Congressman Joe Scarborourgh's opinion of
the US involvement in Kosovo
(In response to last months article NATO
STOP THE WAR!)
April 15, 1999 -
Like all Americans, I am disturbed by the images of thousands
of refugees being forced out of Kosovo. Slobodan Milosevic must be held responsible for
these actions. That said, I agree with you that it is a mistake for the United States to
become involved in the Balkan civil war in Kosovo.
I am especially concerned with what appears to be failed diplomacy and a lack of
planning by the Clinton/Gore Administration leading up to our becoming engaged in this
conflict. The Administration has yet to justify our involvement, by clearly stating what
the U. S. interest is in the region.
There are too many unanswered questions; What is the mission? How long will they
be there? What about ground troops? What is the cost, and how does the administration plan
on paying for it? Finally, Kosovo is part of the sovereign state of Serbia, and I
seriously question the wisdom of becoming involved in a 60 year old civil, religious, and
ethnic war.
I do not think that significant American intervention in the area is practical,
constructive or in the best interests of the United States. Many of these conflicts in the
region have persisted for hundreds of years, despite decades-long efforts of past powers,
including the Austrians, Yugoslavs and Turks, to put an end to them. None of these efforts
were successful, largely because they sought to impose peace on the conflicting parties
from above, rather than allowing the opposing parties to resolve their differences between
themselves. Why should we believe that the United States will somehow magically succeed
where these previous countries have failed. The last time we became involved in this
region was in Bosnia, where despite the President's promise of a one year mission, we now
find ourselves in our fifth year.
I am also worried that the United States is spreading its military forces too
thinly around the globe, while at the same time reducing financial support for the
military and sending them on missions for which they were not designed. Americans are
already participating in many peacekeeping missions around the world, two of them in the
former Yugoslavia. We must also be concerned about the cost of this mission. Since the air
strikes began, it has been estimated that the cost for the U. S. government is 40 million
dollars each day. It is for those reasons that I recently voted against sending troops to
Kosovo.
Now that the administration has begun air strikes, and our men and women in
uniform are in harms way, I offer them my prayers and unconditional support. In fact I
voted in favour of H.R. 130 which stated full support for our troops fighting in
Yugoslavia. Now is the time for all Americans to offer our troops unwavering support.
However, any consideration by the Clinton/Gore Administration to send ground troops to the
region must be fully debated in both houses of Congress.
Thanks again for contacting me and please feel free to contact me on any other
issues in the future.
Sincerely,
Joe Scarborough
Member of Congress
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the scan of the original document in pdf format
