More billions for war

By Victor Perlo

The Clinton Administration has announced that an additional $4 billion will be needed for the war against Yugoslavia.

Actually, that pronouncement is only a trial balloon to test public reactions: the scale of bombing; preparations for ground invasion; publicized shortage of missiles; the determination to carry on the bombing indefinitely - along with the firm stand of the Yugoslav government and its people - make it certain that at least $10 billion will be needed for the Yugoslav war - all over and above the proposed $110 billion six-year-increase in military spending.

Since additions to the military budget must be taken from the civilian budget, and since surely no funds will be taken from the FBI, the INS and other anti-people sectors, major cuts will have to be made in health, education, welfare, public works and all other pro-people programs.

Also, while Washington is extending U.S. military occupation of Albania, it is very slow and stingy when it comes to providing aid to the refugees. The Yugoslav government is criticized for encouraging mass emigration. But our own government bears at least as much responsibility.

It is the U.S. bombing campaign, which is increasingly being escalated from "military" to civilian targets, that led to the emigration, as well as our support of the separatist Albanian faction rather than for the Albanians who agreed to a settlement with Yugoslavia. If refugees are to return, it will be necessary to stop the bombing and negotiate with the Yugoslav government.

After 75 years of living in peace, if not in harmony, the socialist Yugoslav Federation broke up after the collapse of the USSR. Four of its component states seceded, including Croatia, which not only drove masses of Serbs from its territory but had collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.

Hungary, a new NATO member, "celebrated" its new status as a member of NATO by barring the transit of Russian civilian aid shipments to Yugoslavia for two days. But Hungary is paying dearly for its NATO membership and support for U.S. bombing. Bridges over the Danube River have been smashed, blocking transit along this major artery, which is not used by Yugoslavia but by Austria, Hungary and Romania. Hungary has the most to lose from this wanton destruction.

The American people, as well as all the peoples of the Balkans - in fact all the people of the world - have a direct interest in stopping the U.S. bombing and looming invasion of Yugoslavia. Struggles can reverse Clinton's present course which, unless reversed, leads inexorably to a long, genocidal, Vietnam-type war.

Nor should we ignore the possibility of a resulting World War III, too horrible to envision, that must be averted.