[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5056-5057]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         INVOLVEMENT IN KOSOVO

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, a good deal has been said in the last 
several days concerning our potential involvement as part of a NATO 
peacekeeping operation in Kosovo. Having had an opportunity to be 
briefed on several occasions by the Administration, I am concerned that 
we have not given enough consideration to what we will do if the 
initial plan fails, or is somehow miscalculated.
  Further, I am astonished that we do not have an end game for this 
exposure of our young men and women whom we would send into battle. As 
we consider the consequences of involvement in the Kosovo matter, and 
my sympathy runs deep for those who are in harms way as a consequence 
of this continued conflict, I am terribly concerned for the American 
lives which would be in harms way if we send troops to Kosovo. I just 
don't think we can continue to be all things to all people.
  There are certain times when we have to evaluate what is our 
appropriate role and when it is time to rally our allies in an 
efficient, effective coalition of support, of access, of supplies, some 
way short of a conflict.
  When one looks at the armaments over there, we find Russian, we find 
Chinese, we find U.S., and we find European. As a consequence, had we 
taken steps some time ago to ensure that this sophisticated weaponry 
would not fall into irresponsible hands, we might have been able to 
avoid it. But we are down to a time when the administration obviously 
is reluctant to admit that, indeed, we are at the brink of entering 
into a war.
  Some have suggested it could be the beginning of World War III. I am 
not going to dramatize, but do want to emphasize that I do not believe 
that we have given sufficient attention and strategic analysis to the 
alternatives to intervention, or to a withdrawal plan should we proceed 
to send troops to Kosovo. As a consequence, this Senator is not 
prepared to support an action at this time. I think the President of 
the United States owes it to the country, as well as to Congress, to 
come before the body with a clear-cut, committed plan that addresses 
the questions I have asked this morning.
  I, as one Senator, want to put the White House on notice that support 
from this Senator from Alaska, at this time, is not there.
  I also want to emphasize another point, Mr. President, concerning our 
potential intervention in Kosovo. We are about to enter into a recess 
at the end of next week and will not reconvene as a body until sometime 
in mid-April. Any action by the administration to send our troops, as a 
part of a NATO operation, into action during our absence, obviously 
puts the Congress in the position of having to support our troops--
while we may not necessarily support the underlying action. Of course, 
we will want to support our troops, and we will support our troops.
  But, because of the timing, we as a Congress must decide now--before 
our troops go in--whether or not we support this intervention. I 
encourage Members to express their opinions now, in fact plead that 
Members go on record with this issue, before we are asked to support 
our troops in Kosovo.
  Mr. President, I see no other Member wishing to be recognized. I 
suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.

[[Page 5057]]

  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator is recognized.
  Mr. BUNNING. Thank you.

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