Sir, - I note that, like many others, John O'Shea of GOAL is strongly in favour of ground forces being used to invade Yugoslav territory (April 21st). I believe such people should note that in 1941 the Germans put an army of 100,000 battle-hardened troops into Yugoslavia and failed to defeat the Serbs, who fought heroically on the side of the allies throughout the war - which is a lot more than can be said for the Croats or the Kosovar Muslims at that time.
I cannot believe that an army made up overwhelmingly of American troops, which it would have to be, will do today what the Germans failed to do in the last war. I can see another Vietnam looming on the horizon and I doubt very much if America has any desire to relive that ignominious defeat.
I suggest that every man who supports a ground war in Yugoslavia should ask himself this very obvious question: "Is my commitment to a ground war in Yugoslavia such that I am willing to send my own sons to fight and die there?" If the answer is "no", as in my case it certainly is, I think it would be wise to avoid expressing support for such an operation.
After all, every soldier who died in such an invasion would be some mother's son, and I do not subscribe to the view that as long as he isn't mine I'm in favour. - Yours, etc., W. G. A. Scott,
Friars Hill, Wicklow.