Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
441675982
label
9902209
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
441675982
contentType
document
title
9902209
citationUrl
collections
Records of the National Security Council Records Management Office (Clinton Administration)
NSC (National Security Council) Records Management System
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
441675982
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
otherTitles
26457815-20080994F-Seg3-021-020-2024
[Kosovo]
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
e7e325ad8b218ef3
ocrText
Case Number: 2008-0994-F-3
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the Clinton Presidential
Library Staff.
Original OA/ID Number:
2719
Document ID:
9902209
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
V
46
4
2
2
UNCLASSIFIED
RECORD ID: 9902209
NSC/RMO PROFILE
RECEIVED: 26 MAR 99 15
TO: BERGER
FROM: CAPLAN, P
DOC DATE: 26 MAR 99
SOURCE REF:
KEYWORDS: KOSOVO
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
WH REFERRAL
MEDIA
PERSONS:
SUBJECT: RADIO ADDRESS - -- KOSOVO
ACTION: FOR RECORD PURPOSES
DUE DATE: 01 APR 99 STATUS: C
STAFF OFFICER: NONE
LOGREF:
FILES: PA
NSCP:
CODES:
DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION
FOR ACTION
FOR CONCURRENCE
FOR INFO
BROWN, K
CROWLEY
EXECSEC
HURLEY
LACKEY
MALINOWSKI
SCHULTE
WIPPMAN
COMMENTS:
DISPATCHED BY
DATE
BY HAND W/ATTCH
OPENED BY: NSTSM
CLOSED BY: NSTSM
DOC 1 OF 1
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
RECORD ID: 9902209
ACTION DATA SUMMARY REPORT
DOC ACTION OFFICER
CAO ASSIGNED ACTION REQUIRED
001
X 99032615 FOR RECORD PURPOSES
UNCLASSIFIED
Document No.
Date: 3/26/99
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
ACTION / CONCURRENCE / COMMENT DUE BY: ASAP
Subject: RADIO ADDRESS Kosovo
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MOORE
PODESTA
NASH
ECHAVESTE
REED
RICCHETTI
RUFF
LEW
SOSNIK
BERGER
SPERLING
BLUMENTHAL
STEIN
CAHILL
STERN
FRAMPTON
STREETT
IBARRA
TRAMONTANO
JOHNSON
UCELLI
KLAIN
VERVEER
LANE
WALDMAN
LEWIS
YELLEN
LINDSEY
LOCKHART
MARSHALL
REMARKS:
COMMENTS To TED WOMER
RESPONSE:
Staff Secretary's Office
STAFFING.WPD 3/17/99
Ext. 62702
00:7.Ma 97. NHW 66
3/26/99 1:40 pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON
RADIO ADDRESS ON KOSOVO
THE WHITE HOUSE
MARCH 26, 1999
Good morning. Three days ago, I decided the US should join our NATO allies in military air
strikes, to bring peace to Kosovo.
In my address to the nation last Wednesday, I explained why we have taken this step. To save
the lives of innocent civilians in Kosovo from a brutal military offensive. To defuse a powder
keg at the heart of Europe that has exploded twice before in this century with catastrophic
results. To prevent a wider war we would have to confront later, only at far greater risk and cost.
To stand with our allies for peace.
Our military operation has been underway for several nights. In this time, Serb troops have
continued attacks on unarmed men, women and children. That is all the more reason for us to
stay the course. We must and we will continue until Serbia's leader, Slobodan Milosevic,
accepts
peace or we have seriously damaged his capacity to make war.
As always, America's military men and women are performing with courage and skill. Their
strength comes from rigorous training, state of the art weaponry, and hard-won experience in this
part of the world. This is the same brave and tested force that brought stability to Bosnia after
four years of vicious war. I am confident they will once again rise to the task.
Some of them are fighter pilots. Some are mechanics, technicians, air traffic controllers and base
personnel. Every time I visit our troops around the world, I am struck by their professionalism
their quiet, unassuming determination. They will say, "this is the job I was trained to do."
They don't see themselves as heroes, but we surely do.
I have also been deeply impressed by the solidarity of NATO's purpose. All 19 NATO nations
are providing support - from Norway to Turkey, from England to Italy, including our three new
allies from central Europe.
And we should remember the courage of the Kosovar people today, still exposed to violence and
brutality. Many Americans have heard the story of a young Kosovar girl trying to stay in touch
with a friend in America by email, as a Serb attack began in her village. A few days ago, she
wrote, "at the moment, just from my balcony, I can see people running with suitcases and I can
hear some gunshots. A village just a few hundred meters from my home is all surrounded. As
long as I have electricity, I will continue writing to you I am trying to keep myself as calm as
possible. My younger brother, who is nine, is sleeping now. I wish I will not have to stop his
dreams."
We asked the people of Kosovo to accept peace, and they did. We promised we would stick by
them if they did the right thing, and they did. We cannot let them down now.
2
Americans have learned the hard way that our home is not that far from Europe. Through two
world wars and a long cold war, we saw that it was a short step from a small brush fire to an
inferno - especially in the tinderbox of the Balkans. The time to put out a fire is before is
spreads and burns down the neighborhood. By acting now, we are taking a strong step toward a
goal that has always been in America's national interest: a peaceful, united and democratic
Europe.
For America, I believe there is no greater calling than being a peacemaker. But sometimes you
have to fight in order to end the fighting. Sometimes you have to stand up to wage peace.
Let me end by repeating how proud all Americans are of the men and women risking their lives
to protect peace in the Balkans. Our prayers are with our brave men and women in uniform.
And our prayers are with all the people of the Balkans, searching for the strength to put centuries
of division to rest, and to join us in building a better future.
Thanks for listening.
###