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Clinton says NATO will not end its mission out of "weariness" RELATED VIDEO CNN's John King travels with Clinton to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO Go along on a B-52 mission U.S.: For peace, 'key' Serb forces must leave Kosovo NATO vows to prevail in Yugoslavia CARE, Australia demand release of aid worker who confessed to spying on Yugoslavia  MESSAGE BOARD Crisis in Kosovo

President visits bomber base in Louisiana

April 12, 1999
Web posted at: 1:14 p.m. EDT (1714 GMT)

In this story: Cohen: Some Serbs deserting Tax-free pay for combat personnel 'Most primitive hatreds known to man' RELATED STORIES, SITES

President Slobodan Milosevic was trying to erase "the presence of these people in their own land forever. We must not let that happen," Clinton said at Barksdale Air Force Base.

The base, in northwestern Louisiana, near Bossier City, is home to the 2nd Bomb Wing, which has members deployed in Europe as part of the NATO mission in Yugoslavia. Service personnel from Barksdale have been responsible for some of the B-52 bombing attacks against Serb forces.

The base also is the major training base for pilots of the A-10 Warthog attack fighter.

Cohen: Some Serbs deserting

Clinton said Milosevic could end the air war by complying with NATO demands. "But until he does, he should be under no illusions that we will end it from weariness.

Cohen says Milosevic's forces are feeling the effects of NATO airstrikes

"We are determined to continue on this mission and we will prevail because of you and people like you," the president told thousands of Barksdale personnel and family members gathered outdoors to hear him.

Defense Secretary William Cohen, who accompanied Clinton on the trip, told reporters that NATO airstrikes are taking a toll on Serb forces, lowering their morale and prompting some to desert.

He said there is "a growing consensus and a strong consensus" in Congress for the current air campaign, and that the Clinton administration would not consider the possibility of ground troops since the NATO command has not requested them.

"Should it become necessary, we'll take it under advisement," Cohen said.

Tax-free pay for combat personnel

Speaking three days before the April 15 federal income tax filing deadline, Clinton said he had issued an executive order granting tax benefits to "Americans serving in a combat zone or supporting combat efforts ... to save Kosovo."

Salaries paid during combat service would be "tax-free, not withheld from paychecks and not subject to IRS claims later," the president said.

Some civilian personnel, including relief workers and journalists, might benefit from the tax break as well. For them, Clinton said, his executive order "will suspend the time for filing (tax) returns and related obligations to the IRS."

'Most primitive hatreds known to man'

Clinton called Barksdale part of an allied force that is working to save innocent lives and "against the notion that it's OK to uproot ... and murder people because of their race, ethnic background and religion." He said NATO's mission could determine the course of history in eastern Europe as a new century begins.

At issue for the United States is "whether we and our allies in Europe are going to allow ... hatred based on race or ethnicity or religion to be the defining force of the next 20 or 30 years," Clinton said.

"In other words," he said, "whether we are going into the 21st century, this great, modern time, where all our kids can do amazing things on the Internet, where all our planes can do amazing things with high technology, and have all the tools of the modern world put at the service of the most primitive hatreds known to man."

In addition to his address to all Barksdale personnel, Clinton also had a private meeting with the crews that have flown B-52 missions to Yugoslavia.

The president also planned a private visit with families who lost loved ones in last weekend's tornado in northwestern Louisiana.

Upon his return to Washington, Clinton was to meet with House and Senate leaders to discuss U.S. and NATO policy on Kosovo.

Correspondents Wolf Blitzer, John King and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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