Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 2, 1995 TAG: 9508020047
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
On a vote of 298-128, the House joined the Senate in supporting the measure that repudiates a policy pursued by President Clinton. While the margins in both houses were big enough to override a veto, the White House expressed confidence it ultimately could prevail.
Despite Clinton's efforts, lawmakers of both parties were plainly angered by what many called the failure of his policy to deter Serb aggression.
``How many more atrocities do we have to witness?'' asked Michigan Rep. David Bonior, the second-ranking Democrat in the House.
``How many more children do we have to see killed before we act in Bosnia?'' he said near the end of a debate in which numerous lawmakers likened Serbs to the Nazis and ``ethnic cleansing'' to the Holocaust.``The modern-day Hitlers are at it,'' said Rep. Bill Paxon, R-N.Y. - running the ``rape camps and torture camps.''
But others said lifting the embargo could set into motion an inevitable chain of events culminating in 25,000 GIs being deployed to help evacuate U.N. peacekeepers.
``Imagine explaining to the American people that your kid died in Bosnia to perform a retreat,'' said Democratic leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri, his voice rising in indignation.
The measure would require Clinton to end U.S. support for the international arms ban after withdrawal of U.N. troops now on the ground or within 12 weeks of a request by the Bosnian government, whichever comes first.
The measure also would require Clinton to seek a U.N. Security Council vote to lift the embargo, marking one final attempt to avoid a split with NATO allies. If that failed, the administration would be required to seek a vote by the U.N. General Assembly before acting unilaterally.
The legislation cleared the Senate on a 69-29 vote last week.
Democratic leader Tom Daschle expressed confidence on Monday that the president would win a veto struggle, and White House spokesman Mike McCurry echoed that moments after the House vote. ``The more time the president has to discuss the complexities of the problem, the more votes we change,'' he said.
Reps. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, and Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, voted to lift the ban. Reps. L.F. Payne, D-Nelson County, and Norman Sisisky, D-Petersburg, were the only Virginians who supported it.
by CNB