Statement of Senator Carl Levin Vote on McCain/Biden Resolution on Kosovo

Washington--The Senate this morning voted 78 to 22 to table the McCain/Biden Joint Resolution that would have authorized the President to use all necessary force, in concert with United States allies, to accomplish United States and NATO objectives in Yugoslavia.

While, I favor the thrust of the resolution, i.e. that NATO must do everything necessary to prevail in this conflict, I do not favor its timing.

The 19 NATO nations are united in their determination that Milosevic's campaign of terror will not be allowed to succeed. If the Senate had adopted this resolution, I believe that we would have put the Senate and this nation in a significantly different position than the rest of NATO in advance of a need to do so. NATO is unified on an air campaign. It is not yet unified on a ground campaign. A premature debate on a ground force could negatively impact on the unity of the Alliance.

I do believe that contingency planning for a NATO ground force should proceed as a prudent step, but there is no need for the Senate to authorize a ground force at this time. We must not be distracted by a premature debate about ground forces. Our focus and our efforts should be on accomplishing the military mission of significantly reducing Milosevic's capability to keep a stranglehold on Kosovo.