Justifications flimsy for unjust aggression

Milosevic's ill treatment of the ethnic Albanians is undeniable and unforgivable; the term "war criminal" certainly applies. But what is the "solution"? Hitler said he was "protecting" oppressed Germans in Czechoslovakia, and Japan claimed to be "protecting its interests" in Manchuria.

Under the UN charter, it is prohibited to attack another country unless it is deemed justifiable by the Security Council. Saddam Hussein broke this law by invading Kuwait. He did it in his country's "best interests," but it was a no-no. So the UN kicked his butt back to Baghdad.

Now NATO (the U.S.) is breaking the law. NATO is a obsolete remnant of the Cold War. Its only authority comes from the barrel of a gun. Yes, the situation is tragic in Kosovo, and it was worsened by the bombing. Bombing does a couple things: It strengthens the enemies' resolve, and it kills people. Anyone who thinks that Clinton is doing this for "humanitarian" reasons needs to take a U.S. history class or have his head examined. As we speak, Turkey is committing Milosevic-style atrocities against its ethnic minority of Kurds with U.S. weapons. In Iraq, 597,000 children have died due to the sanctions and damage done by bombing. It is continuing, as we speak, at a rate of 5,000 children per month.

So don't you dare come to me about 2,000 dead in Kosovo and use the word "genocide." That ridiculous "Hitler" argument has been used to justify every murderous military action since Korea, and it's a shame to the memory of the Holocaust. One dead is too many, but perspective is in order. About that 2,000 number, that was last year's figures. This year (before the bombing) saw a murder rate in Kosovo not in the thousands, not in the hundreds, but in the dozens - about equal to the murder rate in Atlanta. Until the bombing began, then the powder keg exploded.

The South African government oppressed and murdered thousands, and what did we do? Political pressure, sanctions, strikes, boycotts. It worked. Diplomacy works. Maybe not U.S. style " Mongo smash! " diplomacy, but real political effort. Nonviolence works, at least Martin Luther King thought so. Stop waving the flag and open your eyes, your country is waging an illegal, immoral war which is doing nothing but piling up bodies. Once we were students. Once we were the voice against the madness of our leaders. It is that time again. Now is a time for protest.

Daniel Benard
History junior