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Date:         Fri, 18 Dec 1992 17:15:46 PST
From:         Jonathan Fisher <jfisher@NETXWEST.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rape After Rape After Rape
Comments: To: POLITICS@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu

Mr. Allen's good heart spouts thusly,

> It is my feeling that the only way a lasting peace is going to be
> arranged in this area is going to be through diplomacy - not through
> bloodshed.
I find this to be a remarkably naive look at the situation in Bosnia.
It is obvious that there have been repeated attempts at diplomacy for
months and months.  It is also obvious to me that the Serbians are
intent on domination and cleansing of the Bosnian people regardless
of what the rest of the world thinks.  There are been so many
cease-fires which have been violated by the Serbians that I believe
that it is useless to pretend that another one will stop the bloodshed.
At this point, I believe that only thing left to do, if you want to
do anything, is to get UN approval and bomb the hell out of the Serbians.
Maybe that will stop them from unilaterally obliterating the Bosnians.
>
> It is awful how long this process has dragged out, the loss of
> human life, the human tragedies are terrible. To blame these ill
> effects upon those who wish to see a lasting, peaceful solution
> to the problem is wrong headed though.
I disagree.  There are many people who believe that had the US
acted quickly and loudly early on, the Serbians wouldn't have been
emboldened enough to continue this slaughter.  How many times have
the Europeans gone in and talked with the Serbians?  How many times
have the Serbians either said "We'll do what we want" or said "OK,
we'll stop killing" and then the minute the Europeans left went on
killing.  What does it take to convince you that there is NO
diplomatic solution?
>
> Around the world there are any number of situations where there
> are long standing conflicts based upon competing claims (often
> the claims of all parties have some merit) to land or resources.
> Most of the time these claims are historical and the most virulent
> ones have religious/racial overtones. At some point the world is
> going to have to develop a criteria for considering these claims
> and the rights of the claimants, perhaps providing structures/
> criteria by which all parties can have the most rights at the
> least expense of the other claimants. This situation would
> certainly be a good place to start.
I agree with that.
>
>
> >        Sure some of us (Americans and Euros) will die saving the region from
> >the Serbs, but I hope people see the price of the alternative.
>
> It might be fitting to remember
> that today's actions by the Serbs are in reaction to the slaughter that
> was inflicted upon them not so long ago.
So 2 wrongs make a right?
>
> >        Merry Christmas.
> >Brett'
>
> Peace.
>
> -other Andy
>

Let me put my feelings this way.  I empathize with the slaughter of
the Bosnians.  I had family members who died in Germany.  However,
I would not want, nor do I feel it necessary, to put ground troops
into Bosnia.  I think that the feelings that President-elect Clinton
has expressed on this subject are exactly where we need to go.  In other
words; air power with UN approval, sanctions ONLY on the Serbians,
and aid to the Bosnians.

I don't think that this position is asking too much.  And I believe that
these steps would stop the Serbians.

Happy Chanukah.

Jonathan
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