The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a
previous order of the House, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. PAUL) is recognized
for 5 minutes.
1999 Ron Paul 22:1 Mr. PAUL.
Mr. Speaker, U.S. military
forces are now bombing a foreign
nation halfway around the world. This
cannot be a proud moment for America.
The reason given for doing so is
that Serbian leaders have not done
what we have told them to do.
1999 Ron Paul 22:2 Serbia has not invaded another country
but is involved in a nasty civil war,
with both sides contributing to the violence.
There is no American security
interest involved in Serbia. Serbia has
not threatened us nor used any force
against any American citizen.
1999 Ron Paul 22:3 As bad as the violence is toward the
ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, our ability
to police and stop all ethnic fighting
around the world is quite limited and
the efforts are not permitted under
constitutional law. We do not even pretend
to solve the problems of sub-Saharan
Africa, Tibet, East Timor,
Kurdistan, and many other places
around the world where endless tragic
circumstances prevail.
1999 Ron Paul 22:4 Our responsibility as U.S. Members
of Congress is to preserve liberty here
at home and uphold the rule of law.
Meddling in the internal and dangerous
affairs of a nation involved in civil war
is illegal and dangerous. Congress has
not given the President authority to
wage war.
1999 Ron Paul 22:5 The House resolution regarding
Kosovo was narrowly, reluctantly, and
conditionally passed. It was a non-binding
resolution and had no effect of
law. Even if it did, the resolution dealt
with sending troops as a peacekeeping
force to Kosovo only if a peace agreement
was signed. There was no mention
of endorsing an act of war against
Serbia. Besides, the resolution was not
the proper procedure for granting war
powers to a president.
1999 Ron Paul 22:6 The Senate resolution, now claimed
to be congressional consent for the
President to wage war, is not much
better. It, too, was a sense of Congress
resolution without the force of law. It
implies the President can defer to
NATO for authority to pursue a war effort.
1999 Ron Paul 22:7 Only Congress can decide the issue of
war. Congress cannot transfer the constitutional
war power to the President
or to NATO or to the United Nations.
The Senate resolution, however, specifically
limits the use of force to air
operations and missile strikes, but no
war has ever been won with air power
alone. The Milosevic problem will actually
get worse with our attacks, and
ground troops will likely follow.
1999 Ron Paul 22:8 It has been argued we are needed to
stop the spread of war throughout the
Balkans. Our presence will do the opposite,
but it will certainly help the
military-industrial complex. Peaceful and
cooperative relations with Russia, a desired
goal, has now ended; and we have
provoked the Russians into now becoming
a much more active ally of Serbia.
1999 Ron Paul 22:9 U.S. and NATO policy against Serbia
will certainly encourage the Kurds.
Every argument for Kosovo’s independence
can be used by the Kurds for their
long-sought-after independence. This
surely will drive the Turks away from
NATO.
1999 Ron Paul 22:10 Our determination to be involved in
the dangerous civil war may well
prompt a stronger Greek alliance with
their friends in Serbia, further splitting
NATO and offending the Turks,
who are naturally inclined to be sympathetic
to the Albanian Muslims. No
good can come of our involvement in
this Serbian civil war, no matter how
glowing and humanitarian the terms
used by our leaders.
1999 Ron Paul 22:11 Sympathy and compassion for the
suffering and voluntary support for the
oppressed is commendable. The use of
force and acts of war to pick and
choose between two sides fighting for
hundreds of years cannot achieve
peace. It can only spread the misery
and suffering, weaken our defenses and
undermine our national sovereignty.
1999 Ron Paul 22:12 Only when those who champion our
war effort in Serbia are willing to volunteer
for the front lines and offer
their own lives for the cause will they
gain credibility. Promoters of war
never personalize it. It is always some
other person or some other parent’s
child’s life who will be sacrificed, not
their own.
1999 Ron Paul 22:13 With new talk of reinstituting the
military draft since many disillusioned
military personnel are disgusted with
the morale of our armed forces, all
Americans should pay close attention
as our leaders foolishly and carelessly
rush our troops into a no-win war of
which we should have no part.
