The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Dejan Mihailovic, Belgium

It is heartening to hear a world leader speak with such conviction on this war. I hope Britain will lead the way if the USA should falter in its resolve. If an infantry is needed, send it in!
John K. Odor, USA

The conflict will not end until Nato ground forces are in Kosovo and letting the refugees return safely.
Leslie Cox, New Zealand

Tony Blair's double standards are quite breathtaking. He is concerned, quite rightly, for the plight of Kosovan Albanians, but at the same time his government has agreed over 60 new contracts to sell military equipment, including Hawk jets, which have been used to carry out some of the most brutal ethnic cleansing the world has ever seen in East Timor. If western eyes and ears were to hear their stories we would be as appalled and horrified. Bombing has done nothing more than unite a country behind a leader the majority do not support (Milosevic) and we have also seen the Chinese marching in support of their government!!! One wonders too about the environmental damage caused by the use of so much depleted Uranium. Stop this farce now and get back round the table.
Alex Spalding, England

Not a word about breaking international law, causing suffering to Kosovo Albanian and Yugoslav People, damaging and polluting environments for generations to come, etc. If there is criminal out there do we who embrace democracy and are so proud of our values take right to be judge and jury bypassing law? How can we then say that we want to introduce democratic values when we do not abide by them. Nato's crusade for civilisation is a big lie, Mr Blair and a statement good enough for tabloid readers.
Zeljko Crkvencic, (Croatian) Australia

I agree 100% with Mr Blair! We must stop Milosevic at all costs. To think of all the atrocities that the Kosavars have gone through is inhumanity at its lowest level! I have no doubt that if we didn't do something to put a halt to this that the Serb's would had killed all the ethnic Albanians living in Kosova! The Serb forces are being defeated. It's only a matter of time where they won't be able to operate at all.
Daniel R Bastian, USA

Killing refugees with bombs, can hardly mean that you care about them.
George Galatoulas, Greece

Mr. Blair is completely right. I have spoken to many friends and colleagues and I believe over 90% of the UK public are fully behind his actions. Many people do however feel that Nato must prepare for the use of ground troops. This may increase casualties amongst our armed forces but it will reduce civilian deaths, and the Serb atrocities of mass executions of all men, rape and deportations. Without ground forces Nato may have to accept an unsatisfactory "peace" agreement. If this happens Nato will be, and will be seen to be defeated.
David Croft, England

I left Yugoslavia five years ago mainly as a result of President Milosevic's policy, but I can't find any reason to support Prime Minister's words or policy. His words are powerful, but there is a lot of hypocrisy behind them. We all know that refugee crisis in Turkey is even worse with million and four hundred thousand displaced Kurds, and not to mention aggression of Indonesia in East Timor when one third of the population of East Timor died from weapons supplied by UK and US. On the other hand before bombing in Kosovo started there were only about 20,000 refugees in comparison to around 1,000,000 today. I understand the Prime Minister is nervous because the moment of truth is coming and it will come regardless of Nato winning or losing this unjustifiable war.
Aleksandar Mihajlovic, Canada

Although I too despair at the horror of Kosovo, I ask you; which phrase is more evil, Ethnic Cleansing or Collateral Damage? When even one innocent person loses their life, the moral purpose is lost. This war will only bring disaster for us all.
Tim Lewis, Japan

The prime minister sums up very well why Nato is involved in this struggle. It is a pity that some western commentators spend so much time attacking Nato for its errors, and not focusing on the real cause of the conflict.
Peter Green, Australia

HE makes me strongly hope for a better future for our people.The GOOD will prevail.
Gentian Selimi, Tirana, Albania

I think Tony Blair is an excellent person, I think he is right. I am studying in Sweden and I do not have any information about my family but I still say to Mr Blair, to Nato: Please continue your bombing campaign because this is the only way to stop the criminals such is Milosevic and his fellows. And thank you Mr Blair and Great Britain for helping us ,we won´t forget this ever. This proves the real values of democratic Great Britain and your liberty soul. Thanks a lot England once again. Greetings.
Burim Breznica, Podujeva, Kosova

In our Army, we have a lot of brave, honest, innocent, young soldiers, and I am sure that they would not like to harm anybody, especially not civilians. Could you resolve your trouble with Mr.Milosevic more directly, without killing his soldiers and civilians?
Dejan S. , Belgrade, YU

