If these guys are found guilty of "war crimes" by Yugoslavia, will they be executed?

Yugoslavia-US-Soldiers

-- Mark Mastrorilli (mastrorilli@hotmail.com), April 01, 1999

Answers

Does anyone get the feeling that somebody is trying to "suck us in" to this thing? First, they're captured. Then they're shown on tv. Then our government says they were treated illegally and no more of that stuff had better happen. Now, we hear they'll be tried. If so, of course they'll be found guilty. If they are executed. . .

You take it from there.

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), April 01, 1999.

From the AP

Clinton to Milosevic: Free Soldiers

By Laura Myers Associated Press Writer Thursday, April 1, 1999; 1:51 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton said today the United States will hold Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic responsible for the safety of the three Army soldiers captured Wednesday night near the Macedonia-Yugoslav border.

``There was absolutely no basis for them to be taken,'' Clinton told service members in a speech at a Navy base in Norfolk, Va. ``There is no basis for them to be held. There is certainly no basis for them to be tried.''

Shortly before Clinton spoke, Yugoslav state-controlled television announced that the three soldiers would be tried before a military court on Friday.

``President Milosevic should make no mistake: the United States takes care of its own,'' Clinton said to applause. ``We will hold him and his government responsible for their safety and their well-being.''

The three soldiers, shown on Serbian television, are cavalry scouts who reported coming under fire before losing radio contact and disappearing for several hours.

Word of the military trial came today from Yugoslavia's state news agency. The United States reacted with outrage. Any trial ``would be in violation of international law,'' State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said today. ``Such a trial is obviously ridiculous.''

The Pentagon backed away from initial assertions that the soldiers had not crossed into Yugoslav territory. Army Gen. Henry Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that possibility was now being investigated, and he suggested that the three may have inadvertently crossed the border while fleeing from a Serb ambush.

Clinton forcefully defended his decision to use military force against Yugoslavia and sought to give the mission importance beyond the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Kosovo.

``This is something we are doing to try to avoid in the 21st century, the kind of widespread war, large American casualties and heartbreak that we saw too much of in the century we are about to leave,'' Clinton said. ``So this is not just about a small piece of the Balkans.''

) Copyright 1999 The Associated Press

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), April 01, 1999.

``There was absolutely no basis for them to be taken,'' Clinton told service members in a speech at a Navy base in Norfolk, Va. ``There is no basis for them to be held. There is certainly no basis for them to be tried.''

What an idiot. Does he he expect the Serbs to just stand there and take it without fighting back? It's a war Bubba, but then again you don't have any experience with that do ya?

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.gov), April 01, 1999.

Don't get into a fight, and cry about a black eye. We will reap what we sow.

-- OUTRAGE (IMMORAL_WAR@KOSOVO.COM), April 01, 1999.

NATO (and our bunch too) seem to be unable to grasp the fact that Milosevitch is not a reasonable man. He doesn't play by their rules. Eventually he'll push a tad too hard -- and the roof will fall in on him. Trouble is that his comeuppance will take a lot of Serbians down with him.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), April 01, 1999.

Beat me to it, guys. No reason!

This is our 'Gulf of Tonkin incedent' in Kosovo. Ground forces will not be far behind.

-- Kato (infowars@yahoo.com), April 01, 1999.

I suggest we make an exchange. We give them CLinton and we get the boys back.

-- Linda A. (adahi@muhlon.com), April 01, 1999.

Linda, ROTFLMAO, THAT'S THE BEST IDEA I'VE HEARD ALL WEEK!!

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.00), April 01, 1999.

Milosovich probably figures that there is a war going on and what happens during a war? Prisoners are taken. Where is the shot down pilot? Why isn't he on TV yet? What will happen if Millosovich tries the prisoners for war crimes? What if they are executed? Clinton will drop bombs? This has already happened. What is the additional threat? These guys could not plan the defense of an attack by a troop of Boy Scouts. Spin does not win battles. I heard that the Military was against the bombing. Where was Congress? Isn't Congress supposed to declare war? Asleep as usual? Only one congressperson had the guts to vote against the events that have transpired. One right and 534 wrong? Amazing.

-- Curly (dumb@db.wow), April 01, 1999.