Clinton promises embargo veto

August 1, 1995 -- 7:30 p.m. EDT
From Correspondent Bob Franken

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Despite a presidential veto threat, the U.S. House of Representative has joined with the Senate to require the U.S. to end its participation in the international arms embargo on Bosnia.

The next move is the president's and he's already made it clear: He will veto the legislation. Mr. Clinton says his position is not changed. But the resolution, that could unilaterally lift the Bosnian arms embargo, passed by more than the two-third margin needed to override the president's veto.

The arguments for the legislation were bipartisan, the feelings are intense. Rep. Robert Torricelli, D-New Jersey, says, "Our opponents argue that lifting the embargo will Americanize the war. I argue that keeping the embargo will Americanize the genocide."

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Virginia: "As fathers... forget the congressman and congresswoman, as fathers and as mothers, imagine that you have to sit back and watch your wife raped in front of you. Imagine that you watch your daughters raped in front of you. Imagine that you watch as your sister is involved or if you're a woman, imagine that your daughter's been taken away, pulled out of your arms, taken away and is in a house in the village down the street and you know that soldiers go in, day and day out, and your daughter's in there. Talk about your geo-political things? Forget it." (305k AIFF sound)

Lined up on the other side, the outnumbered opponents of the legislation are arguing that the resolution could drag the United States into a ground war. Rep. Gene Taylor (D- Mississippi): "Not with my kids. Not with kids from south Mississippi, not with kids named Wagner, and Neikeis and Bonds who have no reason to die in what was Yugoslavia."

The president's supporters echoed his claim that new progress in Bosnia could be jeopardized by this vote. Minority Leader Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Missouri: "There's hope that a tougher, more effective policy among the western nations is in place."

Now the numbers game begins. Although the resolution passed both the House and the Senate by more than a two-third majority, some members will be under pressure to re-think their votes in the face of a veto. The president is banking on that.

Clinton promises embargo veto

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