN EAST TIMOR HAS ESCAPED THE WRATH
OF THE MILITIA. RELIGIOUS LEADERS, FOREIGNERS AND THE FAMILIES
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OF ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY TARGETED FOR SUMMER
EXECUTION. AT LEAST 20 PRIESTS AND NUNS ACROSS EAST TIMOR HAVE
BEEN MURDERED. THREE OF THE PRIESTS WERE AMONG APPROXIMATELY
100 TIMORESE VICTIMS KILLED IN A GRENADE ATTACK ON A TOWN.
WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND
MASSACRED. MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION TO
EAST TIMOR, UNIMET, HAVE BEEN TARGETED AS FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COVER THE ATROCITIES. THE LEADERS OF
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THE EAST TIMORESE MOVEMENT AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ESPECIALLY
VULNERABLE TO ATTACK. LAST WEEK THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT
RELEASED INDEPENDENCE LEAR GUSMAL. THEY RELEASED HIM FRL JAIL
IN JAKARTA. ON FRIDAY HE LEARNED THAT HIS 82-YEAR-OLD FATHER
HAD LIKELY BEEN MURDERED BY PRO-JAKARTA THUGS AND HIS ELDERLY
MOTHER IS MISSING. LAST WEEK THE UNITED NATIONS EVACUATED MOST
OF ITS PERSONNEL TO AUSTRALIA. ABOUT 80 BRAVE UNIMET PERSONNEL
ELECTED TO STAY IN EAST TIMOR TO TRY TO PROTECT THE
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APPROXIMATELY 1,300 EAST TIMORESE WHO REMAIN HUDDLED PIND
HASHED WIRE FENCES. ON FRIDAY -- ACTUALLY, MR. PRESIDENT,
MILITIA MEMBERS HAVE REPEATEDLY FIRED INTO THE COMPOUND. ON
FRIDAY SOME OF THE TIMORESE, INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN,
DESPERATE TO ESCAPE THE VIOLENCE CLIMBED THE RAZOR-SHARP FENCE
SEPARATING THEM FROM THE ARMED THUGS AND ATTEMPTED TO FIND
REFUGE IN THE HILLS BEHIND THE UNIMET MISSION. THEY WERE FIRED
ON BY THE MILITIAS AS THEY TRIED TO ESCAPE. THE UNARMED
PERSONNEL WERE POWERLESS TO HELP AND COULD ONLY WATCH IN HORROR
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AS THOSE THEY HAD COME TO HELP WERE SHOT DOWN BY OPPONENTS OF
JUSTICE, SELF-DETERMINATION AND THE RULE OF LAW. YESTERDAY THE
UNEVACUATED -- THE U.N. EVACUATED MOST OF ITS PERSONNEL AND THE
REFUGEES TO AUSTRALIA. THE BOLDNESS OF THE MILITIAS AND THE
COMPLICITY OF THE IND KNEE I CAN'T GOVERNMENT IS ASTOUNDING. I
AM SHOCKED BY THE TOTAL IMPOTENCE OR INACTION OF THE INDONESIAN
GOVERNMENT SINCE LAST WEEK. PRESIDENT HABIBIE PROMISEDED UNITED
NATIONS, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE OF EAST
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TIMOR THAT WOULD SECURE PROVIDE A SECURE ENVIRONMENT IN EAST
TIMOR, THAT THE WISHES OF THE INDONESIAN PEOPLE WOULD BE
RESPECTED. NEITHER HAS HAPPENED. SOME ARGUE THAT HABIBIE MAY BE
UNABLE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE. OTHERS SAY HE IS UNWILLING. HIS
LEVEL OF CONTROL OVER THE ARMY, WHICH HE DID NOT CONSULT PRIOR
TO AGREEING TO THE U.N.-SUPERVISED BALLOT ON THE FUTURE OF EAST
TIMOR, IS, OF COURSE, A SUBJECT OF A LOT OF DEBATE. WHATEVER
THE CASE, HABIBIE HAS NOT MADE ANY REAL, COMPELLING OR STRONG
STATEMENTS CONDEMNING THIS VIOLENCE AND HE HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT
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TO REIGN IN THE ARMY PERSONNEL WHO ARE RAMPAGING IN THIS
SITUATION. I AM ALSO DISTURBED BY THE INACTION OF THE HEAD OF
THE INDONESIAN MILITARY, GENERAL BORONTO. THIS PAST WEEK HE
IMPLIED THAT HE MAY NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER ALL OF HIS FORCES. ON
SATURDAY HE ACCOMPANIED A DELEGATION TO DILI AND HE SAW FOR
WHAT HE SAID WAS THE FIRST TIME THE DEVASTATION IN THAT CITY.
