[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1036-E1037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          STATEMENT ON KOSOVO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 1999

  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month the House debated 
several resolutions regarding the current situation in Kosovo. I take 
this opportunity to address that situation and each of those 
resolutions.
  The current situation in Kosovo is indeed a tragedy. People are being 
forced from their homes, families are being destroyed, people are being 
murdered because of their ethnic identity. If I may, let me recount 
some sobering facts. To date, over 603,000 Kosovar-Albanian refugees 
have been forced from their homes, an estimated 3,700 people have been 
murdered, and approximately 400,000 people are roaming the Kosovo 
countryside.
  Unfortunately, we have seen this type of activity far too often. Many 
of us have taken to this very floor and condemned the actions of the 
Nazis in World War II, the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide, 
the Chinese at Tiananmen Square, the treatment of the East Timorese by 
the Idonesian Government, and the murder of over a million Rwandans. 
All of us also condemn the actions of Slobodan Milosevic in his efforts 
to ``cleanse'' the former Yugoslavia of ethnic minorities.
  In my view, the United States is the world leader in the efforts to 
promote democracy and basic human rights. As that world leader, not a 
police force but a leader, the United States must take its 
responsibility seriously. Therefore, we must play a role in stopping 
ongoing genocides, preventing future genocides, and promoting freedom 
and democracy around the world. Unfortunately, this sometimes requires 
the use of United States military force.
  There is a great deal of debate over whether this operation in Kosovo 
is in our interests. I believe it is. As part of our role in the world, 
the United States needs to take action to preserve and in some 
instances expand alliances that will encourage the establishment of the 
democratic principles we all cherish. As such, we must remain an active 
leader in the NATO alliance.
  The NATO alliance was formed to provide a strong measure of security 
to Europe, which in turn provides a measure of security for the United 
States. Political, military, and economic instability threatens U.S. 
national security and economic interests. This is a region where two 
world wars began and the threat that this conflict could spread to 
neighboring countries is real. It is without a doubt that preventing 
the spread of this conflict is in our security interest.
  During the debate, the first bill the House considered was H.R. 1569, 
introduced by Representatives Fowler and Goodling. This bill would 
prohibit the President from using any funds for the deployment of 
``ground elements'' without congressional authorization. This 
legislation is far too broad in its scope. It would prevent using U.S. 
``ground elements'' to rescue U.S. military personnel or civilians 
should that be necessary, it would restrict U.S. participation in a 
peacekeeping operation, it would handcuff the President from responding 
with ``ground elements'' to a direct threat to U.S. personnel, and it 
would have even prohibited the rescue of the three U.S. POW's.
  Passage of this bill, in my view, gives President Milosevic 
permission to act without fear that the United States will respond with 
the swiftest and most forceful action if necessary. Many have argued 
that we cannot tell our enemies what we will do or how we will act, but 
this bill tells Milosevic exactly what Congress will allow President 
Clinton to do.
  While at this time I do not think the use of ``ground elements'' is 
necessary, I do not believe that we should take any option off the 
table for any period of time. I do not believe that we should handcuff 
the President or our military leaders from taking whatever action they 
need to in responding to a developing situation. This bill would do 
exactly that. For the reasons outlined above I voted against this bill.
  The next resolution the House considered was House Concurrent 
Resolution 82, introduced by Representative Campbell of California. 
This resolution would have required the United States to withdraw, in 
30 days, from its participation in the NATO operations. I also voted 
against this resolution. The unilateral withdrawal of U.S. forces from 
this operation would signal to the world that we do not support the 
NATO operation and that the United States is willing to ignore its role 
as a world leader.
  House Joint Resolution 44 was the third resolution the House 
considered. This resolution was a declaration of war by the United 
States against Yugoslavia. We are in our third month of air strikes 
against Yugoslavia and that is too early to discuss a declaration of 
war. We need to continue the air campaign, which is having some 
success.
  This is a time when we need to support both our men and women in 
harm's way and

[[Page E1037]]

our allies. To approve any of these measures would send a message to 
our troops, allies and enemies that the United States is not unified or 
committed to ending the tragedy in Kosovo.
  The final resolution the House considered was Senate Concurrent 
Resolution 21. This resolution authorized the use of United States air 
forces to participate in the NATO action in Kosovo. I voted in favor of 
this resolution. The United States is already involved in the air 
operation in Kosovo and refusing to support that ongoing operation is, 
in effect, telling our air crews that we are not behind them and this 
operation. Mr. Speaker, I know that every member of this House supports 
our men and women in the military but refusing to support this 
resolution sends mixed messages to them. We must be united in our 
support of them and must let them know that.

                          ____________________