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Reply from Noam Chomsky, question is below: There is no doubt that proper conditions for free elections do not exist in Serbia, though by comparative standards, it's record is not that atrocious. It is widely believed by specialists, for example, that Milosevic would have been defeated in the last elections if they had not been boycotted by Kosovar Albanians (who preferred that he win, just as they probably prefer that now). And many feel that even under present conditions, a credible and unified opposition would stand a good chance. What would I do if I lived in Yugoslavia? I don't like to give advice to others who face extremely difficult conditions, but I guess, since you ask, that the best hope for more freedom and democracy is to construct a credible and unified opposition. That has not been done, and the failure cannot just be blamed on the ruling elite, as I'm sure you know. I'm afraid I do not understand your third question. First, the facts are not accurate. The Milosevic regime has committed many crimes, but one cannot attribute the terrible conditions completely to its crimes. The NATO bombing targeted the civilian society, not the Serb military, in a conscious effort to cause it very severe destruction. So it did, and the resulting conditions trace in significant measure to that. But even with that correction, I do not understand your query. What do you mean by "going for the lesser evil"? I take it that you see the regime as the major evil. What then is the lesser evil? NATO bombing? Are you recommending another dose of that? If so, I doubt that you'll find many takers in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Pancevo,.... I am sure that is not what you mean, but I frankly don't understand what "lesser evil" you have in mind. Noam Chomsky At 09:04 AM 8/22/00 +0100, you wrote: >> >> >> From: "Jerry Netuddki" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> Dear Professor, >> >> There are elections in Yugoslavia next month. In >> a country where one is fired from work for voting >> for the opposition, people are arrested, >> kidnapped, beaten, jailed and murdered by the >> police, the elections are routinely stolen and >> the entire financial superstructure of the >> country appropriated by 100 privileged families, >> what path or means leads to democracy ? >> >> 2.) If you were a citizen of Yugoslavia, what >> would *you* do to get the country to democracy >> and prosperity and how would you keep it at it ? >> >> 3.) Criticizing NATO for 7000 collateral deaths >> is a laudable reaction. However, during the >> winter flu season alone there were more extra >> deaths due to the medicine shortage caused by the >> Belgrade regime, not to mention undernourishment, >> freezing, etc, etc. When people start falling >> like flies in winter, shouldn't one try to go for >> the lesser evil ? >> >> >> >> To reply: >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To start a new topic: >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To login: http://zena.secureforum.com:8080/~ZNetCmt > |
