Jay Schneider wrote:

> Under the concepts that they are using for the bombings (anything that
> is used by the military is a target) the power plants are a valid target.

Some concept... Military (of course) has alternative ways of getting
electricity (UPSes ;-),so its not hurting them at all. I refuse to
believe that someone at Pentagon thinks that bombing power plants will
switch Yugoslav Army's radars off - that is just too stupid.

My latest theory is that, leaving Serbialn population with no water and
electricity, NATO is making a 'political' statement to that population,
about what Milosevic's regime brings to them. The fact is - during last
ten years quality of life in Serbia has dropped beyond comprihension (in
late 80s Yugoslavia was close to, say, Italy or Greece, regarding public
standard). But no one really ever suffered, which is more than you can
say for other former Yugoslav republics. Yes, receiving an average
salary you needed 40 years to buy a car (!!!), but basic things like
food or electricity were cheap even in those conditions.

NATO, obviously, has its objectives in the Balkans, and is not too
selective about means needed to achieve them. They will do what it takes
- that being bombing of bridges, hospitals, prisons or barracks, little
difference. And I can understand that, to an extent - they have a war to
win at a place where wars are common occurance, and they couldn't care
less about local population. But sometimes they get just too
sarcastic... For example, NATO spokesman's comment on prisoner deaths in
bombed jail:

---
Nato insists the bombing was not an intelligence
blunder. Mr Shea said that if prisoners had been in the
jail as well, that was the responsibility of the Serbs.
---

Isn't that cute... prisoners being in prison (a very unlikely place for
prisoners, one must say) is Serbian responsibility!!! And throwing bombs
on prison filled with prisoners is a 'legitimate act'.

> Did you hear that another Apache crashed?  This is relevant (I think)
> as it may send a message (it does to me) that there are some underlying
> weaknesses
> in the US Army (I'm making the distinction between the branches of
> service.)

Well, it seems they simply gave up on Apaches (under some faulty excuse
of 'not needing them at the moment'). Unfortunately for us, they still
have a lot of war machinery that DOES work.

> Also, it looks like in the continued media show they will release the
> 2 Serbian prisoners...

Yes, prisoners. They never get that kind of publicity in Yugoslavia (nor
anywhere in Europe, for that matter). I doubt anyone but that men's
families would say 'thank you' for releasing them.

I really have no clear idea how all this will end - it seems the war can
end tomorrow (Milosevic is ready for partial sellout, as always, if he
can get some good out of it), or it could last for months. Bad...

Regards,
vladimir