[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.