Page 192 - The CNN Effect in Action - How the News Media Pushed the West toward War ini Kosovo

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THE KOSOVO CRISIS—THE MICRO REVIEW
before NATO bombers were to begin their mission. Unlike the reso-
lution in the House, final attempts at diplomacy had already failed,
and military intervention was imminent. Concurrent Resolution 21
authorized “the President of the United States to conduct military air
operations and missile strikes against the Federal Republic of
101
Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).”
Media images clearly seemed to play a role in the decision-making
of some lawmakers during this debate, as manifested by their com-
ments. In one example, Paul Wellstone recalled a story he had read in
The New York Times and referred to Racak and other related images in
making his case for military intervention. According to the senator,
As we all know, Milosevic has already carried out numerous massacres and,
other atrocities in Kosovo, including the killing of more than 40 ethnic
Albanian civilians in the village of Racak in January. Right now, there are
tens of thousands of refugees on the move in Kosovo. These refugees
are facing very basic problems of survival. They lack shelter. They need
blankets and stoves. The fighting has knocked out the electricity and
water supplies. There are people right now huddling in cellars, and in
unfinished houses, with their families. According to an account in the
New York Times, people who are refugees themselves are giving shelter to
refugees. One family is giving shelter to 80 people ...It is almost certain 157
that we will soon be hearing more stories of massacres and displacements,
of women and children and elderly men being summarily executed, and
of further atrocities ...I find it hard to stand by and let Milosevic
continue with his relentless campaign of destruction. 102
Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, another supporter of
Concurrent Resolution 21, was also cognizant of the images from
Racak in her support of military action:
Reports from last night indicate that further humanitarian catastrophes
are imminent. Serbia is moving aggressively to overrun and drive thou-
sands more ethnic Albanians from their homes. The Serbs have
deployed 40,000 army and police units in Kosovo. Over the past week-
end, over 10,000 Kosovo Albanians were forced to flee their homes
fearing for their lives. And for good reason: a brutal Serbian attack on
the village of Racak in January resulted in the death of 45 civilians.
Some of my colleagues have argued that we should consider military
action only if further humanitarian atrocities occur. We cannot wait for
genocide to occur before we act. 103
Concurrent Resolution 21 was passed in the U.S. Senate on March 23
with 58 supporters, 41 opponents, and 1 abstention. Although its