[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15159-15160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES EUROPEAN 
                          COMMAND HEADQUARTERS

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I, along with General Joe Ralston, the 
Supreme Allied Commander Europe, commend the past success and continued 
contributions of those men and women of our Armed Services who comprise 
the United States European Command.
  This Thursday, August 1, the U.S. European Command will celebrate its 
50th anniversary. Over the last 50 years the European Command has 
played a critical part in the successful preservation of peace and 
stability in and around Europe, and they continue to do so today.
  For more than 35 years during the cold war, the primary mission of 
the European Command Headquarters, established in Frankfurt, Germany in 
1952, was to fulfill United States treaty obligations to NATO by 
providing combat ready forces to counter the Soviet threat and ensure 
peace in Europe, Africa and portions of the Middle East.

[[Page 15160]]

  With the collapse of the Soviet empire, the responsibilities of the 
European Command changed dramatically. Since that time, it has engaged 
in a wide spectrum of security cooperation activities that have helped 
ensure stability and promote Democratic and market-oriented governments 
in countries emerging from Communism and other authoritarian regimes.
  Simultaneously, it has conducted numerous operations to end regional 
wars, reduce ethnic conflict and limit the suffering caused by man-made 
and natural disasters.
  Our European Command continues to make valuable contributions today. 
To conduct security cooperation activities and respond to regional 
threats to our national interests, The Command typically has 
approximately 117,000 service members, or about eight percent of the 
U.S. active duty military. This is a small investment by any measure 
for such a vast range of responsibilities across Europe, the Middle 
East and two-thirds of Africa.
  As I speak, the European Command is involved in five on-going combat 
operations. Its forces are patrolling the skies over the northern no-
fly zone to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolutions against 
Iraq as part of Operation Northern Watch.
  In Bosnia and Kosovo, the European Command contributes with our NATO 
allies in Operations Joint Forge and Joint Guardian respectively, to 
ensure security, promote stability and allow those fragmented societies 
to rebuild their civil institutions and restore the rule of law.
  In the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, it is providing on-call 
support to the international community's monitors working there as part 
of Operation Amber Fox. And, U.S. European Command is making 
substantial contributions to Operation Enduring Freedom and to the 
global war on terrorism in general. Most recently, it deployed a small 
force to the Republic of Georgia to train and equip their forces to 
more effectively protect their own territorial integrity.
  The invaluable contributions of our military men and women working at 
the Headquarters--today located in Stuttgart, Germany--have continued 
without interruption.
  The legacy of their service, dedication and accomplishments is to be 
highly commended, and the importance of their continued contributions 
to future regional peace and to the preservation of our national 
interests cannot be overstated.
  On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. European 
Command, it is fitting that we honor the millions of dedicated American 
men and women who have served, and continue to serve our Nation 
overseas.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Nelson of Nebraska). The clerk will call 
the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, has 5:30 p.m. arrived?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. It has.

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