Frank Lautenberg: “I am in opposition to section 2410 in the military construction appropriations bill, which in the view of most, I think…”

“I am in opposition to section 2410 in the military construction appropriations bill, which in the view of most, I think it is fair to say, effectively terminates the U.S. military role in Kosovo. I opposed this amendment when it was offered in committee, and I am proud to join with Senator Levin in offering an amendment to strike it here in the full Senate. Last year, the Armed Forces of the U.S., our NATO allies, and other countries, valiantly fought to stop the killing in Kosovo. They ended Slobodan Milosevic's brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Albanians and prevented his genocidal warfare from being carried out to its full extent. Like many of my colleagues, I have made many visits to the area. I watched with admiration and awe when I saw our fliers flying out of Aviano, Italy, to the front in Kosovo. That flight--in a fighter plane there is not much room--typically would take up to 8 or 9 hours to complete. It also needed four to five refuelings in the air to keep that pilot and that equipment going. It was an incredibly well-done campaign. Our pilots' morale and commitment was second to nothing I have ever seen.”