RLC Condemns Serbian Bombing RLC News 03/99

DATE: 03-25-99 10:17 PM
CONTACT: Richard Sincere
(703) 920-4023

Republican Liberty Caucus Condemns
U.S./NATO Military Action Against Serbia
Aggression Violates Constitution,
U.N. Charter, and War Powers Act

(WASHINGTON, March 25, 1999) --- The national committee of the Republican
Liberty Caucus (RLC) has condemned the Clinton Administration's military
action against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, praising those members of
Congress who have resisted the decision to bomb Serb targets in Kosovo and
beyond.
The resolution, submitted by RLC Chairman Clifford Thies of Virginia, was
approved unanimously by e-mail vote of the RLC national committee late
Wednesday night. It notes that the situation in Yugoslavia does not constitute a threat of invasion (or actual invasion) of the United States or any of its NATO allies. To respond to the situation with bombing or the deployment of land forces violates the Geneva Conventions, the United Nations Charter, the U.S. Constitution, and the War Powers Act, according to the RLC's resolution, which also praises those members of Congress who have resisted the Administration's attempt to commit aggression against the Serbs.
In comments to the committee, RLC Treasurer Michael Holmes of Texas noted
wryly: "Bill Clinton is not Winston Churchill and Slobodan Milosevic is not Adolph Hitler."
Explaining the background and purpose of the resolution, Holmes added: "The
United States has not declared war against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The congressional War Powers Act does not convey the right to the President to
unilaterally conduct war on a sovereign nation when no emergency or military
threat to the United States exists. The United Nations (unlike in the Iraq situation) has issued no Security Council resolutions or other statements which would in any way provide even a fig leaf of legality to any acts of war by the U.S. government against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia."
He noted that "acts of war against sovereign nations which are not carried out
in self defense or in retaliation to acts of aggression against the United States or its vital national interests are against the historical nature and character of the United States as a people and specifically, its Constitution. Moreover, Holmes argued, "NATO is a military self defense alliance and has not been delegated any powers to launch military action involving US military assets against any nation with whom we are not at war or which has not attacked another NATO member by surprise or stealth." Holmes concluded: "Military intervention in Kosovo or the Balkans is not justified under international law or by any actions undertaken by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia against the US or United States citizens. Resulting civilian and military causalities by both sides will be the moral and legal responsibility of the aggressors."
Noting that several leaders of the Republican Liberty Caucus are military veterans, including Secretary Robert Booth of Washington State, who retired from the U.S. Navy in December, as well as current chairman Thies and former RLC Chairman, Congressman Ron Paul, Holmes emphasized "the RLC supports Members of the U.S. armed forces. To this end, we urge immediate cessation of Military action by U.S. forces in Yugoslavia.

Support for members of the U.S. Military by the RLC does not convey or confer sanction of the US military Action in the province of Kosovo of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or Anywhere else in the Balkan region.
Opposition by the RLC of U.S. military Action in the Balkans does not imply or infer support for the actions of the Government of Yugoslavia or for its conduct in governance of the province of Kosovo.
We support the peaceful self-determination of the people of the Kosovo Province."

RESOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE
REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS

Resolution proposed on March 23 and passed unanimously March 24, 1999.

WHEREAS the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has not invaded or even threatened
to invade the United States of America;

WHEREAS the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has not invaded a NATO ally of the
United States obligating us, under the terms of that alliance to come to defense of an ally; and,

WHEREAS the Congress of the United States has not declared war against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, or in any other way authorized the use of force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

We, the National Committee of the Republican Liberty Caucus,

RESOLVE THAT the President is threatening to commit an act of aggression, and
may have already committed an act of aggression against the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia, and thus merits the condemnation of all peace-loving people of the world;

THAT the United States is threatening to commit, or has already committed an
act of aggressive war in violation of the first of the Geneva Conventions;

THAT the United States is threatening to commit, or has already committed an
act of aggressive war against another member of the United Nations, in
violation of the Charter of the United Nations, and has not been authorized by
the Security Council of the United Nations;

THAT the President of the United States is threatening to violate, or has
already violated the Constitution of the United States which reserves to the
Congress of the United State the sole power to declare war;

THAT the President of the United States has violated the War Powers Act which
requires him to notify the Congress of the United States of the imminent use of military force, so as to require of the Congress consideration of authorizing the use of military force in a timely manner;

THAT we, the National Committee of the Republican Liberty Caucus, declare our
solidarity with those members of the Congress of the United States, thus far
all Republicans, who have sought to avert U.S. involvement in a war in the Balkans through resolution or exercise of the budgetary powers of the Congress;

THAT we, the National Committee of the Republican Liberty Caucus, praise
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
of Texas, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay of Texas and Congressman Ron Paul of
Texas for championing the cause of peace, and for upholding international law
and the U.S. Constitution;

AND, THAT we, the National Committee of the Republican Liberty Caucus call on
all those who love peace and the rule of law to join together to seek a peaceful resolution of this crisis.

May God bless America, May God protect our troops, and May God, even now,
bring peace and justice to the people of the Republic of Yugoslavia and to the
people of the entire world.

-30-