Has Max's Brain Been Captured by the NSC?

[Brad De Long]

>
>There's some point at which his gain in political support due to
>the bombing is outweighed by the damage to his country.  I would
>say he's beyond that point.  I think he could offer a deal and
>get most of what he wants from Nato.
>
>mbs

Now you are thinking like a National Security Council staffer.

Why is avoiding *any* damage to his country worth even the smallest chance
of losing face? He can go down in history as the leader under whom NATO
inflicted terrible punishment on the Serbs, but they resisted and they
endured and they prevailed (because NATO eventually went away), thus
retaining the historical core lands of the Serbs for Serbia. He can go down
in history as the leader who buckled under to NATO pressure, starting the
chain of events that led to Kosovan independence.

If you were Milosevic, which would you choose? As long as he is confident
that NATO will eventually get bored and go away, the first option would
seem more attractive to Milosevic...

Brad DeLong