[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CALLING FOR END TO FAILED POLICY IN YUGOSLAVIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, how long must the bombing of Yugoslavia 
continue? I have asked that question repeatedly on this floor over the 
last week, and no one seems to have an answer. Where is the President 
leading us?
  Today, the New York Times, which is generally supportive of the 
President, contained an article written by Michael Gordon entitled, 
NATO's Battle Within: Is Leadership Missing? In the article, Mr. Gordon 
wrote that NATO strategy for bringing the war to a successful close is 
starting to unravel. Without clear direction from Washington, Britain, 
Germany and Italy have begun to promote publicly their separate and 
conflicting plans. Britain wants ground troops in Kosovo and 
Yugoslavia. Germany is opposed to ground troops. Italy wants to stop 
the bombing. In the article, they quoted the former Director of 
European Affairs at the National Security Council who was quoted as 
saying, there is a lack of direction because no one is leading the way.
  Mr. President, why do you not lead the way and stop the bombing? Mr. 
President, Italy today has urged NATO to impose a 48-hour bombing pause 
to pursue a diplomatic settlement. I urge you to stop the bombing.
  Just last night, NATO launched its strongest air attack in 2 weeks 
against the Belgrade area. Our bombs hit a hospital and at least three 
civilians were killed. Furthermore, an operating room was demolished, 
an intensive care unit was leveled, and rescuers were evacuating women 
and children from the maternity ward, just last night in Belgrade, 
because of our bombings. In addition, the Swedish ambassador's 
residence was damaged when an exploding bomb blew out windows and a 
door.
  Mr. President, your policy is not working. Not only are we losing the 
support of our allies but bombing has exacerbated the refugee problem 
among the Kosovar Albanians and now, because of the bombings, the 
Serbian people themselves. From a policy point, it is difficult to 
imagine how the situation could be much worse. Our bombs have killed 
innocent people, destroyed hospitals, leveled the embassy of China, 
damaged the infrastructure, and now even damaged the residence of the 
Swedish ambassador to Yugoslavia. The incessant bombing has transformed 
what was a Balkan crisis into a worldwide crisis. In fact, the New York 
Times Sunday reported how demonstrations are erupting all over the 
world against the bombing.
  So I would say to the President, what do you want? The Yugoslavian 
government is beginning to remove forces from Kosovo. They have 
expressed a willingness to negotiate. How many more bombs must be 
dropped? How many more deaths must occur before you stop this failed 
policy and give diplomacy an opportunity to work?

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