Topics in the News: Balkans
John Cox on Immigration
: Sep 17, 2007
Excessive multiculturalism weakens American culture
Q: Do you agree that the excessive use of multiculturalism is weakening the unique American culture that has historically shaped the identity of America, and will lead to a harmful balkanization and unnecessary divisions among the citizenry?
- HUCKABEE: Yes.
- TANCREDO: Yes.
- COX: Yes.
- BROWNBACK: Yes.
- PAUL: Yes.
- HUNTER: Yes.
- KEYES: Yes.
Click for John Cox on other issues.
Source: 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate
Joe Biden on War & Peace
: Jul 31, 2007
1995: pushed to lift arms embargo in Bosnia
Given the feckless performance of the UN in Bosnia, it was no surprise that the Bosnian Serbs violated UN resolutions with impunity. Emboldened, Milosevic, Karadzic, & their generals overran the safe zone of Srebrenica in July 1995, and it was my saddest
day in the Senate.7,000 Muslims were killed in Srebrenica. UN forces stood there & watched. I thought about the times I'd been told that the Bosnians were not able to defend themselves against the Serbs. Of course they couldn't. They had no weapons.
The UN had seen to that. The UN had disgraced itself.
I went back to the Senate to go on the record. "Time does not work for these people. They will all be dead by the time the West decides to do anything about this problem. We have stood by and
watched something no one thought would ever happen again in Europe. It is happening now." The next day, nearly three years after I'd called for the plan, the Senate voted to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia. The House followed. NATO began its air campaign
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: Promises to Keep, by Joe Biden, p.283-284
Joe Biden on War & Peace
: Jul 31, 2007
1995: pushed Clinton to bomb Serbia to free Kosovo
I pressed Pres. Clinton to begin air strikes against Serb military positions in Kosovo and Belgrade. I kept saying to go ahead, that public opinion in Europe was running against Milosevic. But it was easy for me to say; it was Clinton who had to take the
heat.And he did. In March 1999, I introduced a resolution authorizing the president to use any means necessary to stop Milosevic's ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. With Clinton resolved to act, NATO began bombing Serb targets in 1999.
From the first days
of the bombing, the criticism of Clinton by the Republicans was withering. But through the 78 day campaign, Clinton never wavered in public. I got worried about his resolve once. Clinton asked, "What would you say to my halting the bombing?" I said, "I'd
call a press conference and say you reneged on a promise. Do not yield. Milosevic will capitulate."
I have no idea if my advice had any effect on Clinton, but he did not halt the bombings. He kept the pressure on, and it paid off.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: Promises to Keep, by Joe Biden, p.285-288
Joe Biden on Foreign Policy
: Jul 23, 2007
American troops on the ground in Darfur now
Q: In the past, you've talked about NATO troops in Darfur. What about American troops?A: Absolutely, positively. Look, I'm so tired of this. I heard the same arguments after I came back from meeting with Milosevic: We can't act; we can't send troops
there. Where we can, America must. Why Darfur? Because we can. We should now. Those kids will be dead by the time the diplomacy is over. 2500 American troops can stop the genocide now. I have called for a no-fly zone, but you need troops on the ground.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC
Joe Biden on Principles & Values
: Jul 15, 2007
His book "Promises to Keep" written before presidential race
Q: Tell us a little bit about your book, "Promises to Keep," that's coming out. A: Well, I wrote a book back when I thought I was going to be working with John Kerry in a Kerry administration. It had nothing to do with presidential politics.
I was encouraged to write it by a guy named Richard Ben Cramer, who wrote the book "What it Takes," and asked how my personal values inform my public policy. And I talk about everything from the Supreme Court to the Balkans to Iraq, and how
I think that the most significant thing about what we need in leadership is people who are willing to get back up. My dad used to have an expression. He used to say, "The measure of success is not whether you get knocked down; it's how rapidly you get
back up." And the American people always get back up. And I think what they're doing is looking for somebody who is going to give them the opportunity to be able to take on the tough issues that are out there and just tell them the truth.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: CNN Late Edition: 2007 presidential series with Wolf Blitzer
Joe Biden on Civil Rights
: Jun 3, 2007
Nobody asks if you're gay in a foxhole
I've been to Afghanistan, I've been to Iraq seven times, I've been in the Balkans, I've been in these foxholes with these kids, literally in bunkers with them. Let me tell you something, nobody asked anybody else whether they're gay in those foxholes.
