Africa Speaks Reasoning Forum

On what principle can those who supported intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo oppose Bush on Iraq, or Afghanistan? Or is there a principle at all, save the momentary emotional arguments and imperialist chic?

All of the leading Democratic candidates for "opposing" Bush the Lesser in November supported the Great Balkans Adventure during the 1990s. They are not opposing the current Perpetual War. They might claim they would do it differently, but they would still do it.

Wesley Clark's position needs no explanation. His pompous propaganda claims about "liberating a nation," leaves out the truth of naked aggression, ethnic cleansing and occupation by NATO and its KLA allies. Queried about his war record by a leftist reporter (Jeremy Scahill of Democracy Now!), Clark lied and denied, from claiming that everything NATO did was legitimate and justified by US and international law (!) to blaming everything on the Serbs and Milosevic.

The current front-runner, John Kerry, had spoken in favor of Clinton's Bosnia intervention and supported US deployment in the occupation of that country. His voting record also shows he supported the aggression in Kosovo. He may not flaunt his position like Clark, but he's made it clear enough.

As for Howard Dean, this is the man who in July 1995 urged Clinton to unilaterally intervene in Bosnia, in a letter arguing for a "lift-and-strike" campaign against the Serbs. No one in the Dean camp has repudiated the letter so far.

The War Party

For all the criticism of electoral results in, say, Serbia, it seems Americans are ones lacking real options come November. People still convinced their vote has meaning see substantial differences where in truth there are only stylistic disagreements. Both major parties favor massive taxation, government spending, and foreign wars. Democrats justified their aggression with talk of "human rights" and "humanitarian aid," while Republicans justify theirs with "war on terror" and "national interest," but the end result is the same: people halfway around the world get bombed, killed in droves, and occupied by US and satellite troops.

Until that realization hits home, it is highly unlikely that US policy in the Balkans or in Babylon will change for the better.