U.S. television hides truth from nation

Srdan Filipovic

DM staff columnist

War coverage is great fun, indeed, provided you are not a Yugoslav, or God forbid, a Serb. CNN is in heaven these days. The U.S. "free press" -- free of all remnants of integrity, honesty and truth in reporting -- is now delivering to you pictures of horror, humanitarian catastrophe, summary executions, indiscriminate killings, mayhem and apocalypse.

Every sentence mentioning Serbs, according to the new rule of the English language, has to include words like ethnic cleansing, genocide and baby killing. It is interesting that a big story about mass rapes in Bosnia did not make it yet into Kosovo reports, but you need to understand that CNN needs new Serb atrocities every day, and so the stories already written are just waiting for the right time. Do not despair, dear reader, because in due time every conceivable crime will be attributed to Serbs and broadcast worldwide. Let's see what the gems of innovative reporting from Kosovo are.

A teenager, in a refugee camp in Albania: "It was horrible! They killed everybody. We had to escape on foot. If I have to stay here I'll kill myself."

By standards of CNN this is a proof of genocide. But, no dates, no places, no names. The teenager himself was well dressed, spoke good English and showed no sign of hardship or exhaustion. And in the 30 seconds of his "performance," his only troubles are keeping a wide grin off his face.

An old peasant, tired, rumpled white beard: "It was horrible! They executed my six sons. They let me go because I was old."

No details given. But, for someone who lost six sons the day before, he looks remarkably unshaken. Serbs spared him, no doubt, in order to provide a witness for future prosecution.

Young woman, carrying a baby: "It was horrible! They rounded up all ten of my brothers and shot them. I escaped with a baby, on foot."

Again, there are no names, places, dates. No evidence of any kind, but it is still good enough for CNN to claim continuation of a genocide. And as long as genocide continues, so will the NATO bombing. Real simple, yes sir!

In occupied Bosnia, NATO troops have blown up the railroad Belgrade-Bar (Montenegro coast), few miles of which go through Republika Srpska (Serbian part of Bosnia). In doing so, the knights of stabilization force have killed the man who walks along the railroad every day inspecting it. Imagine his audacity by trying to prevent NATO from setting the explosives.

CNN reported the blow-up -- but not the murder -- in their usual manner, sneaking it in without any further explanation. Later, NATO "justifiers after the facts," said they've done it to stop Milosevic. Remember, NATO actions are to prevent war from spreading into neighboring states. Does it remind you a little of people putting out a fire by adding the kerosene?

In another contribution to peace and stability in the region, the United States brought 24 Apache gunships, multiple rocket launchers and the 82nd air-borne to Albania. Apparently, air campaign is not enough against pesky Serbs. In a climate of lawlessness, so rampant in Washington when dealing with the Third World, nobody told them that such action puts Albania at war with Yugoslavia.

But, CNN has a story ready for it. Serbs are now attacking Albania, taking border villages. Nobody can name the villages taken or show the Serbs there, but who cares? NATO Commander, General Clark, rightfully indignant screams: "Yugoslavia is attacking a sovereign country! I need more planes, more bombs, more troops!" Who knows better then General Clark that NATO would never attack a sovereign country that did not attack or threaten them?

Albania is not a NATO country; it has only rented out its territory to the United States and is now not meddling even in its own internal affairs. From the United States, they only expect indefinite financial aid, and the destruction of Yugoslavia.

If you have just filed your taxes beware. The warm feeling from knowing where your money goes and that you are doing it all for world peace might overwhelm that kind heart of yours. It was already under serious strain when you saw Libby Dole crying and hugging Albanian refugees.

Don't you worry, it is just a show, and Libby is running for an office. If you did not know that, let me mention in passing a few other things about gentle Libby. She visited only Albanian refugees in Albania, and, of course not Albanian refugees in Serbia or Montenegro.

How could they do that to gentle Libby: flee back to murderous Serbs, instead of boosting the CNN numbers in Albania? As for non-Albanian refugees, victims of NATO bombing, they do not even exist for dame Libby.

This blindness was already apparent in Bosnia when Red Cross aid convoys found every Croatian and Muslim village, but somehow got lost and never found Serb villages in dire need. Did I mention that gentle Libby was for many years the President of American Red Cross, resigning only recently to run for president? No, I guess not. Her hubby, Bob Dole, is the infamous U.S. senator who visited Yugoslavia in the 1970s and 1980s. Serbs wanted to kick him out, but other republics would not consent. Needless to say, these Republics were Slovenia and Croatia, the true breakers of Yugoslavia. And who was the U.S. envoy to convince Albanians to sign a "peace plan" and guarantee the bombing of Serbs? Gentle Bob Dole, the U.S. war hero! You must be impressed by such a happy family, so united in their hatred of Serbs and now supported by Viagra.

Folks, you have seen the stories of NATO bombing a civilian train. You have seen the NATO bombing of Albanian refugee convoys. You have listened to NATO briefings, state briefings and Pentagon briefings.

How long can you suspend your disbelief in their explanation, which changes every day, "explanations" that would not pass the kindergarten audience? How long can you suppress the nausea while listening to James Rubin, or James Shea or Wesley Clark?

Switch the TV off, you say. But the bombs continue to fall even when it is off; innocent people are getting killed every day. Among them, women and children, and yes, babies too. And it is all done in your name and with your money. And, yes, you can stop it. Remember, you are The People.

Srdan Filipovic is a telecommunications Ph.D. student from Belgrade.