10th anniversary of NATO bombing of RTS

This attack was shameful and most certainly a war crime. These were young people who were just doing their job and they were no more guilty of aiding the war machine than employees of the BBC, CNN or any other state broadcaster.

If NATO had wanted to warn the station they could have done so easily and effectively. So could the foreign stations who apparently warned their own staff to get out, but did not pass the message on.

Report today from AP: "Amnesty: NATO bombing of Serbian TV 'war crime'" [link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iI-Ix5tQ59McTX8NyBF1R120X4dAD97O497G1 ]

Also, please read the Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting report [link: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1045 ] which includes some good background about this attack.

To quote FAIR: "The American media’s unwillingness to defend the rights of "enemy" journalists was also reflected by the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) exclusion of the 16 RTS employees from their much-cited annual list of reporters attacked or killed for their work.

"Although the CPJ condemned the RTS bombing when it occurred, the group claims that RTS forfeited its status as a journalistic entity by fomenting ethnic hatred in previous Balkan wars."
_____

An absolute disgrace! Their names should be added to the list of media workers killed in wars, and those who ordered the attack should be held accountable.

What were Nato thinking? Bombing ambulances, hospitals, TV stations, power stations, schools... what were they thinking?

Now even the media of today don't seem interested. Shame on you all - especially those who met and chatted to these young people just before the attack.

when the bombing of the tv station building was reported it was the first time i experienced an obvious war crime was reported in the "free" world without pointing out that it was a war crime. and all that in a supposedly "humanitarian" intervention. since then i've seen others, so perhaps this is just a usual practice and i am just not old enough to know.

Unbelievable. Not anywhere in this article is there any blame for the people who actually dropped the bomb. Did it ever occur to B92 and the Sorosians that the actual war criminals who gave the orders to bomb the RTS building are responsible? Wesley Clark and Madeline Albright are REAL war criminals and will live in infamy for this disgusting crime. Serbia's yellows send their own citizens to fake anti-Serb kangaroo court, send their own citizen to jail for a bomb that was dropped by NATO war criminals, and now want to participate with that same NATO in excercises in Georgia. Can it be any clearer who these people work for?
RIP to all the victims.

A good friend of mine was actually in the building when it was bombed.

The claims that RTS was merely a propaganda tool are particularly disgusting considering the massive distortion of the facts going on in the Western Media at that time.

Might I remind our readers that the NATO bombing was “justified” on the basis of the many false reports in the Western Media that 100,000 Albanians were assumed killed in the insurgency, when in fact the reality was only 2,000 had died before the NATO bombing began. Which is obviously an extremely low number given the nature of the insurgency there. As a comparison, 100’s of thousands, possibly a million, have died in Iraq during a similar time frame under US occupation. 50% of Americans still believe Saddam was connected to the 9/11 Plot, should FOX News be a legitimate target because of that?

So I ask you, which Media outlets were truly engaging in ethnic hatred, lies and propaganda?

This was absolutely tragic and undeniably a war crime. The targetting of civilians (in this case journalists and others) is completely unacceptible. That is my consistent position.

It is a real pity that the world media didn't show more solidarity with their kin in Serbia. They could have made more sympathietic reports, calling NATO action on this target dubious at least and at worst a war crime. The message is that if you are working for the media of a country that is designated 'the enemy' you are fair game. It does not matter that RTS was a propoganda house under Milosevic. People are still people.

To be sure we can't get hold of the one that ordered this war crime but we can sure as hell imprison those responsible for letting these people being murdered - ie Milanovic and odious ilk. Those yes men, who would have abandoned their own mothers to NATO bombs just to ingratiate themselves with Sloba and get some kind of promotion. No wonder on October 5th people wanted to beat the sense out of that accessory to murder.

In my code of honour the captain goes down with the ship. In this case the captain runs away, can prevent his crew from dying, but chooses to let them die.
Yes, if he'd evacuated them he could have lost his job. But I'd be proud every day for the rest of my life to save my crew.

Tadic, pay attention. Don't even consider NATO membership. If you do, you are condoning all this slaughter.
What have you to say about all this. You are not very vocal.

Anyone who even considers joining these thugs should be removed from office.

As an American, I am totally ashamed at what my government did 10 years ago. A dear friend of mine, Marijana, left the building just minutes before the bombs fell. To the victims and their families- May their Memory be Eternal. Vjecnaja Pamjat.

