WAR has been described as "a state in which two or more heavily armed and well trained forces set about slaughtering a defenceless civilian population." There is no better example of this than the Balkans.

The atrocities perpetrated by the Yugoslavs are well known. Indeed NATO is particularly anxious to tell us about new and even more terrible Serb crimes just after its bombers have killed some more civilians "accidentally."

First, we were told that the military had been given strict instructions to avoid civilian casualties and that all opperations would be carried out with surgical precision. Then, when it was proved that civilians had been killed in the bombing, NATO first denied it, saying they were killed by the Yugoslavs.

Then they claimed there were fewer casualties than there actually were. Then they told us that "of course" civilian casualties were inevitable, but regrettable. Then they said that civilians were not "targeted." Then, it was shown that bombing the television stations and industrial plants killed only civilians. The excuse here was that these were part of the Yugoslav war effort.

Now they tell us the Serbs are using civilians as a "human shield." As usual in war, truth is the first casualty. The civilian population, both Yugoslav and Kosovar are being killed by NATO action as a matter of deliberate policy. The suggestion from NATO that the Kosovars actually enjoy all this and want NATO to redouble its efforts is a sick joke.

It is clear that the tragedy in the Balkans is another step towards American world domination. They care nothing for the Kosovars, nothing for the United Nations, nothing for international law and justice.

They are concerned only with promoting US economic and strategic interests in every part of the world.

Recently, we have noticed that when British government ministers are discussing the standard of living of people with disabilities, they tell us that savings have got to be made. But when it is a question of killing people, money is no object.

ALEC LEAVER, Stansfield Street, Blackburn.

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