thread title RE: Civilian targets "legitimate"
> C. Burford said:
>> The Serbs report that in addition to the 30 civilian deaths on
>Sunday,
>there has been an attack on an apartment block in the south of
>Serbia. They
>say the deaths total 50 in the last two days. >
>
>There is also the report that NATO bombed a bridge in the middle
>of 'market day,' then five or fifteen minutes later, when people
>were trying to assist victims of the bombing, they dropped
>another one in the same place. Textbook terrorist tactics.
>
>I'm ready to get off this bus. I see no movement towards efforts
>to protect Kosovars or their interests by Nato. In light of this
>deficiency, we've only got what amount to serial atrocities by
>Nato.
A little while again Angela raised the question of whether discussion lists really are discussion lists under the thread title above.
While I do not agree entirely with Max's approach, I suggest this shift of position by him is not solely the result of unfolding events which we are all reacting to, but is a vindication of the uncensored policies of moderators like Doug and Rob. I am contrasting that with stances taken at least at one time by Mark and Louis P on their lists, although Mark has had a change of heart.
The effect of the latter was actually to restrict the ability of the majority of posters to challenge and test the opinion of those they perceived as supporters of NATO.
I suggest that Doug and Rob have shown themselves no less opposed to this war by NATO than Louis and Mark, but IMO, and of course I am biassed, I consider they also gave a wider consideration to the broad aims of their lists as written down. That has enabled all of us to learn.
All told, considering the gravity of the events and their topical nature, I think the wider marxism-space could have done a lot worse. The challenges that have been made have for the most part not been primarily personal. We have not found how to integrate a principled position with actually changing practice, but we have got nearer the process.
Chris Burford
London