What a complete disgrace, not only from NATO but also from B92 who continue to report this as somehow being the fault of Serbians.

Now that Obama is addressing US war crimes (with regard to torture) lets see if he will address this crime also.

So why can the US propaganda machine beat the drums of war resulting in over a million deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan while somehow journalists can be murdered in Serbia without a problem.

It's time those responsible for this crime are brought to justice and let it never be forgotten until such time.

I am Albanian myself and really don't agree that civilians lost their lives. In a war its only combats that have to be targeted. Without wanting to add more pain to those who have been hurt, I join with my prayers for all those who have lost their lives anywhere, in Belgrade, Prishtina and anywhere. It just makes me realize that we live in a terrible world, and people are just as Aristotle called them, "natural animals of politics."

Rest in peace to those who lost their lives, no matter the reason, ethnicity, race, religion or nationality. Humans are humans no matter where they live, in what they believe and what they do. I would ask all those who feel any kind of hate, to please try eliminate that. It is just has a negative impact on your thoughts and we have to learn to live in peace with each other, that is the only way we can pursue a bright future. We can learn from others, especially Germany and France who have been in war with each other for very long and have had non-friendly views on each other but now live on peace and promote peace and stability to others as well.Wars only feel the pockets of administrators, kill the civilians and destruct the society.

What a messy world we live in.

Has anyone been charged from nato for these gruesome war crimes? Of course not, because they have a license to kill and they can never be charged for any war crime. SHAME!!!

Well the CNN crew, which was sharing the facilities, were warned and moved out before the attack but never told the Serbian workers. Yet, the Serbian government hired CNN - and paid them good money - to do a tourist promotion (which sucked and even showed Romania in parts instead). Seems Serbs keep blaming other Serbs above the westerners who knew of the attack or actually did it.

Good comments by all and I join you in condemning this deplorable and cowardly act against civilians! NATO and responsible officials must be held accountable if the West is to have any credibility when discussing war crimes. Truly shameful.

"The families believe that senior military and state officials at the time are responsible for the deaths of their loved ones."

I see B92 is towing the DS/G17 line I'm pretty sure that the families blame NATO more than anyone else, yet it is convenient to blame the former regime and cosy up for photo shoots with Solana and Schroeder on the week of this anniversary. I hear that Minister Jeremic, the Sin Dragan of the Serbian Political Scene is in Washington while the victims families are still seeking justice.

How is it that no officials attended?
Why is it that the B92 never referred to Nato Aggression and in the first paragraph referred to the bombardment as a strike?

US led NATO is to blame for this terrible barbarity.

They had and still have NO SHAME.

I pray that the people who died are resting in peace in heaven.

MB,Ireland

Tragedy that should not happen.
Serbian gov. heads were aware that the attack will take place.They intentionaly left the people in the building.Why?

And while even the families of the dead says that the officials of the Milosevic government were the responsible ones, the power circles in Serbia still insist to paint NATO as an evil, Nazi-like aggressor…

To alproud - I agree with your comment totally, except for the bit:

"We can learn from others, especially Germany and France who have been in war with each other for very long and have had non-friendly views on each other but now live on peace and promote peace and stability to others as well."

I would beg to differ that either country is currently a bringer of peace!

Olf - yes the management of RTS sacrificed these people which is a disgrace. But a disgrace is not the same as a war crime, of which Nato is undoubtedly guilty of.

And how could the reporters from international companies leave the building knowing this was going to happen?? It would have been easy to tip them off.

(Gossamer, 24 April 2009 05:02)

milosevic regime did not bomb the tv station. nato did and accordingly they are clearly guilty of a war crime. your comment is simply disrespectful.

# As an American, I am totally ashamed at what my government did 10 years ago. A dear friend of mine, Marijana, left the building just minutes before the bombs fell. To the victims and their families- May their Memory be Eternal. Vjecnaja Pamjat.
(Rick, 23 April 2009 13:34)

Be carefull when you call yourself America,You can speak only in your name here,nothing more or less,even if your write your name here Rick,Zoran or Obama.
What did the govermant of United States,this was in the interest of national security
and all citizens of the U.S.
The U.S. government represents the American Nation.

I can see that in the momorial it's written "Zasto?".
Well there is an answer to that: Respond!

