(13 Apr 1999) English/Nat
President Clinton says NATO is about to take military action against Yugoslavia to the "next level" with increased numbers of air strikes.
In an address from the White House, Clinton says strikes are already grinding down the Serb military and he says ethnic cleansing won't go unanswered.
Before his address, the president met with dozens of lawmakers about the crisis in Kosovo.
And in the words of at least one Senator, there was a widespread opinion that ground troops should be considered.
The Pentagon is preparing to send another three-hundred U-S warplanes into the battle against Yugoslavia.
At the same time President Clinton is saying that NATO airstrikes are proving successful and it's time to take the allied mission against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to the next level.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have reduced his ability to move, sustain and supply the war machine in Kosovo. We have damaged his refineries and reduced his ability to produce ammunition. We are striking now at his tanks and at his artillery and have destroyed half of his MIG 29 aircraft. Now we are taking our Allied air campaign to the next level, with more aircraft in the region, with a British carrier joining the USS Roosevelt carrier in the area."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
Earlier in the day, Bill Clinton called 58 lawmakers to his White House residence for a briefing on the crisis.
While Clinton told the group he still doesn't believe ground troops will be necessary, lawmakers reported he favours keeping the option open.
Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman says Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic should be under no illusions as NATO will do whatever is necessary to achieve its goals.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"He does not favour the use of ground forces but he did say that that option should not be taken off the table and it's very important for Mr. Milosevic to know that we will exclude no action that is necessary to help us achieve victory or the realisation of our objectives here."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Joseph Lieberman, Democrat, Connecticut
Members of Congress did acknowledge some disagreement over how to proceed next.
But they insist, despite those differences, the U-S is united in its support for the NATO mission and is determined to stop Milosevic's atrocities.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think there are still many questions about where we go from here. There are a lot of opinions and I think we are just going to have to take one step at a time. This is a tough issue. We have started something and we are going to have to finish it and no-one is quite sure where it's going to lead."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican, Texas
While President Clinton met with one group in the White House, Defence Secretary William Cohen and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Henry Shelton addressed another group of lawmakers at the Capitol.
At least one lawmaker there claimed the air offensive is unconstitutional.
California Representative Tom Campbell has filed a resolution that invokes terms of the War Powers Act of 1973, setting up automatic votes in both the House and the Senate.
In other words, the House will be forced to vote on whether to formally declare war on Yugoslavia or order the troops to withdraw.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"If Congress does not stand up for its Constitutional right to declare war in this instance there is nothing left to the Constitutional requirement that Congress and only Congress declare war."
SUPER CAPTION: Representative Tom Campbell, Republican, California
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