Letter: Defiant Serbia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Military action to "encourage peace" in Kosovo is widely supported in newspaper editorials, while the public seems little concerned.
Behind these positions there appear to be two unspoken premises: first, that the Serbs "deserve it" because they have not been sufficiently punished for the conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, attributed to Serbia's "expansionist" aims; and second, that there is little prospect of Nato casualties, the public having grown used to frequent and almost casualty- free "strikes" against Iraq.
Against the first case it should be pointed out that Serbia lost the earlier wars, and as a result supports more than 700,000 refugees, mostly Serbs expelled from their homes in Croatia and Bosnia. The sanctions imposed on Serbia in 1993 resulted in the highest recorded inflation, reducing the economy to 40 per cent of its prewar level. Serbs in Croatia have fallen from 17 per cent to less than 2 per cent of the population.
In the second case, the Serbs have better air defences and considerable combat experience and would almost certainly inflict casualties on any invading forces and probably down a few planes as well. Britain and America have a tradition of entering wars they expect to win with ease; Serbia has a tradition of fighting for generations against enemies against whom they expect to lose. Call it foolhardiness or bravery, no one should doubt Serbia's resolve to defend itself at whatever cost.
BRIAN POCOCK
London W6
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments