Rep. Sam Johnson, (R, TX), House Floor, 13 Dec 1995

[jfxgillis]

UNITED STATES TROOP DEPLOYMENTS IN BOSNIA (House of Representatives - December 13, 1995)

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Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this is not about peace and war; it is about war. That is what is going on over there, and they are not going to stop fighting just because we go in there.

I wholeheartedly support withholding funds from President Clinton's Bosnia mission. Although it is a drastic step and ties the President's hands, I do not feel like we have any other choice. The President has tied our hands, gone against the wishes of the American people, and this is the last best way I know how to show my respect for our American servicemen and women. They are helpless, following orders. But we, we are in a position to stop this terrible mistake before it happens.

I know how those soldiers are feeling. I was in the military for 29 years, and I recognize that we used to say `Let's go to war. Let's go fight that war, it is the only one we have got.' And that is what some of them are doing. However, I was told by Senator Hutchison that the guys down in Fort Hood did not say that. They said `Why are we going there? Can't you stop us?' She said she would try.

Thirty years ago when I was sent to Vietnam in a similar situation, Vietnam started out as a peace type mission, no defined goal, no exit strategy, no idea whose side we were on, and a created incident to gain support of the Congress. A peacekeeping mission? Come on. Does this not sound just like a carbon copy? I think it is.

What is going to happen when our guys get over there, and if the rules of engagement apply, and they get shot at, and we start shooting back, what are their people going to say when we start killing them, killing Bosnians, killing Croatians, killing Serbs? We will do it, and we will get chastised for it.

Let me just ask one more thing for the guys over here voting against it: What are you going to do when one of our women soldiers get captured?

[BeFree]

1. Damned hypocrits

Thanks for posting this. It should get so many recs that it is on the front page.....

[jfxgillis]

2. Right-wingers all over ...

... are fainting in delight over Johnson's ridiculous speech on Friday.

What better counter-point than this?

[jfxgillis]

3. Shameless Bribery!!!

Anyone who votes this post a "greatest" gets one of my eight leftover valentie's hearts!!!

[KingFlorez]

4. Good post

Recommened

[jfxgillis]

5. Bribe paid in full! Although ...

I see somebody else recommended it but for forgot to leave their address for delivery of the plain brown bag.

[jfxgillis]

6. People! If you want your bribe ...

... you gotta tell me where to send it!!!

Goin' fast, only 7 Valentine's hearts left.

[gratefultobelib]

7. OMG! This should be huge. Such pure hypocrisy is seldom seen!

[jfxgillis]

8. Isn't it amazing?

I would laugh for a day about the part about getting involved in a three-way civil war, except the bloody tragedy of it is so horrific.

[jfxgillis]

9. DUers are persons of principle!! Can't be bribed!

They recommend posts for greatest on the merits, without fear or favor!!

[jfxgillis]

10. Offer remains open!

Hurry up and get your Valentine heart!

[MiniMe]

11. OK, send this speech to Reid, Pelosi, and Hoyer

Perhaps add Durbin too. Oh, and make sure you send it to Sam Johnson who is still in congress and ask what has changed?

[jfxgillis]

12. Gratuity delivered

I've been e-mailing it around a little.

Maybe a blog will pick it up.

[jfxgillis]

13. Thanks for reccos, everyone! DIGBY ...

... picked up on this text.

So even though we didn't get enough posts to make the front page, our campaign was a success!!


http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html#4187264093361894417#4187264093361894417

[Melissa G]

14. what is good for the goose is good for the gander...

I would rec if i could!

[jfxgillis]

15. Just as well you can't

I don't have any more bribes!