In recent months, the ethnic conflict currently going on in Kosovo has escalated to new highs. Ethnic Albanians are being slaughtered and Slobodan Milosevic looks to be more powerful than ever. While much of the rest of the world has chosen to sit back and watch this mad man commit crimes against humanity, NATO has chosen to step forward and stop the carnage. However, the question is whether the steps that NATO has taken are appropriate to end the conflict or are they helping to fuel it?

 It is true that the killing that is taking place in Kosovo is a tragedy to mankind. However, the recent air strikes on Kosovo are just the last chance for NATO to make right for what it has done wrong. NATO first erred by not encouraging peace talks or treaty negotiations earlier. In the late fall 1998, Kosovars were being forced out of their homes to the mountainous regions of Kosovo to seek refuge from Serbian troops. During the winter, exposure to the elements and starvation claimed many lives. Finally, after months of slaughter, NATO threatened air strikes in late February if President Milosevic did not remove Serbian troops and police from Kosovo. This warning was completely ineffective and during that two weeks, more Albanians died. Finally, NATO put its foot down and started bombing on March 23, 1999.

By NATO's use of air strikes, it breached one of the five principles of the original NATO negotiations. In the original NATO Charter it was vowed that all parties would promote international peace and security, but resist aggression. Apparently, the allied states of NATO have forgotten this, because Yugoslavia is a sovereign nation that is going through a civil war not an international war. The violence present there has been contained and it is no threat to any other nations. Also, it seems Milosevic has no intentions of trying to conquer other lands. Therefore, NATO bombing Yugoslavia is not promoting international peace and security, but bullying their way into an issue with which they have no business being involved.

In the International Political System, conflict is a reality. It has existed since before the birth of Christ and will always exist do to human nature. However, when a conflict exists in a sovereign nation it is the responsibility of that nation to take care of its problems, unless it asks for outside help. Such is the case in Kosovo. It is a fact that President Milosevic has committed serious crimes against humanity, and if the rest of the world watches and does nothing, then they too are at fault for the killing.

It is great that NATO is consciously trying to stop more deaths from occurring. However, there are better ways to accomplish this goal then by simply blasting a country away with bombs. If NATO organizes itself better and respects the fact that it can not just involve itself in a situation to bully around sovereign nations, maybe this tragic episode in history will conclude soon.

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