Consider this from today's Wall Street Journal:
"Robert Worcester, chairman of MORI, a London opinion research company, predicted that it won't be until the public becomes convinced 'that their political leaders are lying to them' that the tide will turn against the Kosovo campaign.
"But the confusing, often contradictory accounts of the refugee convoy incident by NATO and U.S. officials over the past few days could draw some to that conclusion.
"After the attack on the refugee convoy was first reported Wednesday, U.S. and NATO officials said there were no signs that NATO planes had accidentally hit civilians. Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said the NATO commander, U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark, had told him that he had received 'reports of the possibility' that Serb forces had turned their guns on 'civilians in the middle of the convoy' after NATO planes destroyed military vehicles traveling with them.
"In Washington yesterday, Defense Secretary Cohen testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that while the pilot 'went after that convoy' he was fired at with antiaircraft fire and surface-to-air missiles and had 'to make split-second determinations.'
"But earlier in Brussels, NATO officials played a lengthy taped interview with the pilot in which he made no mention of any antiaircraft fire or missiles. He also noted that he had enough time to make 'several passes' over the convoy 'to get a close look,' before launching a laser-guided bomb."
If the Pentagon and NATO continue to make it this easy to pick apart their claims, at a minimum it would be inhospitable of the antiwar movement not to take them up on their invitation.
Carl Remick