From: "Andy" <as-AT-spelthorne.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 11:22:58 +0000
Subject: Texans should arm the Kosovars



> 
> As just about everyone has said, there is no good solution here.  My 
> suggestion--not that the Prez has called to ask mr yet---would be to give 
> arms to Kosovars.  Not just the KLA, but any Kosovar who wanted a gun.  You 
> can't give freedom or security to anyone, but you can help them fight for it. 

Isn't that what started the trouble? I think I'm with the Carpist 
Tendency on this. Our various govs. have colluded with this mess, 
then present a humanitarian disaster about which WE must do 
something. Several billions of aid to Albania would have helped.


>  With NATO planes taking out troop and tank concentrations, I would think an 
> armed populace could do a a lot to slow or stop the ethnic cleansing (And who 
> is not for ethnic cleansing?  You'd prefer smelly ethnics?  But I digress.).  
> Of course, this would mean the Kosovars, not NATO, would have effective 
> control if they won.  Not the outcome they are looking for, I suspect.

Unfortunately Kosovar is not very big. Someone said about the size of 
Devon, UK, [ie lots smaller than Texas and not very well endowed] so 
no matter what the result it isn't going to be free-standing and 
independent. Which is another mess, because it is going to end up 
still with Serbia or with Albania. Hardly a recipe for stability. 
So it's escalate or look stupid.

But I really don't see why ordinary citizens should bankroll these 
adventures. As a parent, when my kids do something aggressive or 
interfering, which I've warned against, then get their fingers 
burned, I'm afraid I can't resist the 'told you so; learn from this; 
here's an elastoplast approach'. I tend to resist fanning the fire 
out of solidarity.

I think well-endowed Texans should sort it out, because they know 
everything.


_as