[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 49 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E608-E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GROUND TROOPS IN KOSOVO

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                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 12, 1999

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill that will 
prohibit the use of Department of Defense funds for the deployment of 
U.S. ground troops into Kosovo unless authorized by law and approved by 
Congress. The intent is to require the Executive Branch to seek the 
advice and consent of Congress before sending our troops into harms way 
within the borders of Kosovo. It is vital that the will of the American 
people be heard on this important matter through a formal debate and 
vote in the United States Congress.
  While the President continues to state his intent not to send ground 
troops to Kosovo saying air strikes are our best option, he is also 
indicating that troops would only be sent into a ``permissive 
environment.'' Meanwhile, military experts are questioning whether NATO 
can realistically end this crisis in Kosovo without sending in ground 
troops. Others are saying it may be too late to send troops. This 
confusion and uncertainty is reason enough to have a well though out, 
studied and deliberate debate and vote on a decision to deploy troops 
into a combat area.
  The deployment of ground troops dramatically changes the dynamics of 
this crisis because it places our armed forces directly in the middle 
of a civil war. We should all be mindful of what our nation went 
through the last time we intervened in a civil war in the 1960's--a war 
that tore our nation apart both politically and socially, and resulted 
in the loss of over 58,000 American lives.
  Congress must not be derelict in its duty to have a say in this 
matter. The President must seek the advice of Congress, and Congress 
must vote up or down on whether to send U.S. ground troops to Kosovo. 
Our sons and daughters in the military deserve no less.
  Many issues demand further discussion. What is Congress' role and 
authority on the issue of deploying ground troops? Do we have vital 
national security interests in Yugoslavia? Is this war worth risking 
American lives? If so, how many? Based on the President's stated goals, 
it is a winnable war? How many bombs and missiles does it take to 
significantly ``degrade'' the military capabilities of the Yugoslavian 
military forces.
  How long will U.S. troops be stationed in this region? Do we have the 
resources to place our troops in this region for an extended period of 
time at the expense of more vital and real security threats--including 
East Asia? As a result of military downsizing, do we still have the 
manpower and weapons supply to fight a three front war should the event 
arise in the Middle East, Asia, and the Balkans? How will this mission 
affect the morale of our armed forces? Is the role of our military a 
peacekeeping and nation building force or a defense against attack on 
the United States, its interests, and its citizens?

[[Page E609]]

  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure. 
We must consider the ``powderkeg'' we are getting ourselves into. Let 
us not enter the 21st Century in the same way we began the 20th Century 
by getting ourselves involved in a centuries old Balkan conflict for 
which we cannot and will not resolve now by the introduction of U.S. 
ground troops.

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