Discussing the fact that the use of force with a total reliance on air power alone increases the risk of what is euphemistically called "collateral damage", Steve wrote:

"Carried to its logical conclusion, your position amounts to denying a Tarrytown policeman the right to use any force whatsoever in preventing a crime on the possible chance that an accident or mistake on his part might possibly harm an innocent party."
 

My response was:

Steve's analogy is a false analogy. To describe NATO's intervention as a force trying to prevent a crime is misleading. There was a civil war going on in Kosovo because the KLA's objective was to achieve independence. Both sides were committing atrocities against each other. The Serbs were committing more because they were in control. If the KLA men were in control they would have committed more atrocities than the Serbs. Look what is happening now. The Serbs have left and the killings continue, only this time it is the KLA that is committing the killings. US media tends to minimize this, but if you were to watch Fance 2 and ITN as I do every night, you would have known that four Serb brothers were found murdered in their farm; that a long convoy of Serbs who returned to their home from Serbia to Kosovo two days ago left again to Serbia fearing for their lives under KFOR escort etc. My point is that this was a civil war and the KLA terrorists or freedom fighters are not angels and the West is now stuck in the Balkans for God only know how many years.

Regarding the West intervention, as long as the argument being mad is that the West intervened to stop the killings, prevent crimes, enforcing law and order etc. then there is no point in arguing. Only a naïve person would believe such nonsense. A perfect similar example is Sri Lanka. Like the KLA the Tamils are ethnic group different that the people of Sri Lanka. Like the KLA they are fighting for their independence again the central government. Atrocities are being committed by both sides. When are Clinton and NATO going to intervene? The answer is never. The intervention in the Balkans has ulterior motives that are not quite clear right now although there are a number of theories floating around. History will settle this matter.

June 24, 1999