Airstrikes in Kosovo Conflict

* David Owen’s March 23 commentary, “Kosovo Isn’t Bosnia; the Serbs Are Strong,” is right.

Wars are won when your army controls the ground. And even then, it’s a porous victory, as the occupied engage in continued battle with acts of terror. Since World War II, whatever peace is reached comes through negotiations.

In short, why not learn to live together?

HYMAN H. HAVES

Pacific Palisades

*

Re “U.S. Pilots Face Perilous Task, Pentagon Says,” March 20: God save us from a serious war against North Korea, China or Russia. After giving to our generals trillions of dollars, they are afraid to hit the small, ragtag Serbian army. Oh, they have 60 surface-to-air missile batteries, and radar, mountains and valleys. Sometimes it’s even cloudy over there.

Just remember Bosnia: Every time we hit them, they sign the papers and the war is over.

MIKE MLIKOTIN

Los Angeles

*

Military intervention in Yugoslavia--i.e., American blood and treasure--is being touted as critical to some U.S. “commitment”--that failure to intervene will damage our reputation as the superpower maintaining world peace. Wrong! The only loss of face will be that of Bill Clinton--not America.

In carrying out foreign policy, no president is America without enlisting the support of the American people and Congress. President Clinton has failed repeatedly to justify any military intervention--much less an open-ended one--in the Serbia-Kosovo civil war.

When we wage war it should be for defense or matters of critical national interest. The tragic Yugoslavian civil war is not an attack on America. It is in no way a threat to any critical national interest.

JAMES W. HORTON

Palos Verdes Estates