You're way off base and haven't a clue about diplomatic snooker...
You should have noticed, for instance, that the Pentagon voiced their annoyance with the current air strike campaign. Yet, instead of blaming the political leadership that has opted for such a ''smart-carpet-bombing'', Pentagon officials snookered the blame and aimed at ''the green ball'' instead, that is Sup. Cdr. Gen. W. Clark! But no one is fool enough to believe that Gen. Clark got a blank cheque to execute any strategy he may find appropriate.
Then, you've got past Head of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell who has also piped up his viewpoint: Powell calls for an overkill landing force in Kosovo... And this guy is a respected authority who has the ear of both Republicans and Democrats. So, all in all, you've got a large consensus among the military establishment and it still comes back to this: a ground intervention in Kosovo.
For obvious diplomatic contingencies, such a radical claim is not waved in the faces of NATO's political big shots! Such a blunder would be the shortest way to the ruling out of a ground war. On the other hand, Clinton is expected to listen to his military staff: the American public opinion knows that he's no military expert! Hence, Clinton will, sooner or later, endorse the expertise of the Pentagon and go for a ground war. Right now, the stumbling stone is NATO's other members: once they all get cornered in the White House's mousetrap, all Clinton will have to do is to gently lift the ''ground war'' exit door...
Regards,
Gustave. |
