March 21, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2247 Thank you. women have played in our country over tery. Maurice W. f the past ninety years. The leadership Harper, Army Air Corps, COMMEMORATING 90TH ANNIVER- qualities, self confidence and creative a native of Birmingham in the great SARY OF GIRL SCOUTS OF THE thinking that the Girl Scouts teach are State of Alabama, and Lieutenant USA all qualities essential in good citizens Earle Aber, United States and great leaders. Indeed, two-thirds of Army Air Corps, of Wisconsin, gave Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I wish to female doctors, lawyers, educators, their lives in defense of this Nation and express my sincere congratulations to community leaders and even women freedom on March 4, 1945 when the B– the Girl Scouts of the USA as it cele- members of Congress were once Girl 17G bomber they were flying was shot brates its 90th anniversary. Founded on Scouts. It is a true testament to the down while returning from a mission March 12, 1912, in Savannah, GA, the Girl Scouts that many of these women over Holland. organization has grown to 3.7 million believe that Girl Scouting has had a Over half a century later, the crash girls and women in the United States positive impact on their lives. site was located and 2nd Lt. Harper’s and a total of 8.5 million people in 140 The Alabama Girl Scouts are cele- remains, along with the remains of his countries. brating their 90th anniversary by help- pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Earle Aber, The longevity and strength of Girl ing to promote literacy with their were recovered in September, 1999 and Scouts is a testament to the commit- ‘‘Books for Alabama Kids’’ project. The identified by the Army Central Identi- ment of its members and volunteers to seven Girl Scout councils in Alabama fication Laboratory in Hawaii. Their uphold the highest standards of leader- have been collecting children’s books aircraft was severely damaged after it ship, social conscience, and civic duty. over the past 6 months to be donated to was mistakenly hit by British anti-air- I thank the thousands of adult volun- schools in the counties in which they craft guns which were firing at retreat- teers who devote their time and re- were collected. Tomorrow the books ing German bombers over the English sources to this worthy cause. will be presented on the Capitol steps coastline. Lt. Col. Aber ordered the I also wish to extend my commenda- in Montgomery. I would like to com- crew to bail-out while he and 2nd Lt. tion to Ms. Gladys A. Brandt, a Hawaii mend the Alabama Girl Scouts for Harper struggled at the controls of resident who is being honored as one of their community service and dedica- their damaged aircraft. Their selfless the first-ever National Women of Dis- tion to promoting literacy in the state. actions allowed the other nine mem- tinction by the Girl Scouts of the USA. I would like to acknowledge the nine bers of their crew to bail-out from the This award was created in conjunction decades of excellence of the Girl aircraft and survive the mission. There with the Girl Scouts’ 90th anniversary Scouts. We have seen tremendous was not enough time, however, for celebration, and it pays tribute to changes in our country over the years, these two brave airmen to escape and women who have demonstrated out- and they should be proud to have they perished when the aircraft standing service to girl scouting. Ha- adapted and flourished. It dem- crashed into the River Stour near waii is truly proud of Ms. Brandt and onstrates that building character and Ramsey, England. The remains of both grateful for her diligence in educating preparing for the future are qualities of these fine young men, that could be and serving young people. that never go out of style. identified, were returned to their fami- Once again, I express my best wishes Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. Presi- lies. Unfortunately, not all of the re- to Girl Scouts of the USA for contin- dent, it is with great pleasure that I mains could be positively identified. ued success, and I encourage the mem- rise today to recognize the Girl Scouts The co-mingled remains of these two bers of this organization to always live for their service to our country over fine Americans, still together after 57 up to the Girl Scout Promise and Girl the last 90 years. This anniversary years, will be laid to rest together at Scout Law in every facet of their lives. marks the day Juliette Gordon Low as- Arlington National Cemetery on March Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise sembled 18 girls from Savannah, GA, 22, 2002. today to pay tribute to the Girl Scouts for the Girl Scouts’ first meeting, and I would also like to take this time to of the USA, this month celebrating 90 celebrates the many wonderful mo- thank the professionals at the Army’s years of building character and enhanc- ments this organization has enjoyed Central Identification Laboratory in ing the life skills of our Nation’s young while growing to its current size of 3.8 Hawaii who continue their labors to women. The contributions and achieve- million members. identify the remains of our fallen sons ments of this outstanding organization Their mission to help all girls grow and daughters and return them to their have endured for nine decades, helping strong provides not just inspiration loved ones. girls to grow up courageous and strong. and guidance to those within their These two fine gentlemen, members