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House members want Europeans to chip in for costs of Yugoslav strikes
April 22, 1999 WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 21) -- A bipartisan group of House members wants President Bill Clinton to seek reimbursement from other NATO countries for U.S. costs stemming from the bombing of Yugoslavia. In a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-Florida), the lawmakers suggest attaching reimbursement legislation to a bill to fund the Yugoslav campaign, which is currently making its way through Congress. "Cost-sharing is not a new idea," said Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), who is leading the effort. "The United States set a precedent for cost-sharing of military actions in 1991 during our conflict with Iraq." According to the Pentagon, the United States was reimbursed for more than 85 percent of the costs of the Persian Gulf War from other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The final cost to American taxpayers was $7.4 billion. Toomey said the United States is now shouldering between 75 percent and 90 percent of the cost of the NATO air campaign. The lawmakers who want Clinton to pursue cost-sharing say European members of NATO should pay the majority of the costs for a mission on European soil "The United States (has) already deployed over 21,000 troops, about 500 aircraft and a naval aircraft carrier group in the Balkan region. This deployment comprises the vast majority of the NATO forces, yet the United States is just one of the 19 countries in NATO," said the letter to Young. |
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MORE STORIES:Wednesday, April 21, 1999
• House members want Europeans to chip in for costs of Yugoslav strikes • Albright to Congress: "We cannot fail' in Kosovo • School shooting sparks gun control debate • Janet Reno to visit scene of Colorado school shooting • Presidential hopefuls react to school shooting • Starr promotes three staff members • Deficit rises in March; increased tax refunds, military spending cited • Education flexibility bill passed • GOP lawmakers want more college aid • Democrats unveil Medicare drug plan • GOP proposes Social Security surplus restrictions • First lady discusses Middle East • Government details children's online privacy • IRS oversight board still not named • House panel approves bill requiring reports on costs of federal rules • New kids' health program enrolls nearly 1 million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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