Unbelievable. Not anywhere in this article is there any blame for the people who actually dropped the bomb. Did it ever occur to B92 and the Sorosians that the actual war criminals who gave the orders to bomb the RTS building are responsible? Wesley Clark and Madeline Albright are REAL war criminals and will live in infamy for this disgusting crime. Serbia's yellows send their own citizens to fake anti-Serb kangaroo court, send their own citizen to jail for a bomb that was dropped by NATO war criminals, and now want to participate with that same NATO in excercises in Georgia. Can it be any clearer who these people work for?
RIP to all the victims.

Tadic, pay attention. Don't even consider NATO membership. If you do, you are condoning all this slaughter.
What have you to say about all this. You are not very vocal.

Anyone who even considers joining these thugs should be removed from office.

What a complete disgrace, not only from NATO but also from B92 who continue to report this as somehow being the fault of Serbians.

Now that Obama is addressing US war crimes (with regard to torture) lets see if he will address this crime also.

So why can the US propaganda machine beat the drums of war resulting in over a million deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan while somehow journalists can be murdered in Serbia without a problem.

It's time those responsible for this crime are brought to justice and let it never be forgotten until such time.

when the bombing of the tv station building was reported it was the first time i experienced an obvious war crime was reported in the "free" world without pointing out that it was a war crime. and all that in a supposedly "humanitarian" intervention. since then i've seen others, so perhaps this is just a usual practice and i am just not old enough to know.

Well the CNN crew, which was sharing the facilities, were warned and moved out before the attack but never told the Serbian workers. Yet, the Serbian government hired CNN - and paid them good money - to do a tourist promotion (which sucked and even showed Romania in parts instead). Seems Serbs keep blaming other Serbs above the westerners who knew of the attack or actually did it.

As an American, I am totally ashamed at what my government did 10 years ago. A dear friend of mine, Marijana, left the building just minutes before the bombs fell. To the victims and their families- May their Memory be Eternal. Vjecnaja Pamjat.

This attack was shameful and most certainly a war crime. These were young people who were just doing their job and they were no more guilty of aiding the war machine than employees of the BBC, CNN or any other state broadcaster.

If NATO had wanted to warn the station they could have done so easily and effectively. So could the foreign stations who apparently warned their own staff to get out, but did not pass the message on.

Report today from AP: "Amnesty: NATO bombing of Serbian TV 'war crime'" [link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iI-Ix5tQ59McTX8NyBF1R120X4dAD97O497G1 ]

Also, please read the Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting report [link: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1045 ] which includes some good background about this attack.

To quote FAIR: "The American media’s unwillingness to defend the rights of "enemy" journalists was also reflected by the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) exclusion of the 16 RTS employees from their much-cited annual list of reporters attacked or killed for their work.

"Although the CPJ condemned the RTS bombing when it occurred, the group claims that RTS forfeited its status as a journalistic entity by fomenting ethnic hatred in previous Balkan wars."
_____

An absolute disgrace! Their names should be added to the list of media workers killed in wars, and those who ordered the attack should be held accountable.

What were Nato thinking? Bombing ambulances, hospitals, TV stations, power stations, schools... what were they thinking?

Now even the media of today don't seem interested. Shame on you all - especially those who met and chatted to these young people just before the attack.

This was absolutely tragic and undeniably a war crime. The targetting of civilians (in this case journalists and others) is completely unacceptible. That is my consistent position.

It is a real pity that the world media didn't show more solidarity with their kin in Serbia. They could have made more sympathietic reports, calling NATO action on this target dubious at least and at worst a war crime. The message is that if you are working for the media of a country that is designated 'the enemy' you are fair game. It does not matter that RTS was a propoganda house under Milosevic. People are still people.

To be sure we can't get hold of the one that ordered this war crime but we can sure as hell imprison those responsible for letting these people being murdered - ie Milanovic and odious ilk. Those yes men, who would have abandoned their own mothers to NATO bombs just to ingratiate themselves with Sloba and get some kind of promotion. No wonder on October 5th people wanted to beat the sense out of that accessory to murder.

In my code of honour the captain goes down with the ship. In this case the captain runs away, can prevent his crew from dying, but chooses to let them die.
Yes, if he'd evacuated them he could have lost his job. But I'd be proud every day for the rest of my life to save my crew.