I would like to praise the work of the ranks, but serves as an example for all of the ‘‘greatest generation,’’ deserve Girl Scouts, and in particular recognize the nation’s young women. Through the gratitude of this great Nation. I the Girl Scouts of Alabama, who num- service to society and the development know the Members of the Senate will ber almost 45,000 girls and women. of values, self-confidence and integrity, join me in honoring the sacrifices of Established on March 12, 1912, the the Girl Scouts of the USA are an in- these two brave men and expressing Girl Scouts are based on the noble be- spiration to our Nation’s youth, and our deepest condolences and heartfelt lief that all young women should be are instrumental in creating the next thanks to their families as they lay given the opportunity to develop phys- generation of good citizens and great their loved ones to rest tomorrow in ically, mentally and spiritually. Their leaders. the hallowed ground at Arlington. founder, Juliette Gordon Low, con- I am proud that Congress last week f vened that first meeting with just 18 honored the Girl Scouts accomplish- girls from Savannah, GA. Today her vi- ments with the passage of a resolution STAYING THE COURSE IN AFGHAN- sion continues with a national mem- marking March 10 through March 16, ISTAN: THE NEED FOR SECURITY bership of 3.8 million, making the Girl 2002 as ‘‘National Girl Scout Week,’’ Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, about 2 Scouts the largest organization for and I look forward to future opportuni- months ago I spent half a week in the girls in the world. Over the years the ties to celebrate this organization’s Afghan capital city of Kabul, and vir- Girl Scouts have remained true to commitment and contribution to our tually every conversation I had during their founding principles, and still Nation’s young women. my time there revolved around a single abide by the Girl Scout Promise and f question: Would America stay the Law, just as they did in 1912. These course? principles emphasize honor, account- TRIBUTE TO SECOND LIEUTENANT After all our successful military ac- ability, courage, respect, God and MAURICE W. HARPER AND LIEU- tions, after all our promises on recon- country and are valuable lessons for TENANT COLONEL EARLE ABER struction, after all our commitments our young women to incorporate into Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise to prevent from relapsing their lives. today to honor the sacrifice of two into chaos and warlordism, would we Girl Scouting has had a tremendous American patriots who will be interred really have the stomach to get the job impact on the evolving role that tomorrow at Arlington National Ceme- done?

VerDate Mar 15 2010 20:48 Jan 09, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\2002SENATE\S21MR2.REC S21MR2 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2248 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 21, 2002 Whether I was talking to refugees control over all or part of the country, But none of these elements are pos- living in bestial squalor, or to Chair- and they will provide safe haven to any sible without security on the ground. man Karzai in a palace where the elec- terrorists, drug-traffickers and violent That’s the central piece of the puzzle. tricity barely functione; insurgents willing to pay their price; If we establish security, all else can Whether I was talking to NATO sol- Second, these terrorists will once follow—and without it, nothing else diers in the international security again use Afghanistan as a base to can grow. force, to representatives of the U.N. launch attacks on the United States to For the long term, according to the and international humanitarian destabilize regimes all around the plans of the U.S. administration and groups, or to our own American serv- world. the U.N. organizers, Afghanistan’s in- icemen and servicewomen so valiantly If we don’t do the job right, mark my ternal and external security will be risking their lives for a just cause; words: U.S. troops will be right back in provided by a national army and police whoever I was talking to, the questions Afghanistan a year or two down the force. remained basically the same: Would we line, only this time, we will be doing This is the right way to go, and I have the steadiness, determination, the fighting all by ourselves. fully support all the efforts currently and commitment to remain engaged? Let us think about that for a mo- under way to create these institutions. Would we demonstrate the leadership ment. The victories we’ve seen over the But you can’t create them overnight. necessary to keep the international co- past 5 months have been American vic- It takes time to recruit, train, equip, alition together? Would we maintain tories—but they are not only American and solidify a truly capable, profes- our resolve for the long haul, once the victories. At every step along the way, sionalized force. immediate battles had been won and we have relied on our Afghan allies for In Kabul I received an extensive our nation’s attention had started to the bulk of the troops on the ground. briefing from Maj. Gen. McColl, the turn away from this remote and forbid- Whether we’re talking about battles British commander of the Inter- ding part of the world? for Kabul or Kandahar, for Mazar-e national Security force authorized by I will tell you now what I told them Sharif or Tora Bora, the pattern has the U.N. to maintain order in the cap- then: We can, we must, and we will. generally