Re: Kosovo: possible scenarios

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Sender: [email protected]
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 09:17:54 +0300 (EET DST)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Kosovo: possible scenarios

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Besnik Pula <[email protected]>

Re: Kosovo: possible scenarios


At 11:52 PM +0300 4/20/99, MINELRES moderator wrote:

> From the moderator: it seems to me that some points made by Zidas 
> are disputable (in particular, that the aim of the NATO 
> intervention was to "equal forces" between Serbian army and KLA, at 
> least officially stated goal was different - to stop oppression of 
> civilians). Anyway, the questions raised are definitely of great 
> importance, and comments will be appreciated.
> Boris
 
Dear Boris,
 
I think that Zidas's point that the goal of the air strikes is to
level the playing field between the Serb forces and the KLA has some
basis. I remember just before the air strikes began that several US
officials were citing this reason specifically as the goal of the
strikes. Even in the initial phase of the air strikes, when asked
about ground troops, President Clinton said that he opposed using
ground troops and that he believed the air strikes would enable the
Kosovar Albanians to "defend themselves." The media did not pay too
much attention to this last remark.
 
I think that the US and NATO are trying to avoid making any public
references to the KLA as a factor in their military calculations. If
NATO is so vehemently opposing sending ground troops, and presuming
that they are aware that an air war alone will not bring them victory
on the ground, what else could NATO be relying on than on the KLA?
 
Regards,
 
Besnik Pula

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