And while even the families of the dead says that the officials of the Milosevic government were the responsible ones, the power circles in Serbia still insist to paint NATO as an evil, Nazi-like aggressor…

Tragedy that should not happen.
Serbian gov. heads were aware that the attack will take place.They intentionaly left the people in the building.Why?

A good friend of mine was actually in the building when it was bombed.

The claims that RTS was merely a propaganda tool are particularly disgusting considering the massive distortion of the facts going on in the Western Media at that time.

Might I remind our readers that the NATO bombing was “justified” on the basis of the many false reports in the Western Media that 100,000 Albanians were assumed killed in the insurgency, when in fact the reality was only 2,000 had died before the NATO bombing began. Which is obviously an extremely low number given the nature of the insurgency there. As a comparison, 100’s of thousands, possibly a million, have died in Iraq during a similar time frame under US occupation. 50% of Americans still believe Saddam was connected to the 9/11 Plot, should FOX News be a legitimate target because of that?

So I ask you, which Media outlets were truly engaging in ethnic hatred, lies and propaganda?

Has anyone been charged from nato for these gruesome war crimes? Of course not, because they have a license to kill and they can never be charged for any war crime. SHAME!!!

Good comments by all and I join you in condemning this deplorable and cowardly act against civilians! NATO and responsible officials must be held accountable if the West is to have any credibility when discussing war crimes. Truly shameful.

"The families believe that senior military and state officials at the time are responsible for the deaths of their loved ones."

I see B92 is towing the DS/G17 line I'm pretty sure that the families blame NATO more than anyone else, yet it is convenient to blame the former regime and cosy up for photo shoots with Solana and Schroeder on the week of this anniversary. I hear that Minister Jeremic, the Sin Dragan of the Serbian Political Scene is in Washington while the victims families are still seeking justice.

How is it that no officials attended?
Why is it that the B92 never referred to Nato Aggression and in the first paragraph referred to the bombardment as a strike?

I can see that in the momorial it's written "Zasto?".
Well there is an answer to that: Respond!

To alproud - I agree with your comment totally, except for the bit:

"We can learn from others, especially Germany and France who have been in war with each other for very long and have had non-friendly views on each other but now live on peace and promote peace and stability to others as well."

I would beg to differ that either country is currently a bringer of peace!

Olf - yes the management of RTS sacrificed these people which is a disgrace. But a disgrace is not the same as a war crime, of which Nato is undoubtedly guilty of.

And how could the reporters from international companies leave the building knowing this was going to happen?? It would have been easy to tip them off.

US led NATO is to blame for this terrible barbarity.

They had and still have NO SHAME.

I pray that the people who died are resting in peace in heaven.

MB,Ireland

(Gossamer, 24 April 2009 05:02)

milosevic regime did not bomb the tv station. nato did and accordingly they are clearly guilty of a war crime. your comment is simply disrespectful.

# As an American, I am totally ashamed at what my government did 10 years ago. A dear friend of mine, Marijana, left the building just minutes before the bombs fell. To the victims and their families- May their Memory be Eternal. Vjecnaja Pamjat.
(Rick, 23 April 2009 13:34)

Be carefull when you call yourself America,You can speak only in your name here,nothing more or less,even if your write your name here Rick,Zoran or Obama.
What did the govermant of United States,this was in the interest of national security
and all citizens of the U.S.
The U.S. government represents the American Nation.

I am Albanian myself and really don't agree that civilians lost their lives. In a war its only combats that have to be targeted. Without wanting to add more pain to those who have been hurt, I join with my prayers for all those who have lost their lives anywhere, in Belgrade, Prishtina and anywhere. It just makes me realize that we live in a terrible world, and people are just as Aristotle called them, "natural animals of politics."

Rest in peace to those who lost their lives, no matter the reason, ethnicity, race, religion or nationality. Humans are humans no matter where they live, in what they believe and what they do. I would ask all those who feel any kind of hate, to please try eliminate that. It is just has a negative impact on your thoughts and we have to learn to live in peace with each other, that is the only way we can pursue a bright future. We can learn from others, especially Germany and France who have been in war with each other for very long and have had non-friendly views on each other but now live on peace and promote peace and stability to others as well.Wars only feel the pockets of administrators, kill the civilians and destruct the society.

What a messy world we live in.