Today, President Clinton rejected Yugoslav proposals to end the Kosovo conflict and said NATO would continue bombing Serbian forces committing “atrocities” against ethnic Albanians. Meanwhile, Russia will send warships to the Mediterranean in protest of NATO airstrikes against Yugoslavia, after Moscow’s diplomatic efforts failed to end the attacks. Today, we will discuss non-violent alternatives to war.

Doug Hostetter notes that many of the young men in the Serbian Yugoslav army, even those committing atrocities, were coerced into service and do not want to be fighting. Many have gone into hiding to avoid being drafted. Simply offering political asylum to military deserters would encourage a mass exodus. As an additional incentive, if a fraction of the billions of dollars spent thus far on the bombing operation were used to offer full college scholarships to any Serbian soldiers willing to leave, it is likely large numbers would gladly do so. Hostetter has already arranged college scholarships for a large number of ethnic Albanian youth.

GUEST:

• Doug Hostetter, International Secretary for the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Call: 914.358.4601.

Related link:

• Democracy NOW! 3/30/99–Kosovo