    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 47 (Monday, November 29, 1999)]
    [Pages 2445-2446]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks to American Troops Following Thanksgiving Dinner at Camp
    Bondsteel

    November 23, 1999

        Thank you. Well, the people at my table said that the speech I gave
    to the other troops was piped in here, which means it either was or it
    wasn't. And if it was, you heard it, and if it wasn't, you get relieved
    of hearing it. [Laughter]
        Let me say to all of you how very grateful I am for your service
    here and for the power of your example here. As I said to the other
    troops, NATO won the military victory, but now the people of Kosovo have
    to win the peace, and you have to help them win it, not only by doing
    your jobs but by setting a good example.
        This was a war caused by a man's determination to drive a whole
    people out of a country because of their ethnic and religious
    background. It's the opposite of everything we believe in, everything we
    live by, and everything the United States military stands for.
        And you just look around this room today. We just celebrated
    Thanksgiving, with, I bet you, conservatively, 25 different ethnic
    groups represented among the American military forces here in this
    room--maybe 50, maybe it's more. We are interested and proud in and
    proud of our background, and we should be, but we know that our common
    humanity and our shared values are more important. That's the message
    that the children need to get here in Kosovo. And the more you work with
    people and the more you let children see you working together, having a
    good time, being proud of what you're doing, doing your job, living the
    American creed, you will also be fulfilling your mission by doing that.
        Kids are not brought up hating each other because they're different;
    they have to be taught to do that. They've taught generations of people
    on this land, good people in both communities, to do that. And now
    they've got to stop, and you've got to help them. And

    [[Page 2446]]

    I can't think of a better Thanksgiving present that you could give to
    them.
        Let me also say that I was very honored--I've got four Members of
    the Congress here who voted for this, but I was very honored to sign the
    legislation which raised the pay and improved the retirement of members
    of the military. But let me also say that we are well aware that in this
    good economy, with the training you've gotten in the military, that
    you're not serving for the money, but we think you ought to be properly
    compensated and have a good retirement, and it ought to be an incentive
    for you to stay if you're so inclined.
        But we honor your service; we need you. And on Thanksgiving, those
    of us who came here will be home, and you will be a long way from home.
    But you will be in our hearts, and I hope you know that what you're
    doing is a great, great gift to your country.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:30 p.m. in a dining tent. In his remarks,
    he referred to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
    2000, Public Law 106-65, approved October 5.