Tenth anniversary of NATO attack

It is important that Serbs realise that not everyone in Europe and beyond has been taken in by the NATO propaganda justifying the horrific assault on Serbia ten years ago. I believe that the truth of what really happened in the Balkans in the nineties will slowly but surely emerge and that the Serbian people will be finally vindicated. The huge reservoir of lies and disinformation that exists in relation to the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo will gradually evaporate and the true intentions of the Western powers will become clear - the destruction of Yugoslavia, a weakened Serbia and the establishment of a permanent military presence in the region.

Her is a link to an article in yesterday's Irish Times which focusses on one aspect of NATO's attack:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0323/1224243268695.html

There will be many more such analyses.

In the meantime, I extend my sympathy to all Serbs on this day of remembrance.

If there is any justice in this world, then Clinton, Holbrooke and Co. ought to be in the Hague. But as usual the West practices double standards.

Nothing forgotten neither forgiven!
History will fix it all. No one and never has won in war with Serbia in a long run.

Славянские братья, мы должны быть вместе.

“I wish to reiterate that the bombing was a result of false accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The bombing of Serbia was just the culmination of pressure on the former Yugoslavia that began at the start of the Nineties,” said Dačić.

-Absolutely so and I couldn’t agree more.

May victims rest in peace!

We should never forget and forgive this inflicted injustice towards Serbia and its people by the NATO and so called western powers and self proclaimed “super democracies”.

Looking back, there must have been better solutions than to drop bombs on Serbia.

If anything, it gave Milosevic more time in power as war gave him the opportunity to arrest any opposition.

NATO's reaction was so strong due to the fact that they felt guilty for doing nothing as Croatia and Bosnia got ripped apart for 4 years. Perhaps if they had handled those situations properly, then the events of 1999 wouldn't have happened.

I went to Belgrade last year and it was good to see that the people of the city were welcoming and didn't hold the actions of NATO against people visiting from the UK

Right there with you, Tom. Whatever justifications NATO's salesmen might have used to promote the bombing, I think even they were taken aback that it lasted 78 days. Most were convinced a 48 hour blitz would force Belgrade to surrender. But then if Serbia didn't surrender, does that mean NATO stops bombing, or just bomb more?

I've been to Belgrade twice since the bombing, one in 2002 and the other last year. BBC did a report yesterday on the still visible scars on both the landscape and the people. But the great thing about the Serbs, I've come to realize, is that not only are they able to separate civilian from policymaker in the West, they still remain one of the most hospitable people I've ever met. They're like that guy you always want at your back when in a bar fight. They'll take a blow, have a chair knocked over them, fall to the ground, regain their balance, spit out the blood, wipe their mouth, stand up, look their attacker in the eye and say "is that the best you got?"

Remembering the dead, but also commemorating the resolve...

May all Serbian victims of this war be remembered and may their memory be immortiralized.
Special emphasis has to be given to the Russian volunteers who in these dark days fought with us to defend Serbia.
There is one good message and one bad message ten years after.
The bad message:our southern province is still under occupation.
The good one:These American war criminals have not succeed in separating our province from Serbia despite all kinds of pressures and Serbian traitors in power.

Remarkable things happened in these ten years:Russia has resurged from the chaos of the nineties,China will in a view years surpass America`s GDP and finally 911 which thank god switched attention of the US to other parts of the world.
I don`t think a Russian veto would have been possible in 2002 or 03.
It is only a question of time when these global power shifts reflect to the Balkans and we will be allowed "to smash the head of the snake" literally.

They should have listed each country's active role in this tradgedy. The number of sorties flown, bombs dropped, and air bases supporting. Of course, the US and UK where at the forefront.

Condolenses to the firemen, police, and the many families of men, women and children that NATO killed in this illegal aggression. Also to the families of the moderate Albanians, Roma, Serbs and other minorities killed by NATO ground forces, the terrorist KLA (now ruling this province with their drug, weapons and sex trade mafia partners).

Serbs will rise from these flames like a Pheonix, you can bomb us a million times and we will rise a million times more. Serbs will never be brought to our knees!

What a criminal activity against Serbian citizens. Bet those responsible are today keeping a low profile!

Should Serbia ask for 29.6bn compensation and from whom? What about those Serbian citizens that did not parish but have been left with legacy of bad health and depression, some of whom been prosecuted many time over just for being a Serb! Those who have been left homeless! Those who wondered streets of Belgrade in T-shirst in middle of winter or lucky enough to be sleeping in their horse carriages! Yes, they should be lucky to be alive. Should they be searching for compensation of some sort?!

When will others stop interfiring with sovereign contries affairs? Should Serbs just count there blessings?! - More visa restrictions, oh more economic problems oh no intergration because "I said so" oh what next!

I don't mean to state the obvious to others who know full well what transpired, but the anniversary today brought many memories back.