A brillant and courageous article that gives all the peoples hopes and spirit to stand and face up the difficulty of the war.
Adil Ilir, Tirana, Albania

10 ways to tell Mr Blair from an ordinary human being:
1) Mr Blair is calling the bombing of Yugoslavia with 800 planes a 'campaign'.
2) Mr Blair maintains that this 'campaign' is working.
3) When Mr Blair says "Never forget the refugees" and "We will prevail", it is not propaganda. Propaganda is, for instance, when BBC says that Nato killed more Albanians in a month than Serbian forces in a year.
4) Mr Blair is psychic, because he knew terrible atrocities would happen and started bombing before they did.
5) If Mr Blair commits an atrocity, it is called 'collateral damage'.
6) Mr Blair is never wrong. If there is an error, it is Milosevic, bad weather, technical error, or/and bad maps.
7) Mr Blair considers the positioning of Russian Army in Northern Ireland not excessive. (Milosevic on the other hand, unreasonably considers positioning of Nato troops in Kosovo excessive).
8) Mr Blair maintains that all refugees from Kosovo must go back BEFORE he stops bombing.
9) Mr Blair is allowed to kill at will, destabilise a region and destroy a people.
10) Mr Blair considers keeping himself afloat a just cause.
Deana Schreiber, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

I hope that the phrase "An Englishman's word is his bond" holds true here. Never has it been more important.
Sue, South Africa

Articulate, passionate, and supported strongly in Australia. Nato must win!
Max Shean, Sydney, Australia

Prime Minister Tony Blair made me cry. Long Live Nato!
Besim Dardani, Cleveland, Oh. USA

I feel that the Prime Minister is perfectly justified in his pledge to the refugees. I would consider myself a pacifist, however, it is our moral duty to protect fellow humans from the evils of ethnic cleansing. The international community has stood by on too many occasions while countless innocent lives were lost. We must not let Cambodia or Rwanda repeat themselves in other parts of the world. One might argue that Nato cannot act without the ratification of a UN treaty. However, I feel that this is a European issue, and the EU would be as guilty as Milosevic if it stood by and did nothing. Nato, as the military wing of the EU has the power to act as a European Police force.
Michael-Andrew Bloomfield, London, United Kingdom

I guess Tony doesn't have to worry about us forgetting about the poor refugees... now that Nato just killed another 100 or so. Could the Soho nailbomber have claimed that he was targetting the pub, not the people drinking in it? Or targetting just the gays, not the straights? I think not.
Huw Janus, Wales

I support the Nato leaders and their campaign against Milosevic and his ethnic cleansing.
Keith Anderson, Ottawa, Canada

Along with her allies Britain never negotiated with Hitler but got rid of him and his henchmen. Britain and her allies must once again exorcize a rogue regime once and for all to protect Europe's culture.
H. Liedtke, Kelowna, B.C., Canada

Maybe Mr Blair needs to go back to school and learn the meaning of the word genocide, then perhaps he would better understand that what Nato is doing against the Serb people is indeed racial genocide: with uranium depleted bombs and cluster bombs and attacking of chemical plants(where deadly spills are a product), Nato thus enacting a "policy of killing an ethnic group or nationality", whilst under the umbrella of a bloody moral imperative. Mr Blair, my god forgive you for not learning your vocabulary at school!!!
Samantha Jupitre, UK

Tony Blair has got it absolutely right. I simply cannot understand those who oppose the bombing. Can they please tell me the alternative to halting the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. For years the Serbs have been violating all norms of civilised behaviour in the region.
John Austin, New Zealand

I don't know any war which was not justified by moral reasons: from the crusades to the pacificatory war of the Dutch in Indonesia and Vietnam. A war is a very material thing with objectives in the area of power, interests, money and markets. The actual war looks like a colonial war in the Balkans (see Rambouillet).
J.Reiding, PhD, Utrecht, The Netherlands

I think Tony Blair is a very hypocratic leader with faith in dictatorship himself. He has endorsed the bombing campaign without allowing the parliament to vote. If he believed in democracy, he would have listened to the British people. A poll recently conducted by ITN shows that 74 % of people in Britain wanted the bombing campaign to stop. I just don't believe what Tony Blair said.
Len, Birmingham, UK

Somehow Blair must have convinced