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Hmm… Sounds familiar….

Michael Parenti argues that the NATO intervention in Yugoslavia was not motivated by humanitarian concerns, but rather was driven by economic interests and a desire to establish military control over the region. He critiques Western media coverage of the conflict and argues that the West was complicit in the violence. Ultimately, he concludes that the NATO bombing campaign only exacerbated ethnic divisions within Yugoslavia and set back any potential progress towards peace in the Balkan region.


• Parenti claims that NATO's intervention in Yugoslavia was motivated primarily by geopolitical considerations and a desire to establish military bases throughout Eastern Europe. He sees little evidence of genuine concern for protecting civilians or promoting democracy in the region.
• He accuses Western media outlets of providing biased coverage that painted Bosnian Muslims as innocent victims and demonized Serbs as brutish aggressors. This framing, according to Parenti, helped pave the way for NATO military action.
• While acknowledging the crimes committed by Serb forces against civilian populations, Parenti argues that similar war crimes occurred at the hands of Croat and Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) armed groups. Yet these actions garnered far less attention and condemnation from Western leaders and media outlets.
• Parenti contends that NATO's bombardment of Serbia resulted in numerous civilian casualties and failed to achieve its stated goals of promoting stability or deterring future aggression. Instead, he suggests, the attacks only further destabilized the region and contributed to long-term suffering among ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire.
• Parenti believes that NATO's intervention marked a dangerous precedent for unilateral use of force without clear legal authority or universal support from the global community. This trend, in his
• He emphasizes the deep historical roots of conflicts in the Balkans and the ways in which European powers played significant roles in shaping regional boundaries and identities over centuries. Understanding these dynamics helps explain why contemporary events unfolded as they did.
• Parenti criticizes liberal intellectuals who endorse imperial policies under the guise of supporting human rights or anti-fascism. He urges readers to challenge such facile justifications and instead advocate for more meaningful solutions that address underlying social problems, promote grassroots empowerment, and resist corporate domination.
• Throughout the text, Parenti stresses the value of self-critique and recognizing one's own blind spots and biases. Such reflexivity encourages more nuanced perspectives and greater sensitivity to diverse experiences beyond our immediate contexts.

Slobodan Milošević
• Parenti presents Milošević as an opportunistic politician who capitalized on ethnic polarization and nationalist sentiments to consolidate power in Serbia, while undermining pluralistic reforms implemented earlier by other Communist officials. However, Parenti also notes how political corruption and neoliberal economic reform measures pushed by the International Monetary Fund fueled popular discontent that Milošević could exploit.
• Parenti highlights instances when Milošević appeared willing to compromise with other Balkan leaders or broker agreements mitigating hostilities between various ethno-religious groups. For instance, he signed the Dayton Accords in November 1995 to bring an end to fighting in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These moves suggest Milošević recognized limits to how much Serb dominance in the region could be achieved through brute force alone.
• Parenti disputes allegations that Milošević planned and executed genocidal policies targeting Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim), Kosovar Albanian, or other populations. Instead, he suggests that local paramilitary organizations known as "Serb Volunteer Guard" (SDG) and "Army of Republic Srpska" (VRS) acted autonomously or under rival commanders to commit massacres like the infamous Srebrenica event in July 1995. Though Milošević had influence over the VRS, Parenti implies Milošević did not directly order such crimes.
• Parenti denounces Milošević for permitting or tolerating discriminatory laws passed by the Serbian parliament aimed at restricting minority rights and freedoms, including speech, religion, assembly, and cultural expression. Although he granted autonomy to regions populated mainly by Albanians.