1999 was a major turning point for many of us. Never before had the level of media manipulation and smashing of international laws been witnessed in our lifetimes.

The bombing was completely avoidable. There was one sticking point to the peace agreement at Rambouillet, which was appendix B: letting Nato troops have free rein throughout Yugoslavia instead of UN troops.

The US and "mini me" UK (which as a British person is particularly terrible) had already decided to attack Serbia. So many civilian targets were hit in this awful and violent attack. This was openly admitted by Michael Short who said the aim after a few days was to make life unbearable for residents, who would, supposedly, rise up against Milosevic.

The fact that many people had already bravely stood against Milosevic with no support from the West went unnoticed. And it never took a genius to know that when a nation is attacked it stands behind its leader, just as Britain did in WWII.

In the attack on Serbia, churches, monasteries and other irreplaceable heritage was destroyed. People were maimed and killed by bombs in cities, refugee columns, schools, hospitals, TV stations, even ambulances were hit. The land, air and rivers were polluted.

When journalists asked at the Nato press briefings about the danger of hitting the power plants (a war crime regardless of the danger of a massive explosion which could wipe out a city) they were belittled and not taken seriously.

The promised money to rebuild some of the damage has never transpired. Not that you can replace a country's heritage which was built over hundreds of years.

Meanwhile with an unemployment rate of 46% in Kosovo, the mafia activity is rife. Women and children from all over the world are being bought and sold like cattle by gangs (of all nationalities) for God knows what, while soldiers, NGOs etc. probably frequent many of the local places where these girls and women 'work'.

There is no mention in the Western press of any of the shocking realities even now. Not about Racak, organ 'harvesting', murders, kidnaps, human rights abuses… nothing!

All I can say is that I hope the poor victims of all ethnicities killed in this avoidable 'not a war' find peace. The pain will always remain with their families.

Ten years ago today I remember pelting the US consulate in Toronto with eggs, while they were dropping bombs on Serbia. The egg stains are still on the consulate today, I guess they are hard to wash off.
The illegal bombing of Serbia was at the very peak of US power, and ever since that war crime the US has began its downfall. Perhaps that will be looked at by historians as the turning point, and the beginning of the downfall of the American empire. Americans don't like to talk about their shameful 78 day around the clock bombing of a traditional ally, a small country, of its collaboration with the terrorist KLA. I don't blame them. It is a shameful part of their history, and they know it. The Clintons, Albrights, Holbrookes, Wesley Clarks, Tony Blairs, Jamie Sheas....these are all proven liars, propogandists, and war criminals who are responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.
Let's never forget what their shameful unprovoked attack on Serbia, and their continued attempt to rape Serbia by stealing land and handing it to terrorists.
RIP to all the victims of this brutal NATO aggression.

So NATO killed over 3,500 people (2,500 were civilians) because 2,000 Albanians were killed in an insurgency?

The US killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi’s fighting an insurgency there. What punishment should they get?

May victims rest in peace!
We should never forget and forgive this inflicted injustice towards Serbia and its people by the NATO and so called western powers and self proclaimed “super democracies”.
(Biljana, 24 March 2009 11:05

Biljana- you are 100% correct that Serbia should NEVER forget not only the NATO bombings, but ALL the injustices that the West has perpertrated upon our Serbian people. Hvala Bogu that we have somehow been able to resist becoming slaves to the "great powers". They have tried every imaginable way to defeat the Serbs- false rhetoric, shadow government, the Hague fiasco, bribes, bombing, amputating Serbia's cradle of Kosovo...the list is endless. And it's important that every Serb remember these actions, and not succumb to the West's wishes of total domination and subjugation of our people, through the EU, NATO, IMF, etc. Visiting Monastery Zica last August, one monk there told me that Serbia was "Europe" before Europe was "Europe". Serbs have a proud and glorious history- and remember we are "Slavs" not slaves!!!

For a moment I thought I was on the Afgani version of B92. All this hatred for the West can only come from Afganistan, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela and Serbia. What do they all have in common. They are all autocratic states, whose leaders manipulate their herds and blind them from seeing all the evil your states caused to other people in your name.
Serbia didn't get bombed enough for all the pain it caused to Croats, Bosnians, and Albanians in the same decade. The punishment had been to light for all the crimes perpetrated by your state. You should be thankful to Clinton and Albright. If they hadn't said no to Tony Blair, today you would have 300 000 NATO troops marching in Belgrade.

Oh my dear Andy from the UK who feels welcomed. The events in "Croatia" and "Bosnia" could not possibly have been handled better by Nato, the Serbs from these homelands have been wiped clean, as planned. Thank you for Kosmet as well. We shall never forget.

Andrey

Spaciba my blood brother. God is in Heaven and Russia is on Earth.


May all the innocent who perished and suffered be remembered today and for all times and God bless their souls. God Bless and Preserve Serbia.

