-Caveat Lector-
"`Military interventions must be legalized by a U.N. mandate,'' German
Chancellor Schroder said, insisting that [under its charter] NATO has no
authority to send armed peacekeeping troops abroad without at least the
approval of the United Nations.
"France's President Chirac agreed: 'NATO cannot and will not be able to
act without the authorization of the United Nations Security Council.' "
Yet the Clintonblair stomps on, heedless of international law even while
using it as a catchword to justify their own de facto aggression, as they
invade a sovereign nation.
NATO, the EU, and the UN apparently have no significance to the
Anglo-American imperialists except as expedient "fronts" offering a veneer of
legitimacy, masking what would otherwise be seen as purely jingoistic
nationalism with a global powerlust.
Cracks Showing in Still-Strong NATO
By BARRY SCHWEID
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- As NATO celebrated its 50th birthday and brandished its
might over Yugoslavia, cracks showed through the brave front. In a polyglot
alliance that no longer confronts the Soviet bear, unity does not come
easily.
``This summit was an impressive demonstration of unity despite the fact that
some skeptics feared it would not be wise to hold a summit in times of war,''
said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, elected only last year and hence
new to the bloc.
But even Schroeder, like French President Jacques Chirac, who is more vocal
in his independent views, did not yield submissively to the hard-line
leadership of President Clinton and his loyal friend, British Prime Minister
Tony Blair.
``Military interventions must be legalized by a U.N. mandate as a rule,'' the
German leader said, reflecting a widespread view that NATO lacks the
authority to stop merchant vessels carrying oil to Yugoslavia and to send
armed peacekeeping troops to Kosovo without at least the approval of the
United Nations.
Where a smaller NATO could close ranks easily to confront the Soviet Union,
the now 19-member alliance, with its door open to even more members, has to
struggle to work together when the issues no longer are black and white.
Even the otherwise airtight bonds between the United States and Britain were
loosened over the question of whether NATO should send combat troops to
Yugoslavia to try to deliver a knockout punch after more than a month of NATO
bombardment.
France and Britain had signaled before the summit that they favored using
ground troops in the inconclusive conflict, but Clinton much prefers
depending for now on an air campaign; so the contentious issue was shelved.
There was no way, though, to disguise the fissures over the American
initiative to mount a blockade to keep oil shipments from getting to
Yugoslavia. Stopping neutral vessels normally is an act of war, and Chirac
registered his reservations.
Insisting also on specific approval of the U.N. Security Council for
peacekeeping operations, Chirac said: ``NATO cannot and will not be able to
act without the authorization of this international organization.''
The United States contends the authority to intercept oil tankers at sea and
to deploy NATO peacekeeping troops in Kosovo is derived from a U.N. embargo
and other Security Council resolutions.
Asked at a news conference whether NATO would need a new resolution to
intervene outside the territory of its members, NATO Secretary-General Javier
Solana said, ``No.''
Basically, the U.S. view on peacekeepers prevailed, but the communiques and
other statements NATO issued at the summit reflected some of the divergence
that marked the private deliberations of the leaders.
Initially, the Clinton administration had in mind a NATO force, supplemented
by troops from Russia and some other non-members.
This was transformed at the summit to a statement that ``NATO remains ready
to form the core of an international military force.''
In a little-noticed ripple of discord, meanwhile, Turkey forced the allies to
guarantee that it and other allies that are not in the European Union would
be consulted before NATO troops are sent into emergency action.
Greece, which came into the summit more impressed than any of the other
allies with a potential cease-fire and other proposals floated by Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic, fell in with the non-compromise NATO stance on
Kosovo.
Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, who also was considered a bit wobbly
before the summit, concurred as well.
Italian warplanes are participating in the attacks on the Serbs and,
dramatically, so is the German Luftwaffe, the first battle campaign for
German forces since World War II.
Hungary, one of the three new members of the alliance, is also among the most
anxious. ``It's extremely complicated for Hungary,'' said Prime Minister
Viktor Orban, clearly referring to 300,000 ethnic Hungarians who live in the
Serbian province of Vojvodina. There is concern they could be put in jeopardy
by Hungary's active support for NATO's military offensive.
But with it all, the 19 allies pulled together reasonably well. ``It's not
any more difficult than it would have been in the past,'' said a NATO
official. ``The 19 have achieved real agreement.''
As the curtain came down on the summit, Clinton declared: ``The alliance
leaves Washington more united even than it was when we came here.''
The biggest test of the unity could be just over the horizon, though, if
Russia decides to challenge the blockade.
EDITOR'S NOTE -- Barry Schweid has covered diplomacy for The Associated Press
since the Nixon administration.
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