[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 18, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H3222-H3223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       AMERICAN LEGION URGES WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM YUGOSLAVIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I do not know of any group that is more 
respected and has more credibility when it comes to our Nation's 
veterans than the American Legion. Mr. Speaker, the Legion, 
representing over 3 million of our Nation's veterans, has gone on 
record against our involvement in Kosovo.
  I would like to share with my colleagues this afternoon a portion of 
a letter sent to the President by the American Legion about our 
involvement in Kosovo, and I quote: ``The American Legion, a wartime 
veterans' organization of nearly 3 million members, urges the immediate 
withdrawal of American troops participating in Operation Allied 
Force.''
  The letter went on to outline resolution number 44, the American 
Legion's statement on Yugoslavia that was adopted unanimously by their 
organization on May 5, 1999:
  ``This resolution voices grave concern about the commitment of U.S. 
armed forces to Operation Allied Force unless the following conditions 
are fulfilled: One, there is a clear statement by the President of why 
it is in our vital national interests to engage in Operation Allied 
Force. Two, guidelines be established for the mission, including a 
clear exit strategy. Three, that there be support of the mission by the 
United States Congress and the American people. Four, that it be made 
clear U.S. forces will be commanded by U.S. officers whom we 
acknowledge are superior military leaders.
  The Legion believes that at least three of these conditions have not 
been met, and if they are not all met, then the President should 
withdraw American forces immediately.''
  Mr. Speaker, I agree with this position.
  The President has committed the armed forces of the United States in 
a joint operation with NATO, Operation Allied Force, but has not yet 
clearly defined what Americans' vital interests are in this region. The 
American people have a right to know why we are there. The President, 
in eight weeks of military action, has not properly defined what the 
specific objectives of NATO are, nor has the White House defined an 
exit strategy. And if my colleagues will remember, Mr. Speaker, the 
President promised our Nation that the U.S. military forces would be 
out of Bosnia in one year. Three years and six months later, U.S. 
personnel are still in Bosnia, and I expect that they will continue to 
be there for years to come.

                              {time}  1300

  How long will our forces be in Kosovo? Will the President claim they 
will be there for just 1 year once again?
  I continue to be troubled with America's participation in this 
conflict. U.S. forces continue to carry the overwhelming share of the 
military burden, rather than our European NATO allies. Only 13 of 
NATO's 19 member nations are actively engaged in Operation Allied 
Force. American pilots are flying some 90 percent of the missions.
  It also seem to me that the Clinton administration continues to 
disregard attempts to reach a diplomatic solution. After a bipartisan 
congressional delegation met with the parliamentary leaders of Russia 
in Vienna recently to start formulating terms of a negotiated 
settlement to establish a cease-fire and establish peacekeeping 
operations, and after Reverend Jackson's successful trip to release the 
three American servicemen, the administration has not attempted to 
follow through on any of these overtures.
  Many of us here in Congress are veterans. We swore an oath to defend 
our country and her interests. But we must remember, wars are fought to 
protect national security interests, not for human rights. In fact, no 
major conflict has been waged solely for the purpose of defending a 
beleaguered people. The United States has a moral interest in 
Yugoslavia, but we have no national interest.
  This conflict violates the conservative principle that goes back to 
our American Founding Fathers: nonintervention in the internal affairs 
of other countries, except to counter threats to our national interest. 
Our dedication to free markets and democratic institutions are 
exportable only by example, not by force.
  My greatest hope is that we can reach a diplomatic solution to this 
crisis and bring our men and women home safely.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, the American people are suffering from what 
I call Clinton fatigue. They question our

[[Page H3223]]

reasons for being in Kosovo, and they now question the bases for which 
the President is choosing his policy.
  I include for the Record the full text of the American Legion letter 
of May 5.
  The letter referred to is as follows:
                                              The American Legion,


                             Office of the National Commander,

                                      Washington, DC, May 5, 1999.
     The President,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: The American Legion, a wartime veterans 
     organization of nearly three-million members, urges the 
     immediate withdrawal of American troops participating in 
     ``Operation Allied Force.''
       The National Executive Committee of The American Legion, 
     meeting in Indianapolis today, adopted Resolution 44, titled 
     ``The American Legion's Statement on Yugoslavia.'' This 
     resolution was debated and adopted unanimously.
       Mr. President, the United States Armed Forces should never 
     be committed to wartime operations unless the following 
     conditions are fulfilled:
       That there be a clear statement by the President of why it 
     is in our vital national interests to be engaged in 
     hostilities;
       Guidelines be established for the mission, including a 
     clear exit strategy;
       That there be support of the mission by the U.S. Congress 
     and the American people; and
       That it be made clear that U.S. Forces will be commanded 
     only by U.S. officers whom we acknowledge are superior 
     military leaders.
       It is the opinion of The American Legion, which I am sure 
     is shared by the majority of Americans, that three of the 
     above listed conditions have not been met in the current 
     joint operations with NATO (``Operation Allied Force'').
       In no case should America commit its Armed Forces in the 
     absence of clearly defined objectives agreed upon by the U.S. 
     Congress in accordance with Article I, Section 8, of the 
     Constitution of the United States.
           Sincerely,
                                       Harold L. ``Butch'' Miller,
     National Commander.
                                  ____


     National Executive Committee, The American Legion, May 5, 1999


     Resolution No. 44: The American Legion Statement on Yugoslavia

       Whereas, the President has committed the Armed Forces of 
     the United States, in a joint operation with NATO 
     (``Operation Allied Force''), to engage in hostilities in the 
     Federal Republic of Yugoslavia without clearly defining 
     America's vital national interests; and
       Whereas, neither the President nor the Congress have 
     defined America's objectives in what has become an open-ended 
     conflict characterized by an ill-defined progressive 
     escalation; and
       Whereas, it is obvious that an ill-planned and massive 
     commitment of U.S. resources could only lead to troops being 
     killed, wounded or captured without advancing any clear 
     purpose, mission or objective; and
       Whereas, the American people rightfully support the ending 
     of crimes and abuses by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 
     and the extending of humanitarian relief to the suffering 
     people of the region; and
       Whereas, America should not commit resources to the 
     prosecution of hostilities in the absence of clearly defined 
     objectives agreed upon by the U.S. Congress in accordance 
     with Article I Section 8 of the Constitutional of the United 
     States; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the National Executive Committee of The 
     American Legion in regular meeting assembled in Indianapolis, 
     Indiana, May 5-6, 1999, That The American Legion, which is 
     composed of nearly 3 million veterans of war-time service, 
     voices its grave concerns about the commitment of U.S. Armed 
     Forces to Operation Allied force, unless the following 
     conditions are fulfilled.
       That there be a clear statement by the President of why it 
     is in our vital national interests to be engaged in Operation 
     Allied Force;
       Guidelines be established for the mission, including a 
     clear exit strategy;
       That there be support of the mission by the U.S. Congress 
     and the American people; and
       That it be made clear U.S. Forces will be commanded only by 
     U.S. officers whom we acknowledge are superior military 
     leaders; and, be it further
       Resolved, that, if the aforementioned conditions are not 
     met, The American Legion calls upon the President and the 
     Congress to withdraw American forces immediately from 
     Operation Allied Force; and, be it further
       Resolved, that The American Legion calls upon the Congress 
     and the international community to ease the suffering of the 
     Kosovar refugees by providing necessary aid and assistance; 
     and, be it finally
       Resolved, that The American Legion reaffirms its unwavering 
     admiration of, and support for, our American men and women 
     serving in uniform throughout the world, and we reaffirm our 
     efforts to provide sufficient national assets to ensure their 
     well being.

                          ____________________