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Date: 30 Aug 1995 00:32:07
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From: 100440.270@compuserve.com
Subject: Protecting the Living
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From: Robert Bennett <100440.270@compuserve.com>


Dear President Clinton:

"At last!" said a friend of mine when she phoned me early this morning, 
"at last!" and I could hear tears of relief in her voice.

All of my friends here in Europe feel the same. Having to resort to 
military measures is never desirable, but without them, there would be 
little prospect of change in the intransigent attitude of the Serbs, an 
attitude perhaps typified by my acquaintance Aleksandr yesterday.

He came barging into my apartment again in the evening, lay down on the 
couch, put his muddy shoes up on the cushions, stuck his hands behind 
his head, and announced, "Hey man, I really like this place. How about 
moving out so I can live here?"

When he saw what must have been a look of astonishment on my face, he 
broke into great yelping guffaws and said to me good-naturedly, "Just 
kidding. Don't worry. We only do that to Moslems. Anyway, we'll wait 
awhile before we start ethnically cleansing Bavaria."

All at once he was beaming. "Hey man, we really smeared 'em yesterday in
Sarajevo, didn't we? THIRTY-SIX at last count, and still going up! Can 
you believe it?

I said I didn't want to.

"And what did the UN do?" he went on, oblivious. "Nothing! We've got 
those pansies so buffaloed they don't know which end's up. Just IMAGINE 
- for a while they really BELIEVED Karadjic when he told everybody it 
was the BOSNIANS who shelled THEMSELVES!" He snickered quietly. 
"Karadjic - there's a great leader; even Jimmy Carter treats him with 
respect."

He considered that idea for a moment, then raved on. "But best of all, 
the ones who DO know we launched those shells don't want Nato to 
retaliate because they're afraid it'll harm the PEACE PROCESS!

"Ah, Bobby," he smiled, "it's a Serb's world."

He finally left a while later; I don't know how he is this morning, but 
I'm certain he's not feeling quite the same.

My friends and I, though, are grateful. We know those air strikes won't 
bring back the people who died on Monday, but - like you, Mr. President 
- we are confident they will help protect the living.

Sincerely yours,

Robert J. Bennett


Mauerkircherstrasse 68
81925 Munich
Germany

+49 (89) 981 0208