Serbs are the last real Russians!
Hope to visit Serbia this year and I advice all my friends to come to your country.
This is the only way russians can support your economy.

In a decade or 2, the world will see another strong state. Serbia will be strong again I'm sure.

The first step in my view is to obtain nuclear weapons.Serbia needs nukes at all costs.If we would have nukes in 1999 they never never would have dared to attack us.
Sooner or later we will get our opportunity.

PS: I strongly urge all Serbian posters from excusing for anything!!!
We have been attacked in 1999 like Hitler attacked us in 1941.
Serbs back then did not excuse to Hitler but fought him fanatically until victory was achieved.Every Serb should at least be smart not to succumb to the western Goebbels-style propaganda"Repeat a lie 1000 times and it will become real

>> Should they be searching for compensation of some sort?!

Should the Albanians be searching for compensation of some sort?!

NATO was way too lenient on Serbia. We let Milovsevic and his cronies kill thousands before we did anything at all. Shame on us for not acting sooner.

One more observation: I was in London ten years ago and saw 3 people protesting the bombing of Serbia. Where were all the know it alls then to protest the attack on Serbia? Europeans are selfish and do not want anything to disturb their search for comfort and wealth. They are so hypocritical. May God bles Serbia for persevering through so many struggles. You are the best people on the continent.

Dear Serbian Brothers !

You should know that last few days and especially today ALL Russian Mass Media are talking of the misfortune that happened to you 10 years ago. What is significant they remind the chronology of the events with utmost pain and anger. Many politicians , journalists and other witnesses tell in details how they all turned against you.
How the English painted on their bombs “Do you still want to be a Serb ?” , “Merry Easter !” ect. How France was ready to stop the bombings and our new friend Schroeder stood firm to revenge you for WW2. How they cheated you with the Albanians who were first not supposed to have independence. Let them know we remember everything and we are not going to retreat another inch !

We really love you !

Always !

I am sorry for the victims but NATO had no alternatives to the bombing. Serbia had a cocky dictator, who didn't want to believe that NATO is serious. It was a big miscalculation and Serbia, who supported fullheartedly Slobo for so long payed for it.

I agree with the comments from the guy from the UK. The EU and NATO is embarrassed by their failure to resolve the situation during the breakup of Yugoslavia. The bombing was a horrible reaction led by Holbrooke and a bunch of weak European nations. I visited Belgrade in December and was also struck by teh positive nature of teh Serbian people. The weaklings of the EU would benefit by the membership of Seria into the EU and hopefully, eventually NATO. Serbia is a wonderful country and should be allowed to rake its rightful place as a leader in the world.

johny:

Oh I dodn't know it was america who saved us from their own bombs.. that's a good one.

One day those albanian terrorist uck leaders will be caught.

Someone once told me that the devil works in reverse. So when we turn 1999 upside-down it becomes 6661 meaning the devil is number 1.

1999 being the year the devil was the strongest. Thank God that is all over and strength is returning to Serbia and our friends.

@ johny

Excuse me but do you know many countries where the president of terrorist USA is widely accepted? only in Albania and there they stole his watch!!

Anyways, i remember as a student back in 99 in London the protests against this illegal war. The same protests we did in Athens when NATO did not even respect our holy Easter and was continuing bombing a sovereign country.

may all these souls rest in peace, and i wish our region will never experience such a thing again.

And one last request: B92 gives the liberty to ALL to express their opinions, but please in such a sad anniversary, it is not pretty to see Albanians posting thankful comments to the people responsible for this awful bombing!

Kosovo je Srbija! may the truth prevail soon!

from a a Greek brother!

GOD BLESS KOSOVA, THE ALBANIANS, NATO AND THE AMERICANS.

While some remember this day as the day of bombing,to me it will always mean a begin of punishing a criminal regime.

"Europeans are selfish and do not want anything to disturb their search for comfort and wealth. They are so hypocritical."
(Steven Brosk, 24 March 2009 19:10)

A good way of describing Serbians, they are European in all fairness.

I am sure that non of you guy's were in either Bosnia, Croatia or Kosovo during the 90's wars so that means you are all manipulated by your weak and fearfull leaders that are scared to see the reality.
That proved with your ex prime that was murdered by your own people and you never will learn the truth because youre were and are manipulated by your medias!
If anyone was in the war during the war then he can judge otherwise please shush!
B92 publish this please!

Once NATO decided to act, they should have insisted on an unconditional surrender before stopping. The balkans would be about 5-6 years ahead of where they are now.

(Reality, 24 March 2009 23:09)
and johny
-- I totally agree with both of you 100% , thank you so much.

To all Serbs here:
Be willing to receive an education from Cedo Jovanovic (the most respected Serb in the entire World) and you will become far better off.

Further to Tom's link@3 an article in the UK's Guardian newspaper.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/24/serbia-kosovo

I just want to say one thing here: NATO was right in bombing Serbia in 1999.

