David Skaggs: “recent reports of atrocities against Kosovo civilians by Serb security forces are certainly appalling. It is further…”

“recent reports of atrocities against Kosovo civilians by Serb security forces are certainly appalling. It is further evidence of President Milosevic's criminality in repressing ethnic Albanians. It is entirely understandable why many people would therefore support military intervention by the United Nations or by NATO with U.S. leadership. But it is very important to realize that such military action, if it were to occur with U.S. forces, needs to be a decision taken by the Congress, not by the President. Air strikes within the borders of Yugoslavia in order to stop attacks by Serbian forces against civilians in an area that the United States recognizes as sovereign Yugoslav territory simply could not be construed as "defensive" within the inherent authority of the President as Commander in Chief. Rather, they would be offensive in nature, involving the invasion of the air space of a nation which has not attacked the United States. That is the sort of action which falls within the exclusive powers of the Congress under the United States Constitution.”