Is the war over? Readers’ thoughts.

The MoJo Wire’s Kosovo Coverage

Things really seem to have quieted down in Kosovo since the bombing stopped. Other than a few dozen reprisal lynchings, assorted gunfights and murders, the mass exodus of thousands of Serbs out of Kosovo (who were previously driven out of Croatia), the stampede of Kosovar refugees back in, the clandestine takeover of Kosovo’s strategic assets by KLA opportunists, and the embarrassment to NATO caused by Russians knocking back vodka spritzers at the Pristina airport, the transition to “peace” seems to be going pretty smoothly. I can hardly wait for the “good guys” to jump into their next humanitarian intervention.

Continuing to pray and act for peace,
Steve Storer
Oregonia, Ohio

 

Here is a partial list of what has been lost in the last 70 days of bombing in Yugoslavia:

1. Destruction of the United Nations, an organization set up specifically to protect weaker nations from being victimized by aggressor nations. The UN has, for all intents and purposes, ceased to serve its mandate and must now be dismantled.

2. American goodwill is forever tarnished. No one will trust our nation again. If they are willing to stab their old allies the Yugoslavs in the back, just think what they will do to nations they have no loyalties to.

3. Russia’s role in the world to maintain balance is dead as well.

4. The US has gone from being one of the most loved and emulated nations to its new role of “world class bad guy” willing to bully any other country which does not obey its orders.

5. The death of free journalism in this country is obvious. Throughout the crisis, the media has remained nothing more then a mouthpiece for State Department press releases. Refusing to show any journalistic integrity by being fair, they have disgraced themselves.

Conclusions: What the Clinton administration did is more far-reaching that the policy-makers know. Every nation will now see this action of unprovoked aggression as a call to arms. Indeed, the real arms race has just begun, as every country will now HAVE TO arm themselves for possible future engagements. The term nuclear proliferation will only now become a reality and a threat. The lesson is clear, and every world leader would be a fool not to see it: Arm yourself, get the bomb or else you too will face the full brunt of the new world order.

Jack Johnson

 

Editor,

Now that the war to destroy Yugoslavia is over, the real war is just beginning. And once again, NATO is acting like a bully. The United Nations Security Council resolution was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter which authorizes enforcement measures in the Balkans. NATO has quickly interpreted this resolution as a blank check allowing the alliance not only the sole command of the force, but also the ability to change the mandate at will by imposing particular conditions on the Yugoslav military’s withdrawal and threatening to resume airstrikes if these are not met. Who does NATO think they are? The UN represents the international community and holds the keys to international law, not NATO.

While NATO was busy celebrating, the Russians sent in their troops from Bosnia and were the first troops to secure positions inside Kosovo. The Russian move is a slap in the face to NATO. As long as Russian troops are in Serbia, Russia will prevent further airstrikes by NATO on Yugoslavia. And unlike the Serbs, Russia has an impressive arsenal of nuclear weapons to deter any further NATO strikes. NATO wants to continue to control Yugoslavia, but now Russia has landed and Moscow will have a say in what goes on in the Balkans.

The question remains, why can’t the Russians have their own sector in Kosovo? What harm would be done by this move? The fact is that NATO’s deployment into Kosovo is leading to yet another humanitarian crisis, the exodus of thousands of Serb refugees from Kosovo. Why is NATO failing to do anything to prevent this? NATO is setting the stage for the next cold war. The Russians, Chinese and even India may unite to form an alliance to counter NATO’s bully power. We are just beginning to see the impacts of NATO versus Yugoslavia.

Thank You,
Pete Papageorge
Beloit, WI



Reader: Polls count people, but don’t tell facts

The MoJo Wire’s Kosovo Coverage: Alternative News

Dear Mother Jones,

I read the article “Who supports the war” when it originally appeared in the Exile, and was not surprised to see that you added it to your “MoJo Wire.” It raises a very good point: If X% of people are for or against something, they must be right! 99% of Greeks and 72% of Hungarians are against the NATO campaign. Wow, that’s a pretty damning indictment of NATO, isn’t it?

Of course, 78% of Americans believe in angels, and 64% further believe that they personally have an angel looking after them. 82% of Americans support the death penalty; I look forward to your editorial acknowledging your prior error in opposing capital punishment. Yes, if a poll proves it true, I am a believer!

Regarding public opinion about the NATO campaign, it might be worth noting that 100% of ethnic Albanians, 97% of Bosnian Muslims, and 95% of Croatians supported the bombing of Yugoslavia. Generally speaking, public opinion in countries such as Slovenia and Poland has been pro-NATO. In countries such as Italy and Bulgaria, anti-NATO. Citing public opinion polls simply doesn’t demonstrate much at all, except that some are against and some are for. I hardly think that the Exile article meets your self-proclaimed standard of “news for the skeptical citizen.”

Sincerely,
Mark Nuckols