American peacekeepers are doing a wonderful job in Kosovo

II am a high school history teacher and I just returned from Kosovo. I was in Pristina, Urovesac, Klokot, Vitina and Letnica. I am establishing a program whereby American and Kosovar schools can work to-gether and learn about each other.

These cities and villages were largely peaceful by most standards. People there were friendly and eager to get on with their lives. The majority were not savagely attacking one another. A tiny number of people are seeking revenge and disruption, and our troops are dealing with them.

The Americans are working incredibly hard and not just holding back two sides from killing each other. Quite the contrary.

The media are focused on the flare-ups, not the daily reality. America should be proud of our peacekeepers, who have only four hours a week off duty. We are rebuilding schools, establishing programming for children and helping to rebuild using the best model available — democracy. Elections will occur this October with nearly 1 million Kosovars registered to vote.

I witnessed all of this personally. I was with (our troops) as they patrolled and the people waved and cheered. I saw the children’s eyes light up when we came into the area, Serb or Albanian. If you could see what I saw, no one would question the ability of our military to handle peacekeeping missions.

Nor is there any question in my mind that it’s absolutely vital that we be there. When I asked Kosovars if Americans should leave, the outcry was a resounding no!" Our troops are the most trusted of the peacekeepers.

Send Americans into every hot spot on the planet? No. However, given the previous 10-year history of the Milosevic regime, the instability he’s created in the entire Balkan region, the Bosnian genocide and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo — how could we not be involved?

Jill Cerqueira

Marlboro