been hundreds of American ital. Let me take a few minutes to explain troops spearheading thousands of Af- Gen. McColl’s planners has worked what I mean, and how I see our role in ghan fighters. up a detailed strategy for creating an Afghanistan over months and, yes, the This pattern is far from perfect—as Afghan army and taking at least the years to come. But first, I suggest that the porousness of our cordon at Tora heavy weaponry away from local war- we all remember just why we sent Bora and, most recently, Shahi-kot lords. Even to create a bare-bones force troops to Afghanistan in the first demonstrate, sometimes Afghan troops of a few brigades, he found, would take place. I can sum it up in three sylla- are no substitute for U.S. infantrymen. up to 2 years. bles: 9–1–1. But without our Afghan allies, im- So what happens in the meantime? Our rationale for entering the fray perfect as they have sometimes been, What is happening right now? I am was very simple: Our Nation had come we would not have been able to achieve afraid the answer isn’t very encour- under attack, the most horrific single our impressive victories in anything aging. In the meantime—right now— attack we had ever experienced in all like the time-frame we have achieved Afghanistan is not-so-slowly falling our history, and the de facto rulers of them. back into chaos. Afghanistan were actively sheltering And that point is vital to our future The interim government of Hamid the terrorists who orchestrated this strategy: As many people in Kabul told Karzai exerts very little control over deed. We gave the every oppor- me, from Chairman Karzai right on most of the country: In Herat, Gen. tunity to surrender Usama bin Laden down to mud-on-the-boots G.I.s patrol- Ismail Khan rules as a semi-inde- and his band of thugs, but the Taliban ling the airbase at Bagram, we have pendent baron—and entertains emis- chose instead to link themselves ever only got one chance to do it right. more closely to al Qaeda. saries from Iran, who are anxious to The decision to go to war is never As I was constantly reminded, the expand their sphere of influence. easy, but in this case it was inevitable. U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan abruptly In Mazar-e Sharif, the brutal warlord The decision was made for us, as I and in 1989, just as soon as our short-term Gen. Abdurrashid Dostum has picked the rest of the Members here were as- objectives had been met. If we do so up where he left off when he was ousted sembling for morning business on a again, I was told time after time, then by the Taliban—and his record sug- Tuesday in September. we had better not expect any Afghans gests that he will take his current du- Our troops have done a truly out- to fight on our side when a new nest of ties as Deputy Defense Minister no standing job fighting this war, as the terrorists requires military action in more seriously than his past promises recent battle in Shahi-kot dem- the future. to virtually every party in the conflict. onstrates, the Taliban and al Qaeda are The stakes, in short, could not be In Kabul itself, Defense Minister scattered and on the run. higher. Some people are of the opinion Fahim maintains the fiction that his But we always knew that this would that we can pull out relatively soon, own militia, basically the Northern Al- be the easy part. As President Bush, that any future military action would liance troops, is serving as a non- Secretary Powell, and Secretary Rums- be as ‘‘easy’’ as the present one. partisan national army. feld have correctly noted, our war on ‘‘We’ve got the most powerful mili- It is clear to all observers, however, terror will be a long one, and we can’t tary out there,’’ they say, ‘‘we don’t that these soldiers owe their allegiance expect our early victories to be the need the help of unreliable Afghan and to Fahim and various sub-com- final word. incompetent Europeans—we can go it manders—and not to the legally-con- Let’s remember that in 1979, it took alone.’’ To anyone who labors under stituted civil authority. the Soviet forces no more than 10 days this delusion, I say, take a trip to Af- In the Pasthun areas, a wide array of to establish control over every ghanistan. local warlords play all sides against population center in Afghanistan. The Go there, talk to the people, have a every other—accepting money and really tough part, we knew from the look at the terrain. Anybody who does, arms from the U.S. and the Taliban beginning, wouldn’t be ousting the I suggest, will return firmly convinced alike, even attempting to use Amer- Taliban and al Qaeda—the tough part that we must stay the course. We have ican air power to settle their own petty would be making sure that they stayed got to do the job right this time—be- feuds. ousted. cause it may be the last chance we get. There have even been credible reports That is why we have no choice but to So what does ‘‘doing the job right’’ of various warlords falsely identifying stay the course. If Afghanistan returns entail? There are several parts to the their local rivals as al Qaeda in order to a state of lawlessness and disorder, equation—economic reconstruction, to call in American airstrikes—putting two things are pretty much certain to building political institutions, clearing U.S. servicemen in harm’s way to ad- happen. minefields, creating the educational, vance their own sordid objectives. First, the Taliban, or some new and medical, and other infrastructure nec- Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s predatory equally brutal group, will establish essary for long-term self-sufficiency. neighbors sit on the sidelines—but not

