Flashback March 1998: New York Times: Senators Warner, Biden and Moynihan Debate NATO Expansion

For the past two days, the United States Senate debated the pros and cons of expanding the NATO military alliance.

The debate today was moving in the same fashion until Senator John W. Warner, a Virginia Republican, and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Democrat of New York, objected to redrawing NATO’s boundaries to admit Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Mr. Warner and Mr. Moynihan voiced several concerns, but chief among them was the fear of antagonizing Moscow by admitting three new countries, and others in later rounds, including the Baltic states, that would form an ”iron ring” around Russia.

”We’re walking into ethnic historical enmities,” Senator Moynihan said. ”We have no idea what we’re getting into.”

At this point, nearly five hours into the debate, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., a Delaware Democrat who is one of the leading supporters of expansion, took to the floor and erupted.

”I find this absolutely astounding!” Mr. Biden exclaimed, his face reddening. ”Are my friends suggesting that the Russians were justified in marching into Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania and annexing them in the name of preventing a ring from surrounding them?”

Stalking the Senate floor, flailing his arms, Mr. Biden continued for 10 minutes. ”If my friends are saying, anyone who votes for expanding NATO to include Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, are tying this noose around a Russian neck, this iron ring, well, then I don’t quite get it,” he said.

Mr. Warner had also voiced concerns that expanding NATO would increase the chances that American soldiers would be dragged into ethnic conflicts, similar to the debacles in Somalia and Vietnam.

Mr. Biden objected, ”Vietnam and Somalia are not Central Europe, they’re not Poland, they’re not Hungary.”

When Mr. Warner asked to respond, Mr. Biden said, ”I will yield in just two seconds.” Mr. Warner quietly reminded Mr. Biden that he was speaking on Mr. Warner’s turn.

”I’m sorry,” Mr. Biden said, momentarily calmed. ”It just confuses me.”