“I wish to reiterate that the bombing was a result of false accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The bombing of Serbia was just the culmination of pressure on the former Yugoslavia that began at the start of the Nineties,” said Dačić.

What about the wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo? What about the victims, massacres, burning houses…? Who is to blame about these? None of it happened by itself. Are these things “false accusations of genocide”? To some of people here maybe yes, but not to those who suffered for generations, not to those who are still suffering from what these wars have left behind.
It would have been wiser if Mr Dačić and his Government really reflect on what has really happened than making these kinds of statements, which to me seem no different from Milosevic.
I fully agree with GRUK on his comment “…to avoid seeing the full picture means that you remain in a bigoted and uninformed ghetto. And there’s no future there.”

My sincere condolences to all the victims.

Stephen Brosk: "One more observation: I was in London ten years ago and saw 3 people protesting the bombing of Serbia."

What are you talking about? I was there at virtually every protest and there were hundreds of protestors outside Downing Street. Thousands on the main peace marches.

Stll not enough - but far more than you apparently saw.

I find it strange to see so many anti western postings here – it seems some people have their prejudices and those prejudices will remain come what may. This is a shame as it stops full consideration of the complex situation.

Scroll back and you’ll see links to 2 reputable and widely read newspapers (one UK and one Irish) that criticise the NATO bombing. Scroll up and you’ll see posting by Spiros (#28) talking of protests in London at the time. I was there and I protested along with thousands of others. There are supporters of justice and fairness in every country – including those in the west.

The anti western bile by many on this site is understandable, given the situation, and I have sympathy for all those who lost loved ones. But to avoid seeing the full picture means that you remain in a bigoted and uninformed ghetto. And there’s no future there.

Peace and respect to all

GRUK

It was terrible - it should not have happened. The violence was unnecessary and illegal. There were many lies and deceptions and lots of innocent people died. It was politically incompetent of NATO - their policy was misguided and wrong. NATO messed up badly - by delaying so long before intervening in Bosnia.

NATO then felt obliged to intervene in a situation where the Albanians in Kosovo were suffering from the results of their policy of ethnically cleansing Serbs.

NATO was wrong on both counts - yet their decisions were well justified by the nasty nationalism represented by the political opportunist Milosevic.

Milosevic had every opportunity to prevent the bombing, but his succession of lies meant that the world had no confidence in him or that the great atrocities of Bosnia would not be repeated in Kosovo. NATO politicians were under an intolerable pressure not to give Milosevic the chance - hence the bombing. If Kosovo had become another Bosnia, many politicians in the west would have had to share the blame. Serbia did not realise that - mainly because of the TV propaganda pumped out in Belgrade which was such an unfunny joke (reflections of which I still read even in the comments listed here).

If you feel sorry for Serbs who died - feel sorry for all the innocents who died on all sides. One-sided sorriness is what the world did not like about the Balkans.

Finally - Kosovo belongs to Serbia and the current support for the UDI is wrong. Kosovo does not belong to Albania and it should not be allowed to become the weird invention currently being tried out by the US. NATO did go down a wrong road however strong their justification.

After reading news about "10 Years of NATO Bombing Serbia" I got impression that except Albanians, Serbian government as well as B92 are in love with America. The rest of the world is trying to run away from that economic and politic carcass. The main from that time, Malden Albright and Richard Holbrook are back! Their "Come back" they made competing in their rhetoric abilities ( how familiar)! Holbrook says that Serbs/Serbia deserved bombing. Run, Serbia, Run! Run faster! Run to kiss the hand that is killing you!

The more I learn about the Nato campaign and the complete lack of foresight, the more I am ashamed. Based in Northern Ireland, I have dual nationality, Irish and British. I travelled to Serbia previously on my British passport in 2005 and was met with a distinctly hostile reaction from the police when entering from Bulgaria. I understand that to an extent, and once I arrived in Serbia, I was so happy to meet such a warm and welcoming people. I cannot wait to return in the summer and look forward to travelling with my Irish passport as a way of showing my neutrality towards aggression and hostility. I wish Serbia a peaceful and prosperous future, and hopefully one within the European Union if you do so choose. I would be very interested in talking to some Serbian citizens for my own interest, and you can find me at adamflynn1@hotmail.com. Some cultural exchange with me in Belfast, Northern Ireland would be really excellent and I wish you all a better future.

If NATO had dared to invade Yugoslavia you can be sure that Iraq and Afghanistan would have been like Disneyland. Or would NATO have introduced Nazi style punishment: 100 Serbs executed for every NATO soldier killed? NATO is an instrument of the imperialistic West that has the arrogance to think that they are better than everybody else and that the have the right to control and take everything they want. It will not happen. May all victims of the political media war be remembered and may Serbia always be a free nation of free-spirited and proud people.

