Kosovo to become NATO protectorate?

Some writers in the letters column have compared current events in Yugoslavia with Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939. However, more relevant precedents are the U.S.-led invasion of Grenada in 1983 and the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989.

The purpose of the Grenada invasion was to ensure U.S. control in an area of strategic importance. The baddies were hard-line communists who had assassinated their more moderate leader. The humanitarian cloak of the operation was to bring security and democracy to Grenadian citizens. Military action caused about 30 deaths and lasted a couple of days. Within a few years of the invasion, Grenadians enjoyed stable democratic government and rapid economic growth.

The purpose of the Panama invasion was to ensure U.S. control in an area of strategic importance. The baddy was Noriega, a thuggish dictator. The humanitarian cloak of the operation was to bring security and democracy to Panamanian citizens. Military action caused about 1,000 deaths, left several thousand homeless and lasted about a week. Within a few years of the invasion, Panamanians enjoyed stable democratic government and rapid economic growth.

The purpose of the bombing and future occupation of Yugoslavia is to ensure NATO control in an area of strategic importance. The baddy is Milosevic, a ruthless nationalist and ethnic terrorist. The humanitarian cloak of the operation is to bring security and democracy to Kosovar citizens. Military action will cause thousands of deaths, leave hundreds of thousands homeless and last at least several months.

We do not know the long-term outcome, but the most likely is that Kosovo will become a NATO protectorate. Yugoslavia will be closely supervised and Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Rumania will depend more on NATO military, politically and economically. So in strategic terms, the operation will be a success. But in humanitarian terms it is a disaster. Military action has broadened, deepened and prolonged the suffering of Kosovar Albanians.

JOHN HARGREAVES

Jakarta