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One of the leaders on this issue in the United States Senate at the time was a future President of the United States, Joe Biden D- Delaware. He would speak for nearly a half hour on the floor in favor of the Dole-McCain Resolution.

This is that speech, a future President in his prime speaking on one of the most critical foreign Policy issues of the era.

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In this episode, we begin our coverage of the Senate Debate on Bosnia. There will be two competing resolutions, one cutting funds and not supporting the mission as designated by President bill Clinton. It was led by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson R- Texas, and it was supported by much of the Republican caucus including Presidential contender Senator Phil Gramm , also from Texas and Senator Strom Thurmond, a giant of the Senate from South Carolina.

The other alternative was sponsored by Senator Bob Dole and and Senator John McCain the two distinguished veterans of war. Their bill supported the troops even if they were not as sure of the way Bill Clinton had managed the crisis to that point.

Dole and McCain had long been for lifting an arms embargo against Serbia and allowing them to defend themselves. But Clinton would not do it and that led to this decision that American Troops would aid NATO and go in and help protect the Serbs.

This is the first of several episodes covering the Senate Debate and it has several of the giants of the Senate in the episode: Bob Dole, Strom Thurmond, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Phil Gramm, and Ted Kennedy

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Bosnia, Bill Clinton, and Bob Dole: Politics Meets Principle

In the 1990s, the war in Bosnia presented President Bill Clinton and the United States with one of the most difficult foreign-policy decisions of the post-Cold War era. After years of ethnic violence, atrocities, and international inaction, the United States ultimately decided to send American troops to Bosnia as part of an international peacekeeping mission.

The decision was deeply controversial. Republicans in Congress opposed the administration's policy and questioned whether American troops should be placed in harm's way in a conflict that did not directly threaten the United States. Yet when the time came to support the American men and women who would carry out the mission, one of Clinton's fiercest political opponents stepped forward.

Bob Dole put his name on legislation supporting the troops.

It was a remarkable moment in a long political career. Dole had spent decades fighting Democrats and opposing much of Bill Clinton's agenda, but he understood the difference between opposing a president's policy and abandoning the Americans sent to carry it out. His decision reflected an old principle of American politics: once the nation sends its soldiers into harm's way, politics should not come before the men and women wearing the uniform.

In this episode, we examine the Bosnia conflict, President Clinton's decision to deploy American troops, the fierce debate it produced in Congress, and Bob Dole's decision to stand with the troops despite his opposition to the policy.

It was one of the shining moments of Bob Dole's remarkable career—and an important reminder of a time when political opponents could disagree profoundly while still finding common ground when the interests of the country demanded it.

Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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