Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Cokie Roberts introduces report on Foreign Affairs, Congress debates a resolution under the War Powers Act. Issues of process, Constitutionality, and War.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Clement Zablocki (D Wisconsin) If this resolution goes down the drain, we are endangering our Marines in Lebanon, undermining our foreign policy in the Middle East. This resolution does not deal only with Lebanon and specifically Beirut. All of the Middle East is involved.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Marilyn Lloyd (D Tennessee) If our forces are pulled out at this time, we will have shown to the world that we can t be relied on to fulfill our commitments.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Tom Lantos (D California) What we do here today, will send out a message. And that message will be clear. That message, if we emasculate this resolution, will be a welcome message in Damascus. And it will be a welcome message in Libya. And it will be a welcome message in Iran. And it certainly will be a welcome message in Moscow.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative John McCain (R Arizona) A fundamental question is what is the United States interest in Lebanon. It is said we are there to keep the peace. I ask what peace? It is said we are there to aid the government. I ask what government? It is said we are there to stabilize the region. I ask how can the United States presence stabilize the region?
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Sam Gibbons (D Florida) As one who sat here and voted with every other member of Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Let me say there is no difference in its effect.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Charles Bennett (D Florida) If I was going to take back any of those approximately 15,000 votes that I have cast, it would the vote that I cast for the Bay of Tonkin Resolution.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Lee Hamilton (D Indiana) the resolution does invoke the War Powers Act. It forces the President of the United States to acknowledge the War Powers Act. And it provides a significant historical precedent for future Executive legislative actions on decisions to commit troops abroad.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative David Obey (D - Wisconsin) It is a reasonable compromise between those that want to commit the Congress to an 18 month presence in Lebanon and those who feel we ought to try to cut a middle ground and it defends the prerogatives of Congress under War Powers by buttressing that prerogative with another Constitutional prerogative, namely the right to cut off funds.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Clarence Long (D Maryland) How do you want to go back and tell your people next election that you voted to keep Marines as sitting duck targets in a low level area in Lebanon for 18 solid months. Do you want to go back and tell your people that?
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Toby Roth (R Wisconsin) If you keep the Marines there for 18 months, there will be many Americans killed. That s a cinch. And it will be the biggest election year issue in 1984 as well it should be, and as it will be.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Representative Robert Michel (R Illinois) US itself has gone through that dark valley of Vietnam. We ve emerged from the valley with doubts about our capacity to use our power without getting involved in wars we cannot and will not win. Those doubts have been mentioned on the Floor over and over again during the debate. But I believe the time has come to get back to judging foreign affairs on the facts of each individual case and not on the Vietnam analogy.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Speaker of the House, Representative Tip O'Neill (D Massachusetts) I believe the President is expending every possible effort to see that the differences in Lebanon are settled through negotiations rather than a force of arms. Furthermore, we are accepting this amendment I would trust and I assure my colleagues that I will personally monitor that situation and if at any time I have reason to believe that the spirit and the letter of this resolution is not being lived up to, I will do in my opinion whatever is necessary concerning Lebanon and getting our men back.
Lawmakers 9/29/1983 - War Powers and Lebanon
Cokie Roberts concludes report, most Democrats voted against the resolution to keep Marines in Lebanon. Discussion of the tough vote in the Senate and Middle East policy, revival of Cold-War rhetoric.