Our allies -- the British, the French, all our major allies -- gays openly serve. I don't know the last time an American soldier said to a backup from a Brit, "Hey, by the way, let me check. Are you gay? Are you straight?" This is ridiculous.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: 2007 Dem. debate at Saint Anselm College
Tom Tancredo on Civil Rights
: Jun 6, 2006
Hyphenated-Americans balkanize our society
The 1991 book The Disuniting of America [observed that] free institutions are next to impossible in a country made up of different nationalities & speak different languages. This "disuniting" phenomenon is growing rapidly in our country.
You can see it in the way we balkanize and divide ourselves into cultural and ethnic subgroups of hyphenated Americans.
I am concerned that we are doing things that will pull us apart and separate us into exclusionary groups both as individuals and as enemies. Some people say that America's diversity is strength. While there are positive aspects of diversity, there are
times when diversity is emphasized to the extreme and becomes a negative and divisive factor. When we are pulled apart and divided along ethnic lines--as opposed to ideological lines--I fear we are causing long-term damage to our society.
Click for Tom Tancredo on other issues.
Source: In Mortal Danger, by Tom Tancredo, p. 29-30&33
John Edwards on Foreign Policy
: Aug 10, 2004
America should lead by extending a hand, not a fist
For more than a century, America has spared no effort to defend, encourage, and promote that idea around the world. Over and over, we have done it by exercising American leadership to forge powerful alliances-with longtime allies and reluctant friends,
with nations already living in the light of democracy and with peoples struggling to join them. The might of those alliances has been a driving force in the survival & success of freedom-in two World Wars, in the Cold War, in the Gulf War, and in Kosovo.
America led instead of going it alone. We extended a hand, not a fist. We respected the world - and the world respected us. Today, there is a powerful yearning around the world for an America that listens and leads again. An America that is respected,
not just feared. We believe that respect is an indispensable mark of our nation’s character - and an indispensable source of our nation’s strength. And it is the indispensable bond of America’s mighty alliances.
Click for John Edwards on other issues.
Source: [X-ref Kerry] Our Plan For America , p. 8
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Oct 22, 2000
Maintain presence in Balkans; Bush would destabilize NATO
Al Gore and Secretary of State Albright today denounced a proposal by Bush to withdraw US ground forces from their peacekeeping mission in the Balkans. They painted the idea as risky and misguided and said it could lead to instability in the region and
even, over time, to the possible dissolution of NATO. “Governor Bush’s proposal would be more than a major untested shift in America’s foreign policy for the last half-century,” Gore said. “It would be one that could jeopardize fragile alliances.
It would be a damaging blow to NATO.“ ”I believe it demonstrates a lack of judgment and a complete misunderstanding of history to think that America can simply walk away from security challenges in Europe,“ Gore said of the Bush proposal. Gore said
that withdrawing from the peacekeeping operation in the Balkans could cause a questioning of American leadership of NATO and that the lack of American leadership over time ”would lead to the collapse of NATO and eventually threaten the peace in Europe.“
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Steven Holmes, NY Times
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Oct 21, 2000
Military’s role is nation building in Balkans and elsewhere
Gore says Balkan peacekeeping is one of NATO’s primary tasks and an example of the operation that the American military needs to undertake to support American diplomacy in the post- cold-war world.
In addition, the armed forces should prepare for peacekeeping missions, delivering relief supplies and rebuilding institutions in war-ravaged nations, activities that the Pentagon calls nation building.
To help the military carry out such a broad array of tasks, Gore says, he would earmark $80 billion of the federal surplus for military programs over 10 years.
