[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MEMBER REPORT ON U.S. MISSION IN KOSOVO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I have just returned from the Balkans, 
Bosnia and Kosovo with two other members of the Committee on Armed 
Services. Due to the ongoing debate in this House and elsewhere 
regarding the U.S. role, I offer Members a report on my observations.
  The situation in Kosovo is, of course, complicated. To be summed up 
broadly, Serbs inside Kosovo are afraid of the Albanian majority, while 
those Albanians are afraid of the nation of Serbia next door. These two 
groups have one thing in common: they are both glad the U.S. and 
European troops are there to protect them and provide stability.
  It is not well known that the U.S. provides a small minority of the 
force in Kosovo. Visitors who see only Camp Bondsteel and the American 
sectors can get the impression that the United States stands alone 
between ancient enemies. That is a skewed view. The fact is that 
American forces are only 18 percent of the efforts in Kosovo. General 
Ferrell told me that he intends to reduce the figure by some 15 to 20 
percent. In fact, there are more American contractors building roads 
and schools, cooking meals, providing support for the troops than there 
are American soldiers.
  Let us talk about those soldiers, Madam Speaker. We hear a lot about 
bringing Americans home and how soldiers do not belong out there, so I 
asked the soldiers on the line, and they are proud of what they are 
doing. They told me they are proud to be peacemakers. They know why 
they are in Kosovo. In fact, the enlisted soldiers know more about the 
political situation in the Balkans than a lot of political scientists 
do here in Washington.
  The proof of their pride is that re-enlistment is higher among the 
units deployed in Kosovo than anywhere else in the Army. The soldiers 
are working hard and the tempo of operations is high. When our troops 
believe that they are doing what they came into the Army to do, they 
will come back, and they are. That is a strong message to all of us and 
especially to those who think peacekeeping is somehow below the dignity 
of American soldiers.
  Remember, too, that the soldiers on that line today will be the 
leaders and NCOs of the next conflict, if one comes.
  We are also working well with our allies, as well as the Russians. It 
is a fringe benefit that can pay off for the U.S. in the future. By the 
way, believe it or not, the Russians send troops to Kosovo as a reward 
for good service elsewhere. A French general told me that their 
involvement in Kosovo has been the best thing to happen to recruitment 
in a long time.
  We are making a difference. I asked soldiers of all ranks, What would 
happen if the U.S. pulled out of the Balkans? One said it best in a 
simple word: ``Boom.'' Kosovo today is not what it was even 6 months 
ago. One American sergeant told me that the local population has fought 
itself out, and that they are glad we are there so that they can stop 
fighting. But if we leave, the weariness will not prevail.
  The peace is clearly tenuous. I visited one village where the Serbian 
and Albanian children share the same schoolhouse. They go into 
different rooms through different doors, but the fact that they are in 
the same building is a breakthrough. On the other hand, there was an 
armed patrol of 16 Albanian guerillas leaving their training location, 
which is in an officially demilitarized zone, and that night a van was 
blown up, killing three Serb policemen. Passions clearly still run 
high.
  But the facts should not frighten the United States from its duty. As 
General Quinlan told me, Madam Speaker, there is no military solution 
to this situation; but our military presence is buying the time and 
space for a political solution. Yes, tension in the Balkans remains 
high, but America can be proud of our young men and our young women as 
they are keeping the peace and, more important, they are proud of it. 
Madam Speaker, I hope that every Member here is proud of them too. I 
certainly am.

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