GOD BLESS KOSOVA, THE ALBANIANS, NATO AND THE AMERICANS.

For a moment I thought I was on the Afgani version of B92. All this hatred for the West can only come from Afganistan, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela and Serbia. What do they all have in common. They are all autocratic states, whose leaders manipulate their herds and blind them from seeing all the evil your states caused to other people in your name.
Serbia didn't get bombed enough for all the pain it caused to Croats, Bosnians, and Albanians in the same decade. The punishment had been to light for all the crimes perpetrated by your state. You should be thankful to Clinton and Albright. If they hadn't said no to Tony Blair, today you would have 300 000 NATO troops marching in Belgrade.

I am sorry for the victims but NATO had no alternatives to the bombing. Serbia had a cocky dictator, who didn't want to believe that NATO is serious. It was a big miscalculation and Serbia, who supported fullheartedly Slobo for so long payed for it.

>> Should they be searching for compensation of some sort?!

Should the Albanians be searching for compensation of some sort?!

NATO was way too lenient on Serbia. We let Milovsevic and his cronies kill thousands before we did anything at all. Shame on us for not acting sooner.

Nothing forgotten neither forgiven!
History will fix it all. No one and never has won in war with Serbia in a long run.

Славянские братья, мы должны быть вместе.

The first step in my view is to obtain nuclear weapons.Serbia needs nukes at all costs.If we would have nukes in 1999 they never never would have dared to attack us.
Sooner or later we will get our opportunity.

PS: I strongly urge all Serbian posters from excusing for anything!!!
We have been attacked in 1999 like Hitler attacked us in 1941.
Serbs back then did not excuse to Hitler but fought him fanatically until victory was achieved.Every Serb should at least be smart not to succumb to the western Goebbels-style propaganda"Repeat a lie 1000 times and it will become real

It is important that Serbs realise that not everyone in Europe and beyond has been taken in by the NATO propaganda justifying the horrific assault on Serbia ten years ago. I believe that the truth of what really happened in the Balkans in the nineties will slowly but surely emerge and that the Serbian people will be finally vindicated. The huge reservoir of lies and disinformation that exists in relation to the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo will gradually evaporate and the true intentions of the Western powers will become clear - the destruction of Yugoslavia, a weakened Serbia and the establishment of a permanent military presence in the region.

Her is a link to an article in yesterday's Irish Times which focusses on one aspect of NATO's attack:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0323/1224243268695.html

There will be many more such analyses.

In the meantime, I extend my sympathy to all Serbs on this day of remembrance.

May all Serbian victims of this war be remembered and may their memory be immortiralized.
Special emphasis has to be given to the Russian volunteers who in these dark days fought with us to defend Serbia.
There is one good message and one bad message ten years after.
The bad message:our southern province is still under occupation.
The good one:These American war criminals have not succeed in separating our province from Serbia despite all kinds of pressures and Serbian traitors in power.

Remarkable things happened in these ten years:Russia has resurged from the chaos of the nineties,China will in a view years surpass America`s GDP and finally 911 which thank god switched attention of the US to other parts of the world.
I don`t think a Russian veto would have been possible in 2002 or 03.
It is only a question of time when these global power shifts reflect to the Balkans and we will be allowed "to smash the head of the snake" literally.

“I wish to reiterate that the bombing was a result of false accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The bombing of Serbia was just the culmination of pressure on the former Yugoslavia that began at the start of the Nineties,” said Dačić.

-Absolutely so and I couldn’t agree more.

May victims rest in peace!

We should never forget and forgive this inflicted injustice towards Serbia and its people by the NATO and so called western powers and self proclaimed “super democracies”.

While some remember this day as the day of bombing,to me it will always mean a begin of punishing a criminal regime.

Serbs will rise from these flames like a Pheonix, you can bomb us a million times and we will rise a million times more. Serbs will never be brought to our knees!

@ johny

Excuse me but do you know many countries where the president of terrorist USA is widely accepted? only in Albania and there they stole his watch!!

Anyways, i remember as a student back in 99 in London the protests against this illegal war. The same protests we did in Athens when NATO did not even respect our holy Easter and was continuing bombing a sovereign country.

may all these souls rest in peace, and i wish our region will never experience such a thing again.

And one last request: B92 gives the liberty to ALL to express their opinions, but please in such a sad anniversary, it is not pretty to see Albanians posting thankful comments to the people responsible for this awful bombing!

Kosovo je Srbija! may the truth prevail soon!

from a a Greek brother!

If there is any justice in this world, then Clinton, Holbrooke and Co. ought to be in the Hague. But as usual the West practices double standards.

