Clinton, who addressed the nation Wednesday night, is to receive a damage assessment report Thursday from his national security team  ALSO: RELATED VIDEOS CNN's Andrea Koppel reports on how U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is focusing to keep NATO unified Windows Media 28K 80K CNN interview Thursday morning with U.S. Senator George Voinovich, who is opposed to the NATO strikes Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K Join CNN's Martin Savidge as cruise missiles are launched Wednesday from the Philippine Sea warship Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Bruce Morton reports on the U.S. stake in Kosovo Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

March 25, 1999
Web posted at: 8:04 a.m. EST (1304 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton will meet with his national security team Thursday morning to receive a damage assessment from the initial wave of NATO airstrikes against Yugoslavia and a briefing on plans for the second day of bombings.

Administration officials tell CNN it is "near certain" that the president also would make a public statement later Thursday about the military operation.

The officials said they were generally satisfied with public and political reaction so far, although they acknowledged persistent questions from Congress about an endgame for the U.S.-led assaults.

The officials said the answer depended on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic who, they said, could end the strikes by accepting the Kosovo peace plan.

If he refuses, the officials said the bombing was likely to continue for more than a week, until the United States and NATO were convinced they have significantly degraded Belgrade's military capabilities.

In an address to the American public on Wednesday night, Clinton said the attacks were necessary to "defuse a powder keg" that has engulfed Europe in war before.

"We act to protect thousands of innocent people in Kosovo from a mounting military offensive," said Clinton.

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