Jackson, who returned from Belgrade Monday, is scheduled to meet with Clinton in the evening  ALSO: Belgrade claims another bus hit by NATO bombs Sources: Secret carbon fiber bombs kill power in Serbia  MESSAGE BOARD: Crisis in Kosovo RELATED VIDEO The former POWs and their relieved families held a photo opportunity Monday. CNN's Walter Rodgers narrates the event and describes newly released information on their capture and condition. (May 3) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K The soldiers arrive in Germany. CNN's Amanda Kibel was there (May 3) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K Correspondent Kathleen Koch reports on Jackson's successful mission to free the U.S. servicemen captured in Yugoslavia. (May 2) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

May 3, 1999
Web posted at: 7:11 p.m. EDT (2311 GMT)

In this story: Yugoslavs 'won't crack easily' Jackson bristles at criticism of trip Warning to Milosevic: 'You'll be crushed' RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Fresh off his successful mission to free three U.S. prisoners of war in Yugoslavia, Jesse Jackson called on NATO leaders to begin negotiations with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to try to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis over Kosovo.

"We have the power to bomb. Do we have the strength to negotiate?" Jackson said Monday afternoon at an airport news conference, after arriving back in Washington from his trip to Belgrade.

"If bombing is a means, then let's leverage it for a political settlement," he said.

Jackson is scheduled to meet with President Bill Clinton Monday evening. He will deliver a letter to Clinton from Milosevic that Jackson said could be the basis for a diplomatic initiative to end the war between NATO and Yugoslavia.

Asked if he believes Milosevic is willing to make the concessions NATO leaders say will be necessary to stop the bombing campaign, Jackson said "we will only know if he's willing to do it in sufficient detail if we talk with him."

Yugoslavs 'won't crack easily'

Jackson said that the United States and NATO "are on the right side of history" in opposing Yugoslavia's repression of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. But he added that the "cycle of demonization" aimed at Milosevic needs to stop in order for negotiations to advance.

"We don't negotiate with demons. We exorcise them. But in reality, we have a negotiating deal on the table which should be pursued," Jackson said.

"To bomb with a diplomatic option robs the bomber of moral authority," he said.

"We as a nation must overcome the confidence of assured victory. (The Yugoslavs) will not crack easily. Bombs (are) increasing their will to fight, not increasing submission," Jackson said. "We must look at the higher options."

Jackson bristles at criticism of trip

Jackson traveled to Belgrade with a delegation of religious leaders from various denominations, representatives of the National Council of Churches and the only Serbian-American in Congress, Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-Illinois).

Noting that this is the fourth time Jackson has successfully undertaken a mission to free Americans held in other countries, Blagojevich turned to the civil rights leader during the news conference and said, "Rev. Jackson, you are four for four, and you are the man."

Jackson bristled when asked about criticism in the United States that his mission undermined NATO's efforts and gave Milosevic and the Yugoslavs a propaganda coup.

Speaking of the three U.S. servicemen, Jackson said, "Without our support they would still be in jail." And he reacted strongly to criticism of scenes of him praying with Milosevic.

"Who is it that we can't pray for?" Jackson said. "To put legs on prayers and make it happen makes things happen. To challenge our right and the rightness of our prayers is sacrilegious. It violates something very basic within our faith and our beliefs."

Warning to Milosevic: 'You'll be crushed'

Jackson said that during his meeting with Milosevic, he challenged the Yugoslav leader to "do a bigger thing than fight -- think. Do a bigger thing than express the will to die -- the will to live."

He said he also warned Milosevic that "unless you change, you'll be crushed under the relentless weight and bombing of the United States and NATO."

Jackson said his delegation outlined to Milosevic a four-point plan designed to end the crisis:

• stop violence against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo;
• allow refugees who have fled Yugoslavia to return with guarantees of security;
• allow an international peacekeeping force to be stationed in the embattled province;
• begin negotiations for a political settlement.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.