Ten years ago today I remember pelting the US consulate in Toronto with eggs, while they were dropping bombs on Serbia. The egg stains are still on the consulate today, I guess they are hard to wash off.
The illegal bombing of Serbia was at the very peak of US power, and ever since that war crime the US has began its downfall. Perhaps that will be looked at by historians as the turning point, and the beginning of the downfall of the American empire. Americans don't like to talk about their shameful 78 day around the clock bombing of a traditional ally, a small country, of its collaboration with the terrorist KLA. I don't blame them. It is a shameful part of their history, and they know it. The Clintons, Albrights, Holbrookes, Wesley Clarks, Tony Blairs, Jamie Sheas....these are all proven liars, propogandists, and war criminals who are responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.
Let's never forget what their shameful unprovoked attack on Serbia, and their continued attempt to rape Serbia by stealing land and handing it to terrorists.
RIP to all the victims of this brutal NATO aggression.

Dear Serbian Brothers !

You should know that last few days and especially today ALL Russian Mass Media are talking of the misfortune that happened to you 10 years ago. What is significant they remind the chronology of the events with utmost pain and anger. Many politicians , journalists and other witnesses tell in details how they all turned against you.
How the English painted on their bombs “Do you still want to be a Serb ?” , “Merry Easter !” ect. How France was ready to stop the bombings and our new friend Schroeder stood firm to revenge you for WW2. How they cheated you with the Albanians who were first not supposed to have independence. Let them know we remember everything and we are not going to retreat another inch !

We really love you !

Always !

I just want to say one thing here: NATO was right in bombing Serbia in 1999.

Oh my dear Andy from the UK who feels welcomed. The events in "Croatia" and "Bosnia" could not possibly have been handled better by Nato, the Serbs from these homelands have been wiped clean, as planned. Thank you for Kosmet as well. We shall never forget.

Andrey

Spaciba my blood brother. God is in Heaven and Russia is on Earth.


May all the innocent who perished and suffered be remembered today and for all times and God bless their souls. God Bless and Preserve Serbia.

johny:

Oh I dodn't know it was america who saved us from their own bombs.. that's a good one.

One day those albanian terrorist uck leaders will be caught.

I don't mean to state the obvious to others who know full well what transpired, but the anniversary today brought many memories back.

1999 was a major turning point for many of us. Never before had the level of media manipulation and smashing of international laws been witnessed in our lifetimes.

The bombing was completely avoidable. There was one sticking point to the peace agreement at Rambouillet, which was appendix B: letting Nato troops have free rein throughout Yugoslavia instead of UN troops.

The US and "mini me" UK (which as a British person is particularly terrible) had already decided to attack Serbia. So many civilian targets were hit in this awful and violent attack. This was openly admitted by Michael Short who said the aim after a few days was to make life unbearable for residents, who would, supposedly, rise up against Milosevic.

The fact that many people had already bravely stood against Milosevic with no support from the West went unnoticed. And it never took a genius to know that when a nation is attacked it stands behind its leader, just as Britain did in WWII.

In the attack on Serbia, churches, monasteries and other irreplaceable heritage was destroyed. People were maimed and killed by bombs in cities, refugee columns, schools, hospitals, TV stations, even ambulances were hit. The land, air and rivers were polluted.

When journalists asked at the Nato press briefings about the danger of hitting the power plants (a war crime regardless of the danger of a massive explosion which could wipe out a city) they were belittled and not taken seriously.

The promised money to rebuild some of the damage has never transpired. Not that you can replace a country's heritage which was built over hundreds of years.

Meanwhile with an unemployment rate of 46% in Kosovo, the mafia activity is rife. Women and children from all over the world are being bought and sold like cattle by gangs (of all nationalities) for God knows what, while soldiers, NGOs etc. probably frequent many of the local places where these girls and women 'work'.

There is no mention in the Western press of any of the shocking realities even now. Not about Racak, organ 'harvesting', murders, kidnaps, human rights abuses… nothing!

All I can say is that I hope the poor victims of all ethnicities killed in this avoidable 'not a war' find peace. The pain will always remain with their families.

(Reality, 24 March 2009 23:09)
and johny
-- I totally agree with both of you 100% , thank you so much.

To all Serbs here:
Be willing to receive an education from Cedo Jovanovic (the most respected Serb in the entire World) and you will become far better off.

May victims rest in peace!
We should never forget and forgive this inflicted injustice towards Serbia and its people by the NATO and so called western powers and self proclaimed “super democracies”.
(Biljana, 24 March 2009 11:05

Biljana- you are 100% correct that Serbia should NEVER forget not only the NATO bombings, but ALL the injustices that the West has perpertrated upon our Serbian people. Hvala Bogu that we have somehow been able to resist becoming slaves to the "great powers". They have tried every imaginable way to defeat the Serbs- false rhetoric, shadow government, the Hague fiasco, bribes, bombing, amputating Serbia's cradle of Kosovo...the list is endless. And it's important that every Serb remember these actions, and not succumb to the West's wishes of total domination and subjugation of our people, through the EU, NATO, IMF, etc. Visiting Monastery Zica last August, one monk there told me that Serbia was "Europe" before Europe was "Europe". Serbs have a proud and glorious history- and remember we are "Slavs" not slaves!!!

