Letters: Apr. 26, 1999

TAKING ON THE SERBS

I have never been prouder of Bill Clinton and the U.S. military than now, for standing up to Balkan bully Slobodan Milosevic in order to stop the systematic murder of ethnic Albanians [KOSOVO CRISIS, April 5]. After Hitler exterminated 6 million Jews, the West said it would never let such a tragedy occur again. Well now is the time to back up that promise, because it is happening again. LYNN CAPEHART San Diego

Despite Michael Duffy's air of ridicule in describing Clinton's belief in the efficacy of conflict resolution, this is the only lasting way of resolving the situation in Kosovo. The use of armed conflict to settle differences throughout the centuries is what has led to the current situation. Fighting has not brought a lasting peace; it never will. War means winners and losers, and losers mean bitterness and desire for revenge. With war come death and destruction and children's growing up without parents and siblings, scarred and fearful. War perpetuates further acts of violence. The cycle is endless. ANNA CASSILLY Chapel Hill, N.C.

I am ashamed that the U.S. government and our allies are committing the same genocide against the people of Yugoslavia as the Serbs have been accused of carrying out against the Albanians in Kosovo. The massacre of innocent Serbs under NATO's so-called humanitarian mission must stop. Milosevic may have done wrong, but the NATO forces are doing wrong as well. RAM KOUSSA Rockwall, Texas

Clinton is making the same mistake Lyndon Johnson made in Vietnam in supposing that bombing will force a rational response from an irrational person. Assuming a dictator will act in the best interest of his nation's people is an error of judgment the West keeps making. Milosevic, like Ho Chi Minh, sees the struggles of his countrymen only as the means to achieve an ethnically pure nation. The bait has been taken: NATO and the U.S. are headed down the slippery slope of ever increasing commitment in Yugoslavia. CHARLES GARNER Greensboro, N.C.

If one substitutes 1999, Milosevic, ethnic Albanians and Yugoslavia for 1939, Hitler, Jews and Germany, your article could have appeared in my history textbook covering World War II. Milosevic may not want to control all of Europe, but he does have the will to fight for Kosovo. If America and Europe do not have the will to expel Milosevic, then this region will once again be the birthplace of a world war. DON C. TYLER Fort Wayne, Ind.

The U.S. does not want to be the world's policeman, but if there is ever to be peace, then action must be taken to ensure this goal. It is proper that the U.S., as the most powerful nation in the world, with high ideals of human rights, lead efforts to preserve peace. America's actions in Kosovo to protect the Albanians, a Muslim people, from genocide and abuse of their human rights show a commitment to a just and peaceful world without any bias of race, religion or nationality. DWIGHT M. GOWDEY Seattle