Re: AGF: What about the ethnic Albanians?

Ronald,

Maybe it isn't that I "cannot see the difference between the use of force
in the case of a systematic and deliberate campaign to rid the region of
an ethnic group and the use of force to stop the former from taking
place." Maybe it is that I reject the premise of "a systematic and
deliberate campaign to rid the region of an ethnic group."

There is another flaw in your argument, and this concerns your assumption
that what NATO is doing and what they have accomplished is an instance of
using force to stop an "aggressor." NATO has not only failed to stop the
"aggressor," but they have done far more harm than good. One might argue,
I suppose, that the effects of bombing Yugoslavia were not known going
into this mess. But that would be untrue. First, the refugee crisis was
the predictable outcome of NATO action. But we need not rely on my
assessment of this -- advisers to Clinton told him that NATO bombing would
cause what ultimately happened. It appears now that the refugee crisis was
precisely what the Clinton Administration wanted -- they were better
prepared for Woodstock than they were for the Kosovar refugee crisis (and
there were probably more people at Woodstock). Why? To manufacture a
justification for attacking Yugoslavia? Don't put that past them. The
outcome? The Yugoslavian people have united around their government. The
Clinton Administration and NATO could not be accomplishing everything they
said they wanted to avoid unless the outcome of their actions was not
somehow in their minds before going into the ill-starred endeavor. And now
they are openly rationalizing the bombing of civilians -- the bombing of
Kosovars, no less. If we assume that these outcomes were unplanned, then
what an incredibly botched operation; this shows that NATO is not
competent to act in this capacity. If we assume that these outcomes were
planned, then it is clear that NATO's goals are not about saving the
Kosovar people. Either way, there is no moral justification for NATO's
actions.

NATO expanded the conflict in the Balkans and created an enormous refugee
crisis that threatens the fragile stability of the surrounding
territories. If the conflict expands it will be the direct result of NATO
action in Yugoslavia. The United States and NATO have started an
international war in the Balkans. It is amazing that this finds some
legitimacy in your "moral universe."

Richard, I am pleased not to belong the same "moral universe" as pro-NATO
apologists.

Andy