NATO's air strikes in Bosnia

The battle to halt four years of war in Bosnia has turned into exactly that -- a violent bombing campaign to stop the war.

Fighting for peace seems a strange concept. But there is reason to hope the current sword held over the heads of Bosnian Serbs may succeed in halting that sorry, violent war.

The modest but dramatic bombing of Serbian-held territory in Bosnia by NATO warplanes may fail in its ambitious goals. Even so, it is a powerful statement of principle, with little downside.

There is no doubt UN "peacekeeping"in Bosnia has been a disaster and failure, at best. Despite claims that the blue beret's presence has saved civilian lives, the war has dragged on.

The real danger of the NATO air-strikes is if they are allowed to become a strategy in themselves. Escalation of the Bosnian war always has been the biggest risk.

Many experts fear the Bosnian battle could be the trigger of a conflict which could engulf much of Europe.

Next week, under the auspices of the UN, NATO and the United States, the foreign ministers of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia will meet in Geneva.

On the heads of these men and the conference sponsors rests most of the hopes for peace, and all of the dangers of a stepped- up war. We must depend on them to use common sense and work to end this appalling and dangerous conflict.

Bombing for peace is a calculated risk. It shows the Bosnian Serbs and their few allies there is a price to pay for uncivilized behavior.

It may prove to be the successful stick of a carrot-and-stick strategy to stop the atrocities and find a peaceful solution to the Bosnian problems.

The bombing, on its own, will not bring peace to Bosnia.

It may, however, cause the Serbian aggressors and other parties to realize the only real option to good will is the unacceptable option of increasing violence.

-- The Bangkok Post