Crisis In The Balkans

Sir, - NATO's increasing attacks on the civilian infrastructure belie its desperation to finish the miscalculated air war without…

Sir, - NATO's increasing attacks on the civilian infrastructure belie its desperation to finish the miscalculated air war without sending in ground forces. As always, innocent people are left to pay the price.

Are we meant to accept Jamie Shea's regretful remarks that NATO didn't mean to bomb the train, that they knew it was on or near the bridge but that there was no intention to kill? Is the life of an innocent Serb worth less than the life of an armed American? How have we come to such gruesome calculations? There is no monolithic enemy: they are people caught up in the catastrophic decisions of their leaders.

Soft-war junkies are about to receive a rude awakening: despite Clinton's suave manoeuvrings and sidesteps, there will be a ground war. Suddenly, the atmosphere of war morality will change: no one will dare say in mock regretful tones that it was inevitable in a ground war for a few soldiers to be killed. - Yours, etc., Sonja Tack,

Old County Road, Dublin 12.