Belgrade, April 4th 1999

While Bombs are Falling

I'm trying to be as cold-head as is possible, while bombs fall in my neighborhood

    Who is responsible for the massive exodus: Milosevic or NATO? I think both are have huge responsibility. Just before strikes against Yugoslavia started, President Clinton stated: "to do nothing at this time is the same as to give Milosevic a license to kill". Many experts (Mr. Kissinger etc) warn that air stirkes will practically turn NATO into a Kosovar Albanians Air Force. In these circumstances, Milosevic can simply say "ok, they hurt me from the air, I can hurt them on the ground" and ethnically clean Kosovo of Albanians, because "everything is permitted in love and war". Practically, air strikes indeed gave a license to kill and clean to Milosevic. Without air strikes and with the presence of KVM and other foreign monitors, aid workers and journalists, Milosevic would have had great difficulties in doing what he is doing now, and I am certain that if he did, in that case NATO would have easily got authorization from the UN Security Council to attack with much more support for the campaign from around World, because Russia and China would, at least, not have stopped the resolution. But, once the line is crossed, when bombs start falling, everything becomes possible.

    On the other hand, what are the REAL objectives of NATO?

    The first and most significant official objective was "to PREVENT a humanitarian catastrophe". Now President Clinton speaks: "Our nation cannot do EVERYTHING,... we can't end ALL suffering...", like there is just a SMALL AMOUNT suffering left untended. What hypocrisy! NATO spokesmen repeat that they have "EXPECTED massive exodus of refugees". If they had expected it, why did'nt they organize proper help ON TIME for all those countless refugees who are now starving around Kosovo borders?

    The second official objective was "to convince Milosevic to change his policy, or to pay a big price". Well, Milosevic will be more concerned if NATO bombs Argentina or Indochina for example, than Yugoslavia, right now. This was simply a gift from NATO to him - he is now stronger than ever, his children and grand-children are safe in one neighboring NATO country - Greece !!! He will not pay any price, he is now just fine, while the temperature is rising in Russia and in some European NATO countries. Other leaders are also very fine. The KLA representative in London pledges: "we are going to SACRIFICE our people, just don't stop bombing". No, only us, ordinary people, Serbs and Albanians, will pay the big price. Through this action, NATO is equaling itself with Milosevic. With two Milosevics, both Serbs and Albanians have no chance.

    As a Serb, I'm a shamed of what my president doing in the name of my nation, but I think that people from NATO countries should be ashamed of what their leaders are doing in their name.

    STOP THE BOMBS!

Slobodan

P.S. This is not my real name, but please understand: it's a little bit dangerous to speak against Milosevic in any way at this time, and it seems, unfortunately, for a long time into the future. First, I must thank NATO for that.