"Theres that line in the Bible: Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord," says Dowell. "It doesnt belong to Madeleine Albright. The U.S. wants to make Milosevic pay for what he did, but theres a point when they have to consider Serbias welfare ahead of the political pain theyd feel from letting him retire unpunished." Would Milosevic, addicted to power, ever take the back way out? "Hed be tempted," says Dowell. "And a standing offer would make those close to him wonder how long hed be around. Theyd have to think about cutting their own deals." Right now, with Milosevics back (hopefully) against the wall, U.S. officials are in no mood to give any ground. After all, hes the villain who got them into this mess. But if hed agree to get them out - and let the healing of Serbia begin before its condition gets even more desperate maybe Cohen & Co. ought to let him. Better the one that got away than the one that never left.
Cohen Loses Touch With Realpolitik Over Slobo
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Despite the United States' repeated public assertions and a covert CIA operation to back them up that Slobodan Milosevic must be removed from power as soon as possible, apparently when isnt as important as how. Responding to reports that Belgrade opposition leaders are considering options for finding Milosevic political asylum in, say, Iraq or Belarus, Pentagon chief William Cohen sounded like he had never heard of realpolitik. "He is an indicted war criminal," Cohen said in Denmark Friday. "If there is any place where he seeks sanctuary, perhaps I would recommend the Hague." To TIME U.N. correspondent William Dowell, Cohens hard line - if it is genuine, and not just political maneuvering is a case of the U.S. putting the means too far ahead of the end.