Steny Hoyer: “the critics were wrong. The headline in today's paper says, ``Kosovo Pullout to Start Today.'' NATO's 11-week, 78-day…”

“the critics were wrong. The headline in today's paper says, ``Kosovo Pullout to Start Today.'' NATO's 11-week, 78-day campaign to stop the genocidal policies of Slobodan Milosevic in Kosovo is producing the results we sought. Today's pullout is the first step towards a complete victory. As William Kristol and Robert Kagan wrote this week in the Weekly Standard, the victory in Kosovo should send a message to would-be aggressors that the United States and its allies can summon the will and force to do them harm. Syndicated columnist William Safire hit the nail on the head when he wrote recently, ``International moral standards of conduct, long derided by geopoliticians, now have muscle,'' said Bill Safire. Why? Because of NATO's unified, unwavering action in Kosovo. The threat of a NATO ground invasion had a decisive impact on the butcher of Belgrade. Not surprisingly, Milosevic capitulated as President Clinton consulted his military advisers on options for ground troops. Like the cowardly bully who picks on the weak and defenseless, Milosevic caved when he knew there would be no escape. President Clinton's resolve on the Kosovo crisis has enhanced the credibility of the United States and the Atlantic Alliance throughout the world. Finally, let me state, our efforts to secure a peace in the Balkans are not over. Milosevic has properly been branded as a war criminal by the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague, and he must be held accountable.”