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This expansion should not and will vide the bulk of the force, but the pres- The neighboring meddlers include not interfere with ongoing U.S. oper- ence of even relatively small numbers Iran, , Uzbekistan, and Rus- ations against Taliban and al-Quida of American troops can mean the dif- sia, but a variety of other nations remnants. ference between success and failure. slightly further afield have got into the Currently, the ISAF commander is Look at our battlefield results in Af- game at one time or another. Each has subordinate in theater to the U.S. com- ghanistan—the military effectiveness attempted to reshape Afghan politics mander, and there has been no question of our Afghan allies has been increased for its own narrow interests—to the of ISAF troops encroaching on Amer- exponentially by the presence very detriment of the people, and the insta- ican operations. Quite the opposite— small numbers of U.S. Special Oper- bility of the region. ISAF troops are a force multiplier, and ations Forces. All have basically kept their hands free up American assets that would These troops not only brought in the off while U.S. troops have ruled the otherwise have to be used to guard and heavy artillery, by calling in and tar- roost. But the moment the last troop protect bases at transport hubs such as geting airstrikes, they stiffened the transport takes off, expect the jock- Bagram. spine of the brave, but often young, in- eying to begin all over. Second, the mandate of the inter- experienced, and poorly trained, Af- Ever had a neighbor who pops in to national security force must be ex- ghan fighters. borrow a cup of sugar and invites him- tended for 2 years. This would provide Second, and just as important, is the self to dinner? Maybe a distant relative sufficient time for the creation of an political side of the equation. Without who stops by to say ‘‘hello,’’ and never indigenous Afghan army and police U.S. boots on the ground, the commit- seems to leave? Well, the Afghans force, and insure a smooth transition ment of other nations often starts to know how it feels. to the new Afghan government. falter. They have had to suffer with unwel- Third, the international security As Maj. Gen. McColl, the British come houseguests for thirty years. And force must be given robust rules of en- commander of ISAF, said to me in they know that as soon as the door is gagement, and all the equipment, air- Kabul, ‘‘Once you Americans pull your open—as soon as the American troops lift, and intelligence necessary to ac- troops out of Afghanistan, how long do leave—all of these unsavory interlopers complish its mission. you think my Parliament will author- will come flocking back. Let’s make no mistake here—the ize the deployment of British sol- So what’s the solution? How do we— troops on the ground are not and must diers?’’ together with the rest of the world not be blue-helmeted peacekeepers. Let me be clear: I’m not advocating community—provide Afghanistan with These are, and must be, peacemakers. any specific deployment of American a year or two of breathing room to let We need rough, tough, combat-ready troops. The specifics of any troop de- it build up a national army and police forces, with the ability to take names ployment is a decision best left to the force of its own? There are basically and impose order. President, based on a military assess- two possible paths. Fourth, the U.S. must be fully en- ment of what is needed to get the mis- Have American troops continue to gaged as the mission’s guarantor of sion accomplished. serve as the de facto security force, or last resort. That does not necessarily My point is merely that we have a get the international community to mean we have send U.S. troops, al- mission to accomplish in Afghanistan, share our burden. though we shouldn’t rule it out off the and IF the deployment of American Fortunately, a mechanism exists to bat. make this second option a reality—it’s What it does mean, however, is that troops as part of an international force the International Security Assistance we commit ourselves to insuring the is deemed necessary, we should cer- Force, ISAF for short, and it can save mission’s success. tainly step up to the plate. us from the necessity of being Afghani- Maybe we can achieve this goal by Perhaps we’ll be able to continue the stan’s only policeman. providing airlift, intelligence, funding, status quo—to have U.S. troops cur- Right now, ISAF is strictly limited and diplomatic support. rently serving in Operation Enduring by its U.N. mandate. Its 5,000 troops Maybe we also have to provide the Freedom serve as the de facto back-up are confined to Kabul, and even there promise of troops extraction, air com- squad for ISAF troops. they have to tread gingerly. The unit is bat assets, and the ultimate ace-in-the- Some voices decry using American currently under the command of the hole of sending the cavalry to the res- troops as ‘‘policemen,’’ and urge that British, but the Brits plan to transfer cue if things get too hot. peace operations be left to other na- command as soon as April. But, one way or another, this is a tions. But every big-city police force The entire mandate ends in June— goal we must achieve—not merely for needs a SWAT team to handle the real precisely when its continuing presence the sake of Afghanistan, but for the na- bad characters. Perhaps the U.S. can is most needed to safeguard the Loya tional security interest of the United serve as the SWAT team for an ex- Jirga, or Great Council to be convened States. panded U.N.