My Kosovar Soapbox:

There are so many parallels between the Serbian/Albanian Kosovo conflict
and Vietnam that the situation truly goes beyond irony:

Both are areas of the world that have been in perpetual civil conflict
for centuries.  As Ken so eloquently stated, "I do not think that people
that have been fighting since the 14th century can be bombed into loving
each other."  One would have thought we had learned our lesson in
Somalia.

Outside interventions in civil wars rarely result in (lasting) peace.
Just ask the French who were involved in Indochina long before we were
ever on the scene.

Massive bombing campaigns have little effect on the squad-sized units
that are terrorizing the villes and hamlets (Remember LBJs attempts to
carpet-bomb the Ho Chi Minh trail?  Boy, wasn't that effective?).

U.S. combat involvement in Vietnam started with air sorties.  Ground
troops were initially there to serve only as "advisors" to ARVN (South
Vietnamese) troops.

Our involvement in Vietnam was initially to "contain" a local conflict
and keep it from spreading to the whole of Southeast Asia.

There were other "allied" troops arrayed against the North Vietnamese,
but the U.S. bore the brunt of combat duties.


These are just a few of the parallels.  I could continue ad nauseum.
The frightening thing about the Balkans conflict is the catch-22 of
ground troops:  To effectively stop the "ethnic-cleansing", rape and
torture by the Serbs (of which the KLA is equally guilty), ground
troops, in force, must be inserted into the theatre.  At that point the
Balkans become a quagmire of US and NATO involvement with no end in
sight--unless, of course, we proceed with our own "scorched earth"
policy and destroy the whole of Eastern Europe.

Another point:  If Mr. Clinton is so concerned about "genocide" in a
civil war, why Kosovo but not Rwanda?  Why Bosnia but not Sierra Leone?

To the Grand Poobah King Gimp:  The "war to end all wars" had its
geographic locus exactly at the same point our fighters and bombers are
now working.  An apocalyptic scenario is far more likely there than in
the Middle East.  Yes, there is much to be feared in this conflict.

-Kyle

Barber, Kenneth L. wrote:
>
> lets not go to trying to predict the end   LOL
>
> however this kosovo thing is scary. we are running out of ammo. are we going
> to get down to slingshots.
>
> i was against troops in the gulf war. not the troops but the troops being
> used. quewait (my spelling) is not a democracy. it worked out okay, but, i'd
> have paid more for gas and not sent the troops. my brother was a green
> brette( spelling) at the time. a chaplain.
>    kosevo? i do not think that people that have been fighting since the 14th
> century can be bombed into loving each other. we had no business there. we
> should use our military only to protect our cuntry's intrest.
>    i know some would disagree and that is your right too.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: lawrence keplinger [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 2:58 PM
> > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:      Re: Intro (and then some)zealots
> >
> > i bet this Kosovo thing got the real religions writes wingers al wined up
> > because could be the start of the end of the world.  did you know last
> > year
> > should had been the oppoclips, 1998 is 3 X 666.
> >
> > Bobby Greer wrote:
> >
> > > Yeah, this relativity shit is wreaking havoc on our values. I'm not the
> > > most spiritual person, but people can justify almost anything now. Those
> > > Christian churches which still do charity work in the communities are
> > some
> > > of the best we have.
> > >
> > >         This Kosovo thing is beginning to scare the shit out of me.
> > Seems
> > > like we're in deep and no one's at the helm.
> > >
> > > Bobby
> > >
> > > >Oh, Bobby, I agree whole-heartedly.  I think the fad these days is to
> > > >promote "alternative truth" systems, and because Christianity
> > represents
> > > >absolute, as opposed to relative, truth, it's become a modern-day
> > > >whipping boy.
> > > >
> > > >Bobby Greer wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> Kyle,
> > > >>
> > > >>         In my experience, the Christians who try to heal by faith are
> > a
> > > >> small, but irritating minority. Most people of true  faith of any
> > kind can
> > > >> be a source of solace for almost anyone.
> > > >>
> > > >> Bobby