L’Observateur / March 29, 1999

The eyes of observers of American foreign policy is focused on the air strikes at Kosovo, Yugoslavia. At home, protesters have taken to thestreets against the American-supported NATO air strikes, aimed at pressuring Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic to end his genocidal program against Albanian separatists.

Operation Allied Force, launched Wednesday, is the latest move in the effort to prevent further mass slayings. NATO supreme commander Gen.Wesley Clark promised, “We’re going to systematically and progressively attack, disrupt, degrade, devastate and ultimately, unless Milosevic complies with the demands of the international community, we’re going to destroy his forces.”In Congress, Republican opposition to the air strikes centered, not so much on the intended purpose, but to the methods.

Pres. Clinton, meanwhile, has heard claims by his opponents of vacillationas to the crisis. Nevertheless, he said, “I also believe very strongly that itis my responsibility to make this judgement based on what I think is in the long-term interests of the American people.”Historically, the Balkan region has been the powder-keg of Europe – where an assassination of a grand duke launched World War I and where invasions by Nazi Germany launched World War II.

Clinton hopes to head off World War III. While an admirable goal, he alsoneeds to find a way to generate more public support for the issue. Recentmajor pollsters indicate more than half of the American people oppose U.S.ground troops go into the region.

If the situation worsens, and troops are sent, Clinton will find himself under siege yet again.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

Internet services provided by NeoSoft.

Best viewed with 3.0 or higher