SOON AFTER HIS VISIT, HE SAID HE WOULD RECOMMEND THE PRESIDENT
HABIBIE ACCEPT AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE. FINALLY,
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UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF GENERAL RONTO AND THE HEAD OF THE
INDONESIAN POLICE, HABIBIE ANNOUNCED SUNDAY THAT HIS GOVERNMENT
WOULD ALLOW INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS LED BY AUSTRALIA TO COME
TO EAST TIMOR TO RESTORE ORDER AND STOP THE VIOLENT RAMPAGE OF
THE MILITIAS. AS SOVEN THE CASE IN CLASHES SUCH AS THIS, HIS
ANNOUNCEMENT WHILE WELCOME CAME TOO LATE FOR THOSE TIMORESE
MURDERED BY THE MILITIAS AND THOSE HIDING IN THE HILLS WHO HAVE
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BEEN SCARRED BY THE VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION LEVELED AGAINST
THE DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR. NOW
THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS REACHED THIS CRITICAL
POINT IN THE TRANSITION OF THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF EAST TIMOR,
MR. PRESIDENT, HERE, I THINK, ARE THE STEPS THAT HAVE TO BE
TAKEN NEXT. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING
FORCE MUST BE DEPLOYED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE. I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORDS OF DELAY COMING OUT OF JAKARTA THIS
MORNING. I REGRET IF IT TOOK -- THAT IT TOOK PRESIDENT HABIBIE
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SO LONG TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR INTERNAPT ASSISTANCE. NOW THE
INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT, MILITARY AND PRESIDENT HABIBIE MUST
FULLY COOPERATE WITH THE DEPLOYMENT AND MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH
THE OPERATIONS OF THIS PEACEKEEPING FORCE. THEY MUST BE ALLOWED
TO DEPLOY QUICKLY, RESTORE ORDER AND HELP THE EAST TIMORESE
PEOPLE REGAIN A SEMBLANCE OF SECURITY IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND
SOME HOPE OF REALIZING THE ASPIRATIONS MANIFEST IN THE AUGUST
30 BALLOT. I UNDERSTAND THE INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALATAS
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CONTINUES MEETING IN NEW YORK TODAY ALONG WITH OFFICIALS FROM
AUSTRALIA TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS FOR THE PEACE KEENG MISSION.
ONE OF THOSE DETAILS CLEARLY IS TO DETERMINE THE COMPOSITION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE AND THE ROLE OF THE INDONESIANS
THEMSELVES IN A DEPLOYMENT. ANOTHER SHOULD BE TO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CRIMES THAT HAVE TAKEN
PLACE IN EAST TIMOR, INCLUDING PROCEDURES TO BEGIN TO COLLECT
EVIDENCE FOR FUTURE PROSECUTIONS. MR. PRESIDENT, NOBEL
LAUREATES JOSE GORTA HAVE CALLED FOR THE FORMATION OF A WAR
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CRIMES TRIBUNAL TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THESE VICIOUS CRIMES. THAT TRIBUNAL SHOULD BE FORMED AT THE
EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE. TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, THE IMMEDIATE
PRIORITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD BE TO GET THE
PEACEKEEPING FORCES DEPLOYED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION
AND PREVENT ANY FURTHER BLOODSHED AND TO ALLOW THE TIMORESE
THAT HA FLED TO RETURN HOME. THE MANDATE FOR THE PEACEKEEPING
MISSION SHOULD ALSO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR
DISARMING AND DETAINING MEMBERS OF THE MILITIA. SOME MILITIA
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LEADERS HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT DISARM. THIS VOLATILE SITUATION
POSES A GRAVE RISK TO THE PEACEKEEPERS AND MUST BE DEALT WITH
CAREFULLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY. SECOND, WE MUST QUICKLY AND
CONCISELY DEFINE THE SCOPE OF THE U.S. ROLE IN THIS
PEACEKEEPING MISSION. I AM PLEASED AUSTRALIA HAS COME FORWARD
TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN EAST TIMOR AND
OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION OFFERED TO CONTRIBUTE TROOPS TO
THIS EFFORT. IT IS MY GENERAL BELIEF THAT PEACEKEEPING
OPERATIONS SHOULD BE LED BY COUNTRIES IN THE REGION WHERE THE
{11:24:00} (MR. FEINGOLD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
CONFLICT IS OCCURRING, AND I AM ALSO TROUBLED BY SOME WORD THIS
MORNING THAT THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT IS PERHAPS BLOCKING --
BALKING AT THE IDEA OF AUSTRALIA LEADING THIS MISSION WHICH I
THINK IS APPROPRIATE THEY DO SO. A MILITIA-LED VIOLENCE AND A
BLATANT COLLUSION AND THE COMMISSION OF THAT VIOLENCE IS A
