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Pastimes : Kosovo -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: nuke44 who wrote (4934)	4/21/1999 4:11:00 PM
From: Douglas V. Fant	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 17770

nuke44 and all, Update on Kosovo situation... NATO at Odds with Itself 21 Apr 99 - 0300 GMT Two massive cross-currents are at work within NATO. There is, on one hand, strong antipathy toward waging all-out war against Serbia. Consider that the European Union today was not able to pass a resolution barring the sale of oil to Serbia. The proposal was blocked by Greece and Italy, who justified their position by arguing that a blockade must be preceded by a UN resolution. Underlying the legal niceties was the fact that neither country wants an intensification of the war. Given that Greece and Italy are strategically essential to any ground war because of their port facilities, their unwillingness to simply endorse an oil embargo poses a serious challenge to any ground campaign. Equally negative were statements today by German Bundeswehr chief-of-staff General Hans-Peter von Kirchbach, who said today that NATO has "an option to intensify air operations," but that "there are no plans for other operations. We are convinced that it will not be necessary." On the other hand, the same Greek government that voted against an oil embargo did hint earlier today that its ports would be available for use in a ground war, a substantial softening of its position. The United States and Britain, at the other extreme, are trying to make it appear that a ground war is inevitable. Indeed, there are indications of a build-up of forces in Albania. The arrival of the 82nd Airborne Division's advanced guard is more than a security force for the Apaches that have not yet arrived and the MLRS. They will be joined by other elements of their division, indicating that a build-up of forces for a ground war is already underway. Yet, at the very same time, NATO's request for an additional 300 U.S. combat aircraft has not yet been approved, with Pentagon planners saying they are considering the impact of such a large transfer of forces on other areas of the world. As we come into Friday's summit of NATO leaders in Washington, the cross-currents are dizzying. Just as pressure dramatically increases on Serbia due to the Greek shift on ports, the EU's decision on an oil embargo undermines that pressure. The creation of a deliberate sense of mystery about the build-up of forces in Albania then encounters a public unwillingness by the United States to commit requested aircraft. Statements from Washington and London that NATO is prepared to do whatever is necessary to solve the crisis is met by German officials saying that a ground attack is not necessary. The problem here is not public relations, but a deep split not only within NATO, but within each individual country over the future course of the war. There is simply no consensus emerging over what is to be done. Without such a consensus, NATO cannot act. Each time a consensus appears to be emerging and pressure on Milosevic builds, the consensus cracks apart and the pressure bleeds off. The current stalemate is less in the war than in NATO itself and even within the U.S. military. Agreement on the next step simply isn't emerging. The problem is partly political within countries. But the key problem remains military. The difficulties inherent in the ground option are daunting. The strategic implications of a major air build-up are similarly worrisome. Therefore, each day the world is whipped by conflicting signals. The only constancy in the signal is what the Serbs have clearly heard: NATO has not yet locked in a plan. Therefore Serbia continues to have room for maneuver.

To: nuke44 who wrote (4934)	4/22/1999 2:26:00 PM
From: Andy Thomas	Respond to of 17770

>> preceded by forcing the Serbs<< You can't force anyone to do anything, but you can kill them all. It's your choice. Just don't kid yourself about being able to force people to do things they don't want to do. It is interesting to me that in the U.S. this Colorado shooting has taken over the main coverage and Kosovo is on the back burner. The Colorado shooting is shocking but the "Kosovo Crisis" is the biggest story in years. It's as if our "free press" waited for any chance to back off of the war coverage and push something else. They've gotten lots of mileage because they've been able to attack Marilyn Manson and the computer game, Doom; they've also been able to trot out their old gun control line. I can see where this can lead; music censorship, computer game censorship, gun control. What a coup for the American Media; push all kinds of statist agendas and take the focus off of Kosovo..... it's all crocodile tears I'm afraid. Listen, this is life during wartime. Those Colorado deaths are casualties. There are many more deaths than that in Kosovo every day. The "crisis" in Kosovo could lead to untold millions of deaths. Why is it that I'm just the type of person "they" call calloused when "they're" then ones using this tragedy for so much political mileage? The major media game has become so transparent it is sickening. My heart is sick at the levels our journalists have sunken to in seemingly aiding and abetting every wrong-headed idea and concept which has come along of late. As for the school problem, they need a weapons check at the door. They need weapons training so the kids are aware of how to responsibly use firearms. Most of all they need armed teachers; I guess that would require a wholesale firing of the spineless, simpering, boot-licking collectivist National Education Staff and a changing of rules so teachers could actually create an orderly lassroom. A teacher shoot pack a sidearm, tear gas, and a taser. Kids check your weapons at the door. This is life during wartime. It's amazing to me that most Americans don't even want to know what's at stake. What a bunch of big, whining babies Americans are turning out to be!!! FWIW Andy