No rush out of Kosovo

In August 2000, candidate George W. Bush promised an "orderly and timely withdrawal" from Kosovo.

Now, nearly eight years later, a senior administration official is touting a new NATO agreement as "the ultimate exit strategy for Kosovo" and the 1,600 U.S. soldiers that remain there.

It is always striking to reflect on how dramatically Bush’s views on the proper role of the military shifted after he became president. During his first presidential campaign, Bush argued that the military was badly overstretched. The tempo in 2000 was nothing compared to what it is today.

With the need for more troops in Afghanistan, it is surprising that the U.S. has not handed off the Kosovo mission sooner. But even with an agreement on a new European Union force for Kosovo beginning to take shape, do not expect an "exit strategy" to lead to an immediate NATO exit. Some experts believe U.S. forces will be needed in Kosovo for another three to six years.

The senior administration official said it was critical for NATO to give the new Kosovo government more responsibility for securing the country. On the other hand, the official said, NATO’s work is not yet done.

"It’s not like we are giving them the keys to the country," the official said.

--Julian E. Barnes

Photo: Valdrin Xhemaj/EPA