Tuesday, May 04, 1999
Voinovich: U.S. should end bombing campaign, make bid for peace
BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Sen. George Voinovich on Monday called for a halt to the bombing of Yugoslavia as he delivered one of his strongest statements yet against the air campaign from the floor of the Senate.
“Two weekends ago I visited the Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam and Korean memorials, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that we do not have a Kosovo Memorial here in Washington,” he said.
The first-term Ohio Republican — the only member of the Senate of Serbian descent — painted the air campaign as a foreign policy blunder born of hubris and miscalculation.
“The time has come ... where NATO needs to get off its high horse, restrain its ego and instead of trying to save face over a major foreign policy blunder ... start thinking about saving lives,” he said.
Mr. Voinovich's remarks came on a day in which he and Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., announced opposition to a measure by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would call on President Clinton to use “all necessary force” to win the war.
A vote of the measure was first set for late Monday afternoon but was delayed by Senate leaders until this morning so more senators could have a chance to speak.
Mr. Bunning said the conflict has been happening in Europe's back yard for centuries and Europe should take the lead in dealing with it.
“I have not heard a compelling reason from President Clinton, the Pentagon, the secretary of state, my colleagues or anyone else as to why America needs to send her troops halfway around the globe and into the middle of another nation's civil war,” Mr. Bunning said.
The statements by Mr. Voinovich and Mr. Bunning come as opposition to the war among members of the Ohio delegation, especially Ohio Republicans, continues to build.
Last week, Cincinnati-area Reps. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park; Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati; and John Boehner, R-West Chester, refused to endorse the air campaign in a key House vote.
Mr. Chabot also has called for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces.
“Whether they are representing the voters is hard to tell,” said political analyst John Green of the University of Akron.
Mr. Voinovich, in his floor speech, said the administration and NATO appear “hell bent to get us into a major war that will have a catastrophic impact on our domestic and international responsibilities for years to come and may well ignite destabilization of southeast Europe, a new Cold War with Russia and the creation of new alliances by this country's adversaries who we have been working to bring into the international community.”
The senator, a Catholic, wrapped up his speech by saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. The nightmare has to end now.”
Hub can jet you 'anywhere'
F&W Publications looking for buyer
Mayor issue resolved today
Ballot issues
Fifth Third divvies up the pie
Aquarium traffic flow a concern
Can parents utter hardest word of all?
FOP to rally against Shirey
FWW closure smooth first day
Idea for storm shelter becomes big business
Voinovich: U.S. should end bombing campaign, make bid for peace
Lindner's party: 500 good friends
Angelou extols power of poetry
Butler Co. touts self in new guide
Cincinnati Boychoir sings to buy fire doors
CSO will take music to children
Hamilton clinics are forced to close doors
Man gets 30 years in murder
Mother on tape: 'I just panicked'
Rosenthals shift priorities
With cost estimates in, Middletown sirens no sure thing
Assistant takes over at schools
Campbell facing budget cuts
Murder-for-hire scheme alleged
Prosecutor, cop to confer on racy video
Renovated library to reopen
Sycamore project could plug wet-basement woes
Bond doubled for DUI offender
Caywood children parade
Ex-clerk in Fairview indicted
GET TO IT
Three indicted on weapons charges
Judge drops bribery charge in ex-officer Knight's case
Loyal clerk wins award
Police sweep nabs 37 on drug charges
Price Hill landlord must pay damages HOME case
TRISTATE DIGEST
Volunteer award named for Kelly Chambers