What a criminal activity against Serbian citizens. Bet those responsible are today keeping a low profile!

Should Serbia ask for 29.6bn compensation and from whom? What about those Serbian citizens that did not parish but have been left with legacy of bad health and depression, some of whom been prosecuted many time over just for being a Serb! Those who have been left homeless! Those who wondered streets of Belgrade in T-shirst in middle of winter or lucky enough to be sleeping in their horse carriages! Yes, they should be lucky to be alive. Should they be searching for compensation of some sort?!

When will others stop interfiring with sovereign contries affairs? Should Serbs just count there blessings?! - More visa restrictions, oh more economic problems oh no intergration because "I said so" oh what next!

One more observation: I was in London ten years ago and saw 3 people protesting the bombing of Serbia. Where were all the know it alls then to protest the attack on Serbia? Europeans are selfish and do not want anything to disturb their search for comfort and wealth. They are so hypocritical. May God bles Serbia for persevering through so many struggles. You are the best people on the continent.

Someone once told me that the devil works in reverse. So when we turn 1999 upside-down it becomes 6661 meaning the devil is number 1.

1999 being the year the devil was the strongest. Thank God that is all over and strength is returning to Serbia and our friends.

They should have listed each country's active role in this tradgedy. The number of sorties flown, bombs dropped, and air bases supporting. Of course, the US and UK where at the forefront.

Condolenses to the firemen, police, and the many families of men, women and children that NATO killed in this illegal aggression. Also to the families of the moderate Albanians, Roma, Serbs and other minorities killed by NATO ground forces, the terrorist KLA (now ruling this province with their drug, weapons and sex trade mafia partners).

I agree with the comments from the guy from the UK. The EU and NATO is embarrassed by their failure to resolve the situation during the breakup of Yugoslavia. The bombing was a horrible reaction led by Holbrooke and a bunch of weak European nations. I visited Belgrade in December and was also struck by teh positive nature of teh Serbian people. The weaklings of the EU would benefit by the membership of Seria into the EU and hopefully, eventually NATO. Serbia is a wonderful country and should be allowed to rake its rightful place as a leader in the world.

Serbs are the last real Russians!
Hope to visit Serbia this year and I advice all my friends to come to your country.
This is the only way russians can support your economy.

In a decade or 2, the world will see another strong state. Serbia will be strong again I'm sure.

"Europeans are selfish and do not want anything to disturb their search for comfort and wealth. They are so hypocritical."
(Steven Brosk, 24 March 2009 19:10)

A good way of describing Serbians, they are European in all fairness.

Looking back, there must have been better solutions than to drop bombs on Serbia.

If anything, it gave Milosevic more time in power as war gave him the opportunity to arrest any opposition.

NATO's reaction was so strong due to the fact that they felt guilty for doing nothing as Croatia and Bosnia got ripped apart for 4 years. Perhaps if they had handled those situations properly, then the events of 1999 wouldn't have happened.

I went to Belgrade last year and it was good to see that the people of the city were welcoming and didn't hold the actions of NATO against people visiting from the UK

So NATO killed over 3,500 people (2,500 were civilians) because 2,000 Albanians were killed in an insurgency?

The US killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi’s fighting an insurgency there. What punishment should they get?

Right there with you, Tom. Whatever justifications NATO's salesmen might have used to promote the bombing, I think even they were taken aback that it lasted 78 days. Most were convinced a 48 hour blitz would force Belgrade to surrender. But then if Serbia didn't surrender, does that mean NATO stops bombing, or just bomb more?

I've been to Belgrade twice since the bombing, one in 2002 and the other last year. BBC did a report yesterday on the still visible scars on both the landscape and the people. But the great thing about the Serbs, I've come to realize, is that not only are they able to separate civilian from policymaker in the West, they still remain one of the most hospitable people I've ever met. They're like that guy you always want at your back when in a bar fight. They'll take a blow, have a chair knocked over them, fall to the ground, regain their balance, spit out the blood, wipe their mouth, stand up, look their attacker in the eye and say "is that the best you got?"

Remembering the dead, but also commemorating the resolve...

I am sure that non of you guy's were in either Bosnia, Croatia or Kosovo during the 90's wars so that means you are all manipulated by your weak and fearfull leaders that are scared to see the reality.
That proved with your ex prime that was murdered by your own people and you never will learn the truth because youre were and are manipulated by your medias!
If anyone was in the war during the war then he can judge otherwise please shush!
B92 publish this please!

Once NATO decided to act, they should have insisted on an unconditional surrender before stopping. The balkans would be about 5-6 years ahead of where they are now.

