Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says the Clinton administration and Congress are approaching a consensus on extending the U.S. military presence in Bosnia after the NATO-led commitment expires June 30.
Not long after Albright spoke Wednesday, however, the White House appeared to soften her comment by saying a lot of work is needed before consensus is reached.
Administration officials have been increasingly assertive about the need to keep Americans in Bosnia beyond June, but there has been a recognition that congressional sentiment could be a problem.
Albright based her comments on a White House meeting Tuesday on Bosnia attended by as many as 30 lawmakers.
During a photo session with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, Albright said “a consensus is developing that there will be or should be some form of U.S. military presence post-SFOR.”
SFOR is the shorthand term for the estimated 32,000 NATO-led troops stationed in Bosnia. About 8,000 are American.
While not contradicting Albright, presidential spokesman Mike McCurry described the situation in a way that differed from hers. “I don’t think it would be fair to say there is any consensus now,” McCurry said. “I think what was clear at the meeting was that there is the prospect the president could build that consensus with hard work.”
He said Clinton was encouraged by the discussion with the lawmakers. “I think he became far less pessimistic that there would be a lack of support for the work the United States is doing in Bosnia,” McCurry said.
After Tuesday’s meeting, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) offered strong support for Clinton.
“It’s very clear if the United States pulls out, these unfortunate people will be back at each other’s throats again, and we will have lost close to $8 billion of U.S. taxpayers’ money,” Warner said.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) seconded Warner’s remarks. “Republicans and Democrats alike have indicated they want to work with the president to construct a strategy that will take us beyond June,” Daschle said.
But there also were reservations.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) said, “I think we should not extend beyond June 30 of 1998 unless there is a different mission, a clear mission, and one that has a success potential.”
