by Bob Coultas

        WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Aug. 6, 1999) -- Brig.
Gen. John Craddock held his last news briefing as Task Force
Falcon commander Thursday via telephone hook-up from Kosovo to
the Pentagon press room.
        Craddock will be rotating soon from Kosovo to duties
with the 7th Army Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany. He
will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Craig Peterson, who has been
serving as chief of staff, 1st Armored Division, in Germany.
        Craddock briefed reporters on the number of troops in
Kosovo, crime trends and what the future might hold for the
Albanians and Serbs living together in peace.
        About 6,000 U.S. troops are now operating in Kosovo,
Craddock said, explaining that number includes the aviation
element flying daily missions from Macedonia.  In addition,
about 2,000 multi-national troops -- including Greeks, Poles and
Russians -- are now conducting operations in the American
sector, Craddock said.
        Criminal activity in the Albanian-populated valley of
the American area of operations has quieted down considerably,
Craddock said.  However, he added that random burnings of homes
vacated by Serbs, still occur on a daily basis.
        "At times it's teenagers that are setting the fires, and
that's malicious intent," Craddock said. "Other times, it's a
revenge act by refugees who are back and want to get back at the
Serbs, and the only way is to torch the house that has already
been vacated," he said.
        In the town of Vitna, Serbs are still leaving in small
numbers on a daily basis, Craddock said.  The town is about 70
percent Albanian and 30 percent Serb and since the Americans
have been there tensions have erupted into gunfire, Craddock
explained.  Soldiers have been repeatedly stationed there to
stop the tensions, but many Serbs felt the intimidation factor
was too great and they left, Craddock said. They did not leave
the province however, Craddock said. They moved to an
all-Serbian town a few kilometers away.
        Craddock was asked if he had enough troops to protect
the Serbs. "I think we do," he said "If you take a look at the
forces that we have and some technology that helps us out, yes,
I think we are fine in terms of the numbers," he said.
         The key is to figure out the cycle of violence, to
figure out how it comes about, where it might occur, then get
there first to intercede, he said. By blocking the cycle, the
violators' ability to move in, establish intimidation, start
violence and communicate threats are thwarted, he said. Then the
residents will feel more secure and they'll stick it out, he
added.
        Craddock said he has the right kind of soldiers to
accomplish the mission.
        "These combat soldiers are trained to do a lot, and they
are very agile and adept at quick reaction. So the ability to
move from point A to B when something comes up hot or we get an
indication there's trouble, they do that very well," he said.
        He added that the Military Police in Kosovo are
invaluable. "They're doing a lot of long hours, seven days a
week.  Just superb," he said.
        Craddock said the Serbs and Albanians have to understand
that the future is going to be assured with small first steps.
        "If they stop shooting and start talking, think about
the jobs, think about a roof over their head, an education for
their children -- which maybe they haven't had over the last few
years if they're Albanian -- that there are possibilities that
the life ahead is going to be better than the life they've had,
that's the theme were working all the time," he said.