[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               ON KOSOVO

  (Mr. SKAGGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, recent reports of atrocities against Kosovo 
civilians by Serb security forces are certainly appalling. It is 
further evidence of President Milosevic's criminality in repressing 
ethnic Albanians.
  It is entirely understandable why many people would therefore support 
military intervention by the United Nations or by NATO with U.S. 
leadership. But it is very important to realize that such military 
action, if it were to occur with U.S. forces, needs to be a decision 
taken by the Congress, not by the President.
  Air strikes within the borders of Yugoslavia in order to stop attacks 
by Serbian forces against civilians in an area that the United States 
recognizes as sovereign Yugoslav territory simply could not be 
construed as ``defensive'' within the inherent authority of the 
President as Commander in Chief. Rather, they would be offensive in 
nature, involving the invasion of the air space of a nation which has 
not attacked the United States.
  That is the sort of action which falls within the exclusive powers of 
the Congress under the United States Constitution.

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