An additional $20 billion would be spent on international programs.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Michael R. Gordon, NY Times
Al Gore on Homeland Security
: Oct 17, 2000
The best technology makes U.S. military the best
Q: What is the proper role for the military?GORE: The US has to be strong in order to promote peace and stability. We need to make sure that our personnel are adequately paid and that their pay is comparable to the competition from the private sector.
I have supported the largest pay raise in many a year. I support another one now. I also support modernization of our tactical weaponry. I think one of the ways we’ve been able to be so successful in Kosovo and other places is by having the technological
edge. Now, readiness. I propose $100 billion for this purpose.
BUSH: We have an opportunity to use the great technology of the United States to make our military lighter, harder to find, more lethal. We have an opportunity to keep the peace. I’m going
to ask the secretary of defense to develop a plan so we’re making sure we’re not spending our money on political projects, but on projects to make sure our soldiers are well-paid, well-housed and have the best equipment in the world.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: St. Louis debate
Al Gore on Foreign Policy
: Oct 11, 2000
Supported force in Mideast, Balkans, Haiti, not Somalia
Q: If you had been president, would any of these military interventions not have happened: Lebanon?
A: That was a mistake.
Q: Grenada?
A: I supported that.
Q: Panama?
A: I supported that one.
Q: Persian Gulf?
A: Yes, I voted for it,
supported it.
Q: Somalia?
A: That was ill considered. I did support it at the time. In retrospect the lessons there are ones that we should take very seriously.
Q: Bosnia.
A: Oh, yes.
Q: Haiti?
A: Yes.
Q: And then Kosovo.
A: Yes.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Presidential Debate at Wake Forest University
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Oct 3, 2000
US must support Serbia in kicking out Milosevic
Q: If President Milosevic refuses to leave office, how should the US respond? GORE: Milosevic lost the election. I think we should support the people and put pressure to recognize the lawful outcome of the election. When Milosevic leaves, Serbia will
be able to have a normal relationship with the world. The people of Serbia have acted bravely in kicking this guy out. Milosevic has been indicted as a war criminal, and he should be held accountable. We have to take measured steps because the sentiment
within Serbia is still against the US because they still have some feelings lingering from the NATO action there. But make no mistake about it: We should do everything we can to see that the will of the Serbian people, expressed in this extraordinary
election, is done.
BUSH: It’s time for the man to go. The US must have a strong diplomatic hand with our friends in NATO. That’s why it’s important to make sure our alliances are as strong as they possibly can be, to keep the pressure on Milosevic.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Presidential debate, Boston MA
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Oct 3, 2000
Will decide about Milosevic based on 24 years of experience
Q: How should the voters go about deciding which one of you is better suited to make the kind of decisions in the military and foreign policy area, like with Milosevic? GORE: Well, they should look at our proposals and look at us as people and make up
their own minds. When I was a young man, I volunteered for the Army. I served my country in Vietnam. My father was a senator who strongly opposed the Vietnam War. But I went anyway, because I knew if I didn’t, somebody else would have to go in my place.
I served on the House Intelligence Committee, specialized in looking at arms control. I served on the Senate Armed Services Committee. For the last eight years, I’ve served on the National Security Council.
And when the conflict came up in Bosnia, I
saw a genocide in the heart of Europe.. Look, that’s where World War I started, in the Balkans. My uncle was a victim of poison gas there. Millions of Americans saw the results of that conflict. We have to be willing to make good, sound judgments.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Presidential debate, Boston MA
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Oct 3, 2000
Russians won’t ask Milosevic to step down
BUSH: The Russians [should] convince Milosevic it’s in his best interest and his country’s best interest to leave office. The Russians have got a lot of sway in that part of the world, and we’d like to see them use that sway to encourage democracy to
take hold. GORE: Under some circumstances, that might be a good idea. But I’m not sure that it’s right for us to invite the president of Russia to mediate this dispute there, because we might not like the result that comes out of that. They currently
favor going forward with a runoff election. I think that’s the wrong thing. I think the governor’s instinct is not necessarily bad, because we have worked with the Russians in a constructive way, in Kosovo, for example, to end the conflict there. But I
think we need to be very careful in the present situation before we invite the Russians to play the lead role in mediating.
