Policy Conference

Tuesday, May 18, 1999

Most analysts agree that the war in Kosovo is not going well. Some have recommended reversing course. Others have suggested that escalation of the conflict is the only option. Cato hosted a half-day conference on May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to discuss NATO's credibility, growing anti-Americanism in Russia, Balkan stability, and the fragile peace in Bosnia. The conference was the first in Washington to openly and realistically debate the various alternatives for exiting Kosovo.

For background on this important topic, see Cato Institute Policy Analysis no. 321, "Washington's Kosovo Policy: Consequences and Contradictions" and Policy Analysis no. 327, Rethinking the Dayton Agreement: Bosnia Three Years Later," both by Gary Dempsey.

 

10:00–10:15 a.m.	Opening Remarks [RealVideo] Ted Galen Carpenter Vice President for Defense & Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute
10:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	Panel I: Alternative Exit Strategies [RealVideo] Debate on various exit strategies, including arming the Kosovo Liberation Army, defeating Serbia on the ground, reopening negotiations, and turning responsibility over to the Europeans. Alton Frye Senior Vice President, Council on Foreign Relations James Jatras Professional Staff Member, Senate Republican Policy Committee William H. Taft, IV Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Doug Bandow (Full text of remarks) Senior Fellow, Cato Institute
12:00–1:45 p.m.	Luncheon and Address—Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.)
1:45–3:30 p.m.	Panel II: Options for Negotiations [RealVideo] Debate on several options for negotiations, including the partition of Kosovo and the calling of a European conference to address issues involving the entire Balkan region. John Mearsheimer Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago William Hyland Professor of Political Science, College of William and Mary Michael Radu Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute

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