DIRECT SLAP AT THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PROTECTION FOR THE RIGHT
TO SELF-DETERMINATION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND SUPPORTED BY THE
UNITED NATIONS. I HOPE THAT ANY PARTICIPATION BY THE INDONESIAN
MILITARY IN THIS PEACEKEEPING FORCE WILL BE SCRUTINIZED. THOSE
{11:24:33} (MR. FEINGOLD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
WHO HELPED PERPETRATE THE VIOLENCE MUST NOT BE PLACED IN THE
POSITION OF TRUST WITHIN THIS OPERATION. I'LL SAY A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN THIS MISSION IN A MINUTE. BUT
THIRD, MR. PRESIDENT, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST KEEP THE
PRESSURE ON THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT. I'M PLEASED THAT THE
PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTRY MADE A DECISION I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR
SOME TIME, TO SUSPEND MILITARY-TO-MILITARY ACTIVITIES WITH
INDONESIA. I AM ENCOURAGED THIS DECISION INCLUDES HALTING ALL
NEW MILITARY SALES TO THAT COUNTRY. I HOPE THE PRESIDENT WILL
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EXPAND THIS DECISION TO IMMEDIATELY HALT ANY SALES THAT ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE. IF WE ARE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY
THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT, THOSE SALES MUST BE INCLUDED. THESE
BENEFITS SHOULD NOT BE REINSTATED UNTIL SPECIFIC STEPS HAVE
BEEN TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE RESULTS OF THE AUGUST 30 BALLOT.
I'VE HEARD MANY OBSERVERS ARGUE THAT INDONESIA IS TOO IMPORTANT
FINANCIALLY TO THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO RISK
ANGERING JAKARTA. I WOULD ARGUE, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT NO AMOUNT
OF TRADE IS WORTH EAST TIMORESE LIVES. IF WE TRULY ARE TO
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SUPPORT INDONESIA IN ITS TRAITION TO TRUE DEMOCRACY, WE MUST
INSIST THAT THE VIOLENCE STOP AND WE MUST USE EVERY CENT OF OUR
ECONOMIC LEVERAGE TO DO SO. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, LAST WEEK I
INTRODUCED A BILL, S. 1568 THAT WOULD SUSPEND ALL MILITARY AND
ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO INDONESIA UNTIL STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO
IMPLEMENT THE AUGUST 30 BALLOT. I'M PLEASED THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS SUSPENDED SOME MILITARY AID THAT IS NOW
IMPERATIVE THAT WE KEEP THE PRESSURE ON BY REFUSING TO
REINSTATE THAT AID AND BY THREATENING TO SUSPEND ALL OTHER AID
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UNTIL THE RESULTS OF THE AUGUST 30 BLAT ARE IMPLEMENTED. MY
BILL WOULD SUSPEND ASSISTANCE AND SALES AS WELL AS THOSE
PURCHASES CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE. IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE,
WE MUST STOP ALL AID IN ITS TRACK, NOT JUST NEW AID. WE SHOULD
ALSO CALL IN OUR ALLIES TO DO THE SAME. THE RECENT FINANCIAL
TROUBLES IN ASIA HAVE MADE INDONESIA DEPENDENT ON BILATERAL AND
MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE. WE SHOULD USE THAT DEPENDENCE AS
LEVERAGE TO ENSURE THAT THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT LIVES UP TO
{11:26:50} (MR. FEINGOLD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
COMMITMENTS IN EAST TIMOR INCLUDING ITS WILLINGNESS TO ADMIT A
PEACEKEEPING FORCE INTO EAST TIMOR. IN THAT REGARD I AM
PLEASED, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION YESTERDAY
ANNOUNCED IT HAS SUSPENDED ALL ARMS SALES AND MILITARY
COOPERATION WITH INDONESIA. THAT WELCOME DEVELOPMENT MAKES IT
ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR PASSAGE OF
OUR LEGISLATION TO SUSPEND ASSISTANCE. WE MUST CONTINUE TO
APPLY THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS BILL SO THE
INDONESIANS WILL UNDERSTAND THE CONTINUING U.S. RESOLVE TO SEE
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JUSTICE DONE IN EAST TIMOR. FINALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, THE UNITED
NATIONS MANDATE FOR THIS PEACEKEEPING MISSION SHOULD INCLUDE
FULL ACCESS TO EAST TIMOR FOR PEACEKEEPING TROOPS, HUMANITARIAN
WORKERS AND WOULD WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS. THE
ANTIINDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BLOCK ACCESS TO
ANY PART OF EAST TIMOR. IN ADDITIO HUMANITARIAN WORKERS SHOULD
BE ALLOWED FULL ACCESS TO THE REFUGEE CAMPS IN WEST TIMOR. THE
NATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE MUST MAKE CLEAR
{11:27:54} (MR. FEINGOLD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
NO SUCH INTERFERENCE WILL BE TOLERATED. PEOPLE ARE DYING, MR.