It was terrible - it should not have happened. The violence was unnecessary and illegal. There were many lies and deceptions and lots of innocent people died. It was politically incompetent of NATO - their policy was misguided and wrong. NATO messed up badly - by delaying so long before intervening in Bosnia.

NATO then felt obliged to intervene in a situation where the Albanians in Kosovo were suffering from the results of their policy of ethnically cleansing Serbs.

NATO was wrong on both counts - yet their decisions were well justified by the nasty nationalism represented by the political opportunist Milosevic.

Milosevic had every opportunity to prevent the bombing, but his succession of lies meant that the world had no confidence in him or that the great atrocities of Bosnia would not be repeated in Kosovo. NATO politicians were under an intolerable pressure not to give Milosevic the chance - hence the bombing. If Kosovo had become another Bosnia, many politicians in the west would have had to share the blame. Serbia did not realise that - mainly because of the TV propaganda pumped out in Belgrade which was such an unfunny joke (reflections of which I still read even in the comments listed here).

If you feel sorry for Serbs who died - feel sorry for all the innocents who died on all sides. One-sided sorriness is what the world did not like about the Balkans.

Finally - Kosovo belongs to Serbia and the current support for the UDI is wrong. Kosovo does not belong to Albania and it should not be allowed to become the weird invention currently being tried out by the US. NATO did go down a wrong road however strong their justification.

“I wish to reiterate that the bombing was a result of false accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The bombing of Serbia was just the culmination of pressure on the former Yugoslavia that began at the start of the Nineties,” said Dačić.

What about the wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo? What about the victims, massacres, burning houses…? Who is to blame about these? None of it happened by itself. Are these things “false accusations of genocide”? To some of people here maybe yes, but not to those who suffered for generations, not to those who are still suffering from what these wars have left behind.
It would have been wiser if Mr Dačić and his Government really reflect on what has really happened than making these kinds of statements, which to me seem no different from Milosevic.
I fully agree with GRUK on his comment “…to avoid seeing the full picture means that you remain in a bigoted and uninformed ghetto. And there’s no future there.”

My sincere condolences to all the victims.

Stephen Brosk: "One more observation: I was in London ten years ago and saw 3 people protesting the bombing of Serbia."

What are you talking about? I was there at virtually every protest and there were hundreds of protestors outside Downing Street. Thousands on the main peace marches.

Stll not enough - but far more than you apparently saw.

Further to Tom's link@3 an article in the UK's Guardian newspaper.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/24/serbia-kosovo

I find it strange to see so many anti western postings here – it seems some people have their prejudices and those prejudices will remain come what may. This is a shame as it stops full consideration of the complex situation.

Scroll back and you’ll see links to 2 reputable and widely read newspapers (one UK and one Irish) that criticise the NATO bombing. Scroll up and you’ll see posting by Spiros (#28) talking of protests in London at the time. I was there and I protested along with thousands of others. There are supporters of justice and fairness in every country – including those in the west.

The anti western bile by many on this site is understandable, given the situation, and I have sympathy for all those who lost loved ones. But to avoid seeing the full picture means that you remain in a bigoted and uninformed ghetto. And there’s no future there.

Peace and respect to all

GRUK

The more I learn about the Nato campaign and the complete lack of foresight, the more I am ashamed. Based in Northern Ireland, I have dual nationality, Irish and British. I travelled to Serbia previously on my British passport in 2005 and was met with a distinctly hostile reaction from the police when entering from Bulgaria. I understand that to an extent, and once I arrived in Serbia, I was so happy to meet such a warm and welcoming people. I cannot wait to return in the summer and look forward to travelling with my Irish passport as a way of showing my neutrality towards aggression and hostility. I wish Serbia a peaceful and prosperous future, and hopefully one within the European Union if you do so choose. I would be very interested in talking to some Serbian citizens for my own interest, and you can find me at adamflynn1@hotmail.com. Some cultural exchange with me in Belfast, Northern Ireland would be really excellent and I wish you all a better future.

If NATO had dared to invade Yugoslavia you can be sure that Iraq and Afghanistan would have been like Disneyland. Or would NATO have introduced Nazi style punishment: 100 Serbs executed for every NATO soldier killed? NATO is an instrument of the imperialistic West that has the arrogance to think that they are better than everybody else and that the have the right to control and take everything they want. It will not happen. May all victims of the political media war be remembered and may Serbia always be a free nation of free-spirited and proud people.

After reading news about "10 Years of NATO Bombing Serbia" I got impression that except Albanians, Serbian government as well as B92 are in love with America. The rest of the world is trying to run away from that economic and politic carcass. The main from that time, Malden Albright and Richard Holbrook are back! Their "Come back" they made competing in their rhetoric abilities ( how familiar)! Holbrook says that Serbs/Serbia deserved bombing. Run, Serbia, Run! Run faster! Run to kiss the hand that is killing you!