BUSH: Well, obviously we wouldn’t use the Russians if they didn’t agree with our answer.
GORE: Well, they don’t.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Presidential debate, Boston MA
Al Gore on Foreign Policy
: Oct 28, 1999
Intervention requires national interest, by our values
Q: What principles would you use to distinguish cases that require US action and those that do not? A: I think that we were right to go into East Timor. I thought we were right in Kosovo and Bosnia. I think we were tardy, frankly, in Rwanda.
We have to have a national interest. We have to be willing to accomplish the goal. We should have allies to help us, but our national interest should also be defined in terms of our values. And ethnic strife is important to address.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Democrat Debate at Dartmouth College
Al Gore on War & Peace
: May 2, 1999
Serbs committing crimes against humanity.
Gore reminded everyone [in a campaign speech in Salem NH] that he is a Vietnam veteran and spoke of the war in Kosovo. He denounced the crimes against humanity being committed by the Serbs.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Boston Sunday Globe, 5/2/99, p. A6, col. 5
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Apr 21, 1999
Bomb until Serb forces withdraw & refugees return.
We will roll back Milosevic’s reign of terror - and we will not stop until he withdraws his forces, allows the refugees to return, and accepts an international security force to protect all Kosovars, including the Serb minority, as they work toward the
self-government they once enjoyed and still deserve. If he refuses to back down, we will continue to target and degrade the military capacity he uses to repress and torture the people of Kosovo.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Speech on 50th Anniversary of NATO, Ellis Island, NY
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Apr 21, 1999
Moral interests dictate that we fight Milosevic’s evil
In 1989, Milosevic stripped the autonomy Kosovo had been granted under Tito. Over the next ten years, Milosevic started four wars - each with the same objective: to murder, terrorize, and expel non-Serbs. Now he has created a crisis of staggering
dimensions: up to 1.2 million Kosovar Albanians are displaced. Let us call this what it is: it is evil. Our strategic interests are important. But so are our moral interests. We must not allow Milosevic to succeed.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Speech on 50th Anniversary of NATO, Ellis Island, NY
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Apr 21, 1999
Ignoring Milosevic destabilizes Europe & world justice
We cannot allow Milosevic to “ethnically cleanse” an entire region -- to carry out, in other words, mass murder and mass expulsion against those of a different ethnicity and religion. We cannot do so because it would jeopardize the stability of Europe,
and could plunge us into a wider war. And we cannot do so because it will jeopardize our efforts to bring freedom and justice to the world - to spread human dignity abroad, just as we have struggled to do so here at home.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Speech on 50th Anniversary of NATO, Ellis Island, NY
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Apr 21, 1999
Moral interests apply to all; NATO can act on it here
Some will say that because we cannot help people everywhere, we should help people nowhere. I believe that is wrong. We should work toward the day when there will be both the moral alertness and the political will on every continent to respond to human
suffering. But this much is clear: In Europe today, we see the need to act. Thanks to NATO, we have the means to do it. Slobodan Milosevic is one person standing in the way.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Speech on 50th Anniversary of NATO, Ellis Island, NY
Al Gore on War & Peace
: Apr 21, 1999
Ethnic cleansing means mass murder and we will stop it
“Ethnic cleansing” is a phrase intended to mask the stench of its true meaning: the combination of mass murder and mass expulsion. “Ethnic cleansing” means that a dictator can simply throw away the people he does not need-like so much dirt and disease.
It dehumanizes along ethnic lines, so that murder and displacement become scientific, antiseptic, something other than atrocity. So I say to Milosevic: we are not fooled by your hateful rhetoric. We see through your veil of evil-and we will stop it.
Click for Al Gore on other issues.
Source: Speech on 50th Anniversary of NATO, Ellis Island, NY