Despite a June deadline for withdrawing troops, President Clinton appears inclined to extend the U.S. commitment in Bosnia in a yet-to-be defined fashion, lawmakers said after a two-hour White House meeting.
Meeting with about 40 members of the House and Senate late Tuesday, the president and Defense Secretary William Cohen heard differing views about approaches toward Bosnia. "But with respect to the importance of the U.S. stakes and the stability in the region, there was a general consensus," White House spokeswoman Ann Luzatto said.While the Republican-led Congress has taken a skeptical view of keeping U.S. troops in Bosnia, a senior GOP senator, John Warner of Virginia, offered strong support for the president.
"It's very clear if the United States pulls out, these unfortunate people will be back at each other's throats again, and we will have lost close to $8 billion of U.S. taxpayers' money," Warner said as he left the White House.
"I've been coming here 19 years to these meetings and there was not one real voice of any dissent," Warner said. "It was constructive: `You are the commander in chief, we're going to back you, but here are our ideas."'
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., immediately seconded Warner's remarks.
"Republicans and Democrats alike have indicated they want to work with the president to construct a strategy that will take us beyond June," Daschle said. "I don't think any decisions have been made, but I think we all recognize the importance of international involvement."
But there also were reservations.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said, "I think we should not extend beyond June 30 of 1998 unless there is a different mission, a clear mission, and one that has a success potential."