I also hope that we will have your support for our entire international affairs budget. At these levels, we would have no flexibility to deal with emerging threats or respond to urgent crises. And for these reasons, I and the President's other senior advisers have recommended that he veto the bill, and insist that Congress provide adequate resources. America cannot indefinitely meet its responsibilities in one part of the world if we fail to meet them in others. And we need your backing.
Diplomacy is America's first line of defense.
It's a national security budget. With respect to America's role in the Middle East Peace Process, much has been written. The reality, however, is not complicated. President Clinton has made it clear that we will do everything we can to support the parties. But we cannot make the hard decisions that will produce peace, itself.