Click here for a special offer. Click here for our free newsletter. Gen. Wesley Clark is taking no chances. U.S. News has learned that in early October, NATO's top general asked his bosses at the Pentagon for approval to start drawing up plans for possible NATO military action in Yugoslavia's junior republic.
Intelligence officials say no such move appears imminent.
But Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic has already taken steps toward independence. Just before meeting with U.S. officials in Washington last week, for instance, he approved the German deutsche mark as an alternative currency to the Yugoslav dinar. U.S. policy makers tried to rein in his ambitions last week, cautioning Djukanovic not to count on automatic U.S. support if he tries to wrench Montenegro free of Yugoslavia. But many feel that a break with Belgrade is inevitable. Air and sea.