U.S. Warplanes Ready To Strike

U.S. aircraft, including the B-2 stealth bomber, and ships armed with cruise missiles are on alert, ready to launch strikes within hours, CBS National Security Correspondent David Martin reports from the Pentagon.

Once they are given the order, U.S. forces in the region are prepared for a sustained air campaign.

The Pentagon has deployed more than 200 warplanes in the area, based in Germany, Italy and England. ThatÂ's in addition to another 200 jets belonging to other NATO countries.

At sea, the U.S. has 12 warships in the Mediterranean, half of those armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, alongside six NATO warships.

The initial wave would hit targets not just in Kosovo but throughout the former Yugoslavia, and would be intended to disable Serb air defenses and communications.

Defense Secretary William Cohen explained the message the attacks would send to Milosevic.

Â"That he should pull his forces back and stop the slaughter of individual, innocent civilians,Â" Cohen said.

If Milosevic ignores the message and continues his offensive in Kosovo, the U.S. and its NATO allies would attack Serb army positions in and around Kosovo, this time using more conventional aircraft, which would be vulnerable to ground fire.

A former commander of U.S. air forces in Europe described the threat.

Â"They have a very sophisticated surface-to-air missile sites, upwards of 60 batteries, and a huge amount of triple-A, anti-aircraft artillery, which is just firing barrage, firing in the air,Â" said Retired Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerny.

Air strikes may also have to contend with bad weather which could reduce the effectiveness of laser-guided weapons, since laser beams cannot penetrate clouds.