Word: kosovo
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Although the Kosovo conflict seems to be taking on a life of its own, the NATO allies must be sure to keep their actions directed towards the vision of the world they want to create after the shooting has stopped. Such a vision has never been articulated by NATO or the Clinton Administration, and one must be present before we escalate our forces in the area. If Kosovo cannot come to peace, there is no point fighting a war there. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has clearly articulated a set of goals necessary before any cease-fire...
...April 9, Annan announced a peace proposal which would stop the bombing once Yugoslavia withdrew its military forces from Kosovo and allowed the return of refugees. It also would have required an international peacekeeping force in Kosovo after Yugoslavia's withdrawal. Annan's proposal is sound; it makes clear that the aim of the NATO intervention is not to punish Yugoslavian civilians but to protect the civilians violently uprooted in Kosovo. Without the return of refugees and the removal of Yugoslav Army units, those who wish to see an Albanian-free Kosovo will have triumphed...
However, the U.N. proposal was officially turned down on April 16. Yugoslav diplomats said that the nation would not withdraw its troops until the bombing had ceased, in essence asking NATO to make the first move. In addition, Yugoslavia would allow only civilian observers, not military forces, into Kosovo. These conditions are unacceptable. The expulsion of the Albanians demonstrates that Milosevic cannot be relied on to obey international human rights conventions, so his compliance with international agreements may be unsteady. If the bombing stopped first, Yugoslavia could easily delay the withdrawal of troops long enough to continue its ethnic cleansing...
...erred in beginning its bombing campaign, as some allege, recognition of that fact cannot give Albanians back their homes. NATO must concentrate on finding the right means to achieve its ends; if air strikes are insufficient for this purpose, we would support the use of NATO ground troops in Kosovo to protect the Kosovar Albanians, to return the refugees to their homes, and to and secure their safety...
Republican congressional leaders, critical of what they say is President Clinton?s neglect of the armed forces, plan to use the President?s $6 billion emergency request for Kosovo to fight their own war over the defense budget. Their emerging strategy: Use the President?s requisition for the NATO action to tack on supplemental funding, perhaps $10 billion or more, to bolster the nation?s defenses. The move has the advantage of both backing the troops in Kosovo while also maintaining the GOP?s distance from Clinton?s general military policy...