PRESIDENT. WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED WHILE THE
POLITICIANS TRY TO LEVERAGE THE SITUATION TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.
PRESIDENT HABIBIE HAS A CHANCE TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS RIGHT FOR
HIS PEOPLE AND THE EAST TIMORESE PEOPLE BEFORE HE LEAVES
OFFICE. THE WAY TO SALVAGE WHAT IS LEFT OF INDONESIA'S SHREDDED
INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION IS TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS
TO DEPLOY RAPIDLY IN EAST TIMOR TO STOP THIS SENSELESS
BLOODSHED. LET ME SAY ANOTHER WORD ABOUT THE U.S. ROLE IN TH
{11:28:25} (MR. FEINGOLD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
PEACEKEEPING MISSION. AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, I'VE BEEN
A VOCAL OPPONENT OF U.S. DEPLOYMENTS TO SUCH PLACES AS BOSNIA
AND KOSOVO. WHILE I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF AN INTERNATIONAL
PEACEKEEPING FORCE LED BY COUNTRIES FROM THE REGION, IT IS MY
PREFERENCE, AS IT WAS IN THOSE CASES, THAT U.S. TROOPS ON THE
GROUND IN EAST TIMOR NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THIS
PEACEKEEPING MISSION. OUR TROOPS ARE CURRENTLY OVEREXTENDED IN
OPEN-ENDED COMMITMENTS IN PLACES SUCH AS BOSNIA, KOSOVO AND
SAUDI ARABIA. WE SHOULD DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO LIMIT OUR
INVOLVEMENT IN THESE PLACES AND BE VERY HESITANT TO GET DEEPLY
{11:28:58} (MR. FEINGOLD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
INVOLVED IN ANY NEW MISSIONS OF THIS SORT. THAT SAID, HOWEVER,
I AM OPEN TO SUPPORTING A REQUEST TO THE CONGRESS FROM THE
UNITED STATES -- FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FOR U.S.
FINANCIAL,DIPLOMATIC, COMMUNICATIONS AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR
AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING MISSION TO EAST TIMOR THAT IS LED
BY THE COUNTRIES FROM THAT REGION. THE ADMINISTRATION MUST
CONTINUE TO CONSULT CLOSELY WITH THE CONGRESS PRIOR TO MAKING
ANY COMMITMENT TO ASSIST WITH SUCH A PEACEKEEPING MISSION. I
BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE UNITED STATES MUST DEVELOP CRITERIA
{11:29:30} (MR. FEINGOLD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
FOR DECIDING WHETHER AND WHERE AND HOW DEEPLY TO GET INVOLVED
IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS ABROAD. OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM
AND THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF PROPOSED
MISSIONS AND TO BE GIVEN A GOOD-FAITH ESTIMATE OF THEIR LENGTH.
AS MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, I OPPOSE OUR CONTINUING INVOLVEMENT IN
THE BALKANS. THE ADMINISTRATION ARGUED THAT OUR ACTION AGAINST
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA WAS NECESSARY FOR
HUMANITARIAN REASONS. THE TROUBLE I HAD WITH OUR OPERATIONS IN
KOSOVO IS THAT WE HAVE NOT SHOWN THE SAME WILLINGNESS TO
INTERVENE
{END: 1999/09/14 TIME: 11-30 , Tue. 106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}
{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}