-mandated security force. as the next step in the process of polit- When I go around the country talk- But we shouldn’t be afraid to have ical rebuilding. ing about the need for a robust secu- our troops integrated to an inter- So here, in a nutshell, is what we rity force, with the U.S. providing the national force of peacemakers in Af- have to do. ultimate guarantee of success, I’m ghanistan. Our experience in the Bal- First, this international security often asked whether that’s an implicit kans shows that we can work with our force must be extended from Kabul to call for the participation of American NATO allies, and other countries, to several key sites throughout the coun- ground troops. It is a fair question, but make such forces the instrument of try. it’s putting the cart before the horse. U.S. policy. It should be expanded to Mazar, I would prefer it if we could accom- And, as a survey of top brass recently Kandahar, and perhaps other cities plish our mission without deploying a released by the ‘‘Peace Through Law such as Jalalabad or Gardez. Such an single U.S. soldier. Education Fund’’ argues, such oper- expansion would entail an increase in I would prefer it if other nations ations can be a huge benefit to Amer- troop strength from the current 5,000. could do the job without our troops on ican military and political objectives. Some sources say 25,000 troops would the ground. And maybe they can. Not all of the generals quoted in the be needed, others say the mission could But my past experience, both in the report will agree with all of its rec- be accomplished with a more modest Balkans and elsewhere, leads me to ommendations, and the survey was un- increase. doubt that this will be possible. dertaken prior to the campaign in Af- I will not presume to venture an First, there aren’t a whole lot of ghanistan. The opinions expressed re- opinion on the precise number, I will countries out there with the military lated to peace operations in , just say that we should make sure the assets—both human and techno- not to ISAF in particular.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 20:48 Jan 09, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\2002SENATE\S21MR2.REC S21MR2 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2250 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 21, 2002 But I think the most valuable part of Gen. , CinC of For decades, the men and women who the report is the wide selection of di- CentCom, now commander of the U.S. joined the military were promised edu- rect quotes from some of our most re- campaign in Afghanistan. cational benefits and lifetime health spected military commanders. On unit readiness and military train- care for themselves and their families. I would like to share a few of these ing. Those commitments have too often not observations—all of them made by I feel very strongly that our operation, been kept, and I am concerned this is American commanders with far more let’s say in Kosovo, is a very positive net ef- starting to threaten our national secu- military expertise than I would ever fect for the following reasons. The training rity. Veterans are our Nation’s most claim to possess. that the young NCO and younger officer gets effective recruiters. However, inad- Taken together, they make what I is far superior to what he or she would be equate education benefits and poor believe is a convincing case for Amer- getting if they were in Germany—because health care options make it difficult ican leadership on—and, if necessary, they are dealing with real world problems, 24 for these men and women to encourage hours a day . . . That’s what being a troop participation in—a significantly leader is all about. Their individual, small the younger generation to join today’s beefed-up international peacemaking unit skills, squad level, company, battalion— voluntary service. force to be deployed at various sites it’s far better training than what they get In my meetings with veterans, the throughout Afghanistan. back in garrison. issue of greatest concern is health care. On American involvement in multi- Gen. Joseph Ralston They want assurances that they will be national peace operations: The small unit leader’s development in able to access quality care. Unfortu- The nation that has the most influence peace operations is phenomenal. nately, years of inadequate funding for . . . has to play a number of roles. Peace- veterans health care has pushed the VA Gen. Meigs—The type of training keeping, peacemaking or peace enforcement health system to the brink of crisis, that isn’t available during peace oper- is one of those roles. To walk away from and the quality of care is starting to ations is brigade and division level those responsibilities, in my judgement, is to suffer. Let me be clear, this has noth- training, but Gen. Ralston notes that invite questioning of your overall leadership ing to do with the men and women who character. As a result, people will start to this large-scale training is given to work in the VA health system. They question you and your resolve for the prin- troops on a relatively infrequent are dedicated professionals who care ciples for which you stand. basis—typically only once every year about the veterans they serve, but they Gen. James Jones, Commandant of and a half. He notes that