    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [March 24, 1999]
    [Page 449]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 449]]

    Remarks Announcing Airstrikes Against Serbian Targets in the Federal
    Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)
    March 24, 1999

        Good afternoon. United States forces, acting with our NATO Allies,
    have commenced airstrikes against Serbian military targets in the former
    Yugoslavia. I will address the Nation more fully tonight on why this
    action is necessary, but I wanted to say a few words now.
        We and our NATO Allies have taken this action only after extensive
    and repeated efforts to obtain a peaceful solution to the crisis in
    Kosovo. But President Milosevic, who over
    the past decade started the terrible wars against Croatia and Bosnia,
    has again chosen aggression over peace. He has violated the commitments
    he, himself, made last fall to stop the brutal repression in Kosovo. He
    has rejected the balanced and fair peace accords that our allies and
    partners, including Russia, proposed last month, a peace agreement that
    Kosovo's ethnic Albanians courageously accepted.
        Instead, his forces have intensified their attacks, burning down
    Kosovar Albanian villages and murdering civilians. As I speak, more Serb
    forces are moving into Kosovo, and more people are fleeing their homes--
    60,000 in just the last 5 weeks, a quarter of a million altogether. Many
    have headed toward neighboring countries.
        Kosovo's crisis now is full-blown, and if we do not act, clearly, it
    will get even worse. Only firmness now can prevent greater catastrophe
    later.
        Our strikes have three objectives: First, to demonstrate the
    seriousness of NATO's opposition to aggression and its support for
    peace; second, to deter President Milosevic from continuing and escalating his attacks on
    helpless civilians by imposing a price for those attacks; and third, if
    necessary, to damage Serbia's capacity to wage war against Kosovo in the
    future by seriously diminishing its military capabilities.
        As I have repeatedly said to the American people, this action is not
    risk-free. It carries risks. And I ask for the prayers of all Americans
    for our men and women in uniform in the area. However, I have concluded
    that the dangers of acting now are clearly outweighed by the risks of
    failing to act, the risks that many more innocent people will die or be
    driven from their homes by the tens of thousands, the risks that the
    conflict will involve and destabilize neighboring nations. It will
    clearly be much more costly and dangerous to stop later than this effort
    to prevent it from going further now.
        At the end of the 20th century, after two World Wars and a cold war,
    we and our allies have a chance to leave our children a Europe that is
    free, peaceful, and stable. But we must--we must--act now to do that,
    because if the Balkans once again become a place of brutal killing and
    massive refugee flights, it will be impossible to achieve.
        With our allies, we used diplomacy and force to end the war in
    Bosnia. Now trouble next door in Kosovo puts the region's people at risk
    again. Our NATO Allies unanimously support this action. The United
    States must stand with them and stand against ethnic violence and
    atrocity.
        Our alliance is united. And I am particularly grateful for the
    support we have received from Members of Congress from both parties. As
    we go forward, I will remain in close contact with Congress--I have
    spoken with all the leaders today--and in contact with our friends and
    allies around the world. And I will have more to say about all of this
    tonight.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:15 p.m. in the Briefing Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Slobodan Milosevic of
    the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).