THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 3, 1995 TAG: 9506030283
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY AND BOB LITTLE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Both of Virginia's senators cautioned Friday against using Friday's downing of an American F-16C fighter jet over Bosnia-Herzegovina as a reason to escalate U.S. involvement.
``I think the thought of retaliation at this time is a very dangerous concept because of the innocent hostages the Serbs have taken,'' said Republican Sen. John W. Warner, during an afternoon news conference in Richmond.
``I hope that we don't overreact to a single incident in terms of how we conduct our macro policy,'' said Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb, during an editorial conference with The Virginian-Pilot.
Both men gave their general support to President Clinton's current handling of the crisis. Both also gave little reason for optimism in finding a solution.
``Really, there's no military solution to this problem over there,'' said Warner, who with Robb is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
``This tragedy . . . shouldn't in any way, at this point in time, be the determining factor to what we should or shouldn't do,'' he said.
Robb said he has always been concerned that just such an incident could draw American forces into ground combat.
He said it is important for the U.S. to honor its obligations to NATO specifically.
``We have 800 personnel there - 500 along the Macedonian border and another 300 in the area we are focusing on, where the activity has been most provocative by the Bosnian Serbs,'' said Robb.
``We have responsibilities that don't allow us to say, `Hey, I pass. I'm outta here and somebody else take responsibilities for our 800 troops. . . . You just can't do that.''
Warner has been a critic of all but minimal military involvement in the Bosnian war, and he suggested Friday that ground troops should be used only to assist an Allied withdrawal.
He said he will defer to Clinton's judgment and not criticize the president while American troops are deployed. But he made clear he sees no hope that American involvement would lead to a resolution.
``I don't want to see American lives expended in trying to solve a conflict which none of us can understand or in any way really justify,'' Warner said. ``So I'm hopeful that the president will not further involve the United States militarily.''
Robb maintained that Clinton has indicated he was not considering, ``nor were U.S. planners actively contemplating,'' any commitment of U.S. forces in a combatant status.
Unfortunately, said Robb, ``There is no way that anybody who has looked at the situation, or understands it, can figure out how to get (United Nations Protection Forces) or U.S. personnel out without some ground component.''
Asked if they can be removed without resorting to combat, Robb said that depends.
``The risk of engagement is great. But the risk if you don't provide some covering force . . . is much greater,'' he said. ``There can be no risk-free scenario that I can suggest at this point.'' ILLUSTRATION: Both Sen. John W. Warner, left, and Sen. Charles S. Robb oppose
retaliation in Bosnia for Friday's downing of an American fighter
jet.
by CNB