Recent reports speak of thousands demonstrating against the central government in Yugoslavia, instead, and of hundreds of troops leaving the field and refusing to fight. While reports of anti-war activity suddenly surfacing at this time are suspicious, they are not altogether surprising. There was a significant, but marginalized, anti-Milosevic political movement in Yugoslavia before the NATO bombing began. And, despite government censorship, it is clear that many in Serbia are aware on some level of the atrocities that are committed by security forces in Kosovo. Also, NATO has deliberately targeted the non-military infrastructure of Yugoslavia by attacking factories, power plants, bridges, highways, TV and Radio stations -- in clear violation of International Law -- specifically to brutalize and wear down the people of Yugoslavia. Once again, working men and women and their children suffer because of militarists on both sides; once again it is the innocent who suffer as a result of "modern" 20-th Century warfare.

As time goes on, internal opposition to the politicies of the Yugoslav government, if not the government itself, is likely to increase. But it probably won't topple that government, or even cause it to significantly change its policies (especially since its main objectives in Kosovo have already been achieved). This vicious, criminal and illegal campaign against Yugoslavia isn't likely to succeed, any more than the bombing and and the embargo of Iraq, where the government has considerably less support among its people.

But just like Yugoslavia, NATO countries also have a significant, but largely marginalized, anti-war movement. One would hardly know there was any opposition at all based on reports from the corporate media. Dissent among the citizens of NATO countries is immediately and routinely dismissed by the Generals in NATO and their war-mongering supporters. Even when it is discussed, the "dissent" in NATO circles is usually framed as a disagreement on the level of violence to be used on the people of Yugoslavia. For example, when asked why there were persistent reports of disagreement on whether to consider using ground troops in the conflict, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook dismissed it saying, "Papers have to write something". (1) And since most of the major newspapers in Britain are owned by a lothesome fascist like Rupert Murdoch, it's a safe bet they'll write something positive about the war.

So expect the TV and the papers to play up any internal Yugoslavian conflict, while continuing to ignore or write off domestic opposition to the war. That's why an anti-war rally of 2000 in Serbia can get more press than an anti-war rally of 5000 in New York.