Tresy Kilbourne wrote ...
>It even Chomsky admits that the Serbs butchered 2000 Kosovars before the
>bombing began, how do we get to these absurd, Stratfor-type estimates after?
>Did NATO bombing resurrect the dead? Or--gasp--did NATO actually forestall a
>greater catastrophe, exactly as they claimed (as the body baggers fear)?
>--
>Tresy Kilbourne
>Seattle WA

The death of 2000 people in conflict inspired by some kind of false
nationalism, or for any reason for that matter, is certainly tragic,
regrettable and deserves a response from any entity claiming to value human
rights.

So what was NATO's response?  To bomb.  At first they bombed military
facilities.  But before long, they began bombing civilian infrastructure -
broadcasting facilities, hospitals, schools, etc.  The BBC labelled this
change in NATO strategy as "taking off the gloves".  Other reports from
non-Yugoslav media described farms being bombed and crops set alight.  For
what it's worth, such actions are regarded by international law as being
war crimes.

And what was the outcome of the NATO bombing?  The commencement of the NATO
bombing campaign coincided with a sharp increase in reports of acts of
violence in Kosovo.  UNHCR reported zero refugees up until the time of the
U.S./NATO bombing - this changed dramatically within hours of the bombing.

What were the alternatives to bombing?  Prior to the bombing, Yugoslav
diplomats with French persuasion had agreed to a withdrawal of Yugoslav
forces from Kosovo, and the introduction of international peacekeepers
under a UN banner - but, understandably in hindsight, they did not want a
NATO force within their borders.  The agreement was later approved by the
Yugoslav parliament.  But this was not good enough for the U.S.  Knowing
that a UN force would be less able to target civilian facilities,
operations in Kosovo would be run by NATO or by no one.  There was no
compromise by the U.S.  What we say goes.  The agreement was ignored, and
the bombing campaign was underway.

Look, there is no doubt that Milosevic's actions in Kosovo deserved stern
condemnation and an international response (as do those of the many other
rogues - mostly U.S. clients - who continue to torture and kill their own),
but that does not entitle the U.S., NATO or any other arbitrary entity to
respond with the same indiscriminate, brutal killing and destruction ...
with interest.

Graham