when troops are being asked to do too much with the Marine Corps. who have served in peace operations too few resources. If the United States doesn’t participate, are put back in the regular training Veterans were very optimistic when the United States can’t lead . . . You can’t cycle, they have no troubling picking the President mentioned his commit- ask other nations to take risks that you up where they left off. won’t take yourself. ment to veterans health care in the The words of these American sol- State of the Union address in January. Gen , Supreme Allied diers, sailors, airmen and marines say Commander, Europe (1997–2000). At first glance, it looked as though the it far better than I can. The military President’s budget had made a signifi- In order for us to have influence, we must and strategic objectives of the United cant effort to fix the mounting funding be engaged . . . If you’re not there on the States are often best served by Amer- ground . . . you are not able to really influ- problems at the VA. But after budget ican troops participating in multi- gimmicks, such as $800 million that ence what’s happening on the ground. national peace operations. Maj. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, com- was included for the first time in the I am not saying we should send U.S. VA budget for federal employees’ re- mander of a NATO multinational bri- soldiers on such missions merely for gade in Kosovo, 1999–2000. tirements, the amount of funding that their training or diplomatic value. I the President has recommended for Whether we like it or not, we’re the big AM saying that we should recognize dog. If someone calls 911, . . . it’s the United veterans health care falls far short of the pro’s as well as the con’s of U.S. in- the promised $2.2 billion increase. In- States of America that answers. volvement in peace operations. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Fogelsong, stead, it is only about $1.4 billion more Yes, there are dangers—as President than last year. Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Bush has said, the war against terror Chief of Staff, 1997–1999. I am pleased that the Senate Budget will be long, and there will be casual- Committee, of which I am a member, I do not believe that any major humani- ties in the months and years ahead. tarian or peacekeeping effort can be success- has recently approved a budget resolu- But the dangers of abdication of our re- tion that will provide $1.2 billion more ful, long-term, without the support of the sponsibilities is far greater than the U.S. than was requested by the Bush admin- dangers of leadership. istration for VA health care and $2.6 Gen. , USMC, now Vice- We must stay the course in Afghani- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, then billion more than was approved in fis- stan—the whole world is watching. cal year 2002. I am hopeful that this CinC of South Com. On unit morale. Friends and enemies alike want to The re-enlistment numbers are far higher level of funding will go a long way to- know whether we’ll follow through in ward addressing the critical funding in units in Bosnia and Kosovo than they are Afghanistan, and if we fail to follow in units of the U.S. army overall. needs in VA health care. through here, how can we ever con- While there is good news about the Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston, Su- vince them that we’ll follow through in health care budget, I am concerned preme Allied Commander, Europe. Yemen, the Philippines, or Indonesia— about a provision in the President’s The re-enlistment rates in [US Army, Eu- let alone in Iraq. budget that would establish a $1,500 de- rope], which has been involved to the great- But that is the topic for another day. est extent in peacekeeping operations in the ductible for Category 7 veterans. Under Balkans, are the highest in the Army. f this new policy, a veteran would be Gen. Montgomery Meigs, commander forced to pay for 45 percent of his or TAKING CARE OF OUR NATION’S her medical care, up to a limit of $1,500 of NATO’s force in Bosnia (SFOR), VETERANS 1998–1999. per year. The VA estimates that 121,000 Gen. Jones, Lt. Gen. Fogelsong, & Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, over veterans will choose not to be treated Adm. Dennis Blair say the same thing the last few weeks, I have had the at the VA next year if the proposal be- for Marines, Air Force, and Navy. honor of meeting with a number of vet- comes law. This would include several Forget the baloney about people being erans, both here in Washington and in thousand in South Dakota. I know this upset about being down range . . . morale’s South Dakota. Every time I meet with is an attempt to ask veterans who higher than in garrison. them, I am reminded of the tremendous make more money to contribute more Gen. Meigs (Bosnia) sacrifices they have made on behalf of to their own health care. However, the our country. We owe each of them a way in which the VA determines Cat- Troops that deploy to Bosnia and Kosovo and other operations like that, have high debt of gratitude that can never be egory 7 status is unfair, particularly to morale . . . our troops are happiest, morale fully repaid. many veterans in South Dakota. Cat- is highest, when they are out in the world One of the things we must do for our egory 7 veterans are those who lack a doing what they signed up to do. veterans is honor our past promises. disability related to their military

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