Around the world, pictures of the suffering men, women and children of Kosovo, both dead
and alive flash across our television screens. We, in our warm homes with all the 'mod
cons' of Western life think, 'The bombing is justified! Look what the Serbs are doing to
the Kosovars.' Yes it is. How are we, as Jews supposed to respond to something
reminiscient of our own past? The Miloscevic government is shameful and brutal; totally
lacking any hint of democracy but I ask is NATO's approach the right one? I do not think
so. The USA could have continued to pursued the endless ceasefires and broken promises or
it could start a fullscale war - neither of these options have been pursued. Instead, the
USA cajoled its NATO allies into following "The Third Way".
THE FUNDAMENTAL FLAWS IN THIS POLICY
The Third Way is a political ideology floated originally by British Labour Prime Minister,
Tony Blair. Basically, it involves much rhetoric but not a great deal of substance. The
line pursued by NATO has been an aerial assault or as the spin-doctors have called it
"a humanitarian intervention". The aim of military intervention is to force
Yugoslavia's hand to agree to a treaty granting some form or autonomy to Kosovo. Legally
speaking, such a treaty would not be valid under International Law. Hence, were Serbia to
challenge the treaty, the International Court in The Hague would rule it invalid. The 1980
Vienna Conference on Treaties clearly states that no treaty is valid if a nation has
signed it under duress. NATO action clearly is duress being applied in order to force
Serbia to sign a treaty. What is the point?
I have always said that it is better to do something than nothing at all; however, this
humanitarian intervention has been counter-productive. Slobodan Miloscevic, the barely
reformed Communist, has become a national hero (much as Saddam Hussein). He is now on a
similar level as Prince Lazar, that famed Serb who lost the great battle in Kosovo that
made Kosovo so central to the Serbian cultural psyche. All democratic opposition to
Miloscevic's regime has virtually disentergrated as popular support has grown for the
regime. Free, critical press no longer exists in Serbia any longer.
NATO has done Miloscevic's work for him. According to the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation (one of the handful of foreign press agencies still permitted in Serbia), two
thirds of the Albanian ethnic minority has been driven from the country. Is this not
playing into Miloscevic's hands? Albert Speer, Hitler's Minister for Armaments said in
1945 (when captured) that bombing itself is a useless form of warfare. He said that air
power must serve as the vanguard of ground troops. He noted how he had been able to
continue war production at high levels even during the heaviest of bombing. The policy
pursued by the American government and its allies is fundamentally flawed but it has the
-right- intentions. Eventually, ground troops will have to be sent in or NATO will 'lose
face'. In war, there is no Third or Middle way. The unfortunate fact is that you either
engage in a full scale war or stay out. I am no war mongerer and I desire the removal of
the totalitarian Miloscevic regime but I disagree with the method in which NATO has gone
about it.
OUR SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The global community has a responsibility to care for and assist the refugees, simply as
the Balkans crisis is one of the largest humanitarian crises in recent memory but not the
only one. We must not forget Rwanda, East Timor, Afghanistan and a myriad of other
'hotspots'. We have a duty to assist in a problem which we helped to cause. Another TTT
member recently emailed me (getting wind of this article) and asked: "I have had many
discussions with my friends, teachers and family about the situation in Kosovo. Basically,
it comes down to this. I care, I see their tragedies as a recurring nightmare from my
past; soldiers going into cities killing all the men and raping the women, destroying
towns, homes, lives... but I don't know what to do. I am going to try to collect money to
be sent there but then again, there are plenty of poor homeless people in my own
community, in Israel, Jews - us, shouldn't I help them first? Then again, I can't just
ignore what's happening in Kosova? Where do my responsibilities
lie? Jews as a whole are the most philanthropic community in the world. The question
still remains... where is the rest of the world? So many questions, such confusion, What's
important? What should I do? How can I know?" I do not believe that I have any right
to tell others what is right or what they should do themselves as I believe the individual
must take advantage of their freedom to consider issues and form their own opinions. My
own is quite simple. Yes, we must ask, "where is the rest of the world?" but we
have the opportunity to act ourselves. We can help make just that little bit of difference
in our own small way. We can and in my opinion should assist in any way we can. Even if it
is only 50 cents (which can buy one more loaf of bread). My own suggestion is that young
people increase awareness in their communities of this tragic situation. It costs nothing
and may very well spur others to give monetary contributions. Often, older members of a
community tend to ignore these issues. Young people must take the lead and act. There are
so many charities but everyone can spare -something- whether it be time or money.
Hashem made us his chosen people. We are "the light unto nations" thus we
have a religous responsibility to involve ourselves in the world and help others, Jew or
non-Jew. The Israeli government should be commended for accepting Kosovar refugees and
setting up a Tzahal field hospital. Ultimately, I can sit at my computer disagreeing with
Mr Clinton and Mr Clinton can sit tight in the Oval Office acting foolishly. While we are
doing this, Kosovar and Serb civilians are dying. The humanitarian crisis takes precedence
over the mistakes of the politicians. The commemoration of the Shoah adds to the
responsibility of the Jewish people to act. A non-Jew once approached Hillel and Shamai,
two of our greatest sages and asked, "Explain to me in one sentence the essence of
Judaism and I shall convert to it." Shamai laughed at the man's question while Hillel
responded, "Do unto others like you would like done unto you." If we Jews were
in a similar situation we would also like the world to help us. NATO actions are
counter-productive but this does not detract from our humanitarian responsibilities. I
urge every member and casual visitor of TTT to donate to an aid organisation to help
alleviate the situation.
I have collected several web addresses which may provide some more information about the
situation:
www.abc.net.au -- The Australian Broadcasting
Corporation
(One of the few remaining press agencies
in Yugoslavia)
www.cnn.com -- CNN
www.care.org -- The homepage of Care International, a
worldwide aid agency
www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en -- Le
Monde-Diplomatique is a french
magazine is a leading magazine
providing commentary on foreign affairs.
www.jreport.org -- The leading english language
Israeli magazine
Jeremy Sher
Write to Jeremy
howdy Jeremy,
Well, you're right, it's not about how much you do, it's about caring enough to do
something - whatever it may be. there's an organization in Melbourne called keshet who are
collecting money for CARE Australia, I'm going to send money to them. I'll also try
and get my friends to forego two hours of their babysitting money and pitch in as
well.
I'm angry that NATO got involved at all. had they left it alone, yes, there would still be
problems but not as full scale and worrying as they are now. the unsettled feelings in the
Balkans have been around for 500 years, these aren't new scores that are being settled but
century old squabbles. and yes, I can only see America's involvement as Clinton's way of
diverting attention.
But you know what it comes down to, it comes down to us, the public: by probing,
embarrassing, reading about, talking about, wrecking Clinton's life in the first place.
for creating the need for him to divert public/world attention. (have you ever read or
seen "The Crucible"? well, if you have, try to understand it from that
perspective.) People like to feel that they're right by uncovering and exposing the faults
in others. by being the judges of morality and believing that they are good and pure, and
have the right to say that somebody else is not. do we have the right to be the judge for
someone else? one of the 7 laws of Noah is to "Establish laws of justice" - but
what do we really have the right to judge? I'm not excusing anyone for anything, I'm just
shining a different light on the issue.
Well, nothing on this earth occurs in a vacuum, everything effects everything else and
that is why (I believe) that even the minutest thing we do or say, actually effects the
balance of the entire world.
Elka
Write to Elka