Posted by Nemo on October 20, 1998 at 13:25:55:
In Reply to: Re: At the Doorstep of World War III posted by Custodian on October 14, 1998 at 12:27:07:
: : The United States are about to start an agression against an independent state - Serbia. I say the United States, and not NATO because NATO-countries would do exactly what USA tells them to do.
: : This mindless aggression can bring us to World War III. The USA have learnt nothing from its earlier experiences - Hiroshima and Vietnam. I wish to remind everybody that several years of bombing in Vietnam didn't break the will of Vietnamese liberation army. Meddling with internal affairs of a state (especially with a case of civil disagreements) brings nothing but misery and destruction to all the nations involved.
: : The USA and the world are utterly inconsistent in their moves. When Russia had a case of civil war with Chechen republic, the world community (read USA) did not react in any way - more precisely, they did not send bombers to crush Russia. Why? Because Russia could fight back, because Russia had atomic weapon, after all, because Russian territory is so large. Serbia does not have atomic weapon, Serbia, maurauded by rebels, cannot fight back, and Serbia is small. Thus it can be attacked without any large fear for being hit back. That's cowardice! The following cite only confirms it: "The six B-52s that arrived Sunday at a British air based would be used to launch cruise missiles from outside the range of Serb’s air defenses." (from http://www.msnbc.com/news/204272.asp)
: : So why to launche this assault at all? The answer is: to justify NATO's existance and to show who is the boss. Since the threat from Soviet Union disappeared NATO was in accute lack of enemies. So the enemies and wars should be created to justify bugets. Iraque was first, Serbia is next.
: : Why World War III? Russia has newly declared its support to Serbia - diplomatic and military - as to a bother-state. In an utmost case this would mean that any country declaring war on Serbia, declares war on Russia, meaning that Russia can strike back, targeting any European country.
: : USA behaves now like "the wold's hooligan", striking the one who is weaker, but avoiding the one who is equal or stronger. It was not so long ago we saw banners "USA out of Vietnam". I am afraid that soon we will see banners "NATO (USA) out of Serbia!"
: : This paragraph is for americans only (in connection with their constant paranoia): No, I am not a communist; I am a person who loves the thing that americans lost long ago - freedom.
: : Nemo.
: : (after the famous Prince Dakkar)
:
: Dear Nemo!
: I can agree with you that aggressions are of no good generally. However it is not
: always the case. For instance, the second world war was a struggle between fascism
: and democracy. Milosevic is a fascist, as he is the child of Hitler's spirit, prosecuting
: the minorities in Serbia, for instance the Kosovo-albans, tyrranizing men women and children in
: his utopian dream of a Great Serbia. You forgot to mention this in your outburst on USA. Therefore
: it is impossible for me to take a stand in this conflict, I can only see these broken people, old and
: young, women with infants, in a part of the world were suffering and disillusion is
: tearing men apart, so....
:
: /Custodian
Dear Baron,
I can see your point. It is not so that I approve of what Miloshevitch does. I generally tried to avoid taking any part in the conflict (what NATO failed to do) - how successful I do not know.
But speaking about parts - there are two parts, though only one of those got sufficient attention in media. There are also refuges among Serbs, and there are quite a lot of them. One Norwegian refugee center has 250 Serbs contra 19 Albanians. Historicly, Kosovo is a Serbian region, wherefrom Serbs have been driven during the expansion of Osman Empire. Many of them returnd to their historical homeland during the unity of Jugoslavia, but began to feel very strong ethnic pressure from Albanian population during the first disturbecies, when Jugoslavia fell apart. I speak now about common people. It is not strange that when Serbs began to be driven from their homes once again, the army was called in. What the army was commanded to do is another question - instead of being a peace force, it was instructed to reverse the oppression. The result: suffering on both sides.
It looks like the conflict is "solved" for now. Miloshevitch agreed to the most of demands from NATO, NATO will not bomb, and so on... (Why can't people live side by side, but MUST have MY land and YOUR land?!! The world is SO small!!!) It is it the real solution? I do not threat, I predict: the conflict will come to the surface again, as the "solution" did not come naturally, but was imposed upon the parts.
I hope that the conflict is over, but I afraid that it is not, so I also greatly hope that next time the world community will learn of the historical errors - the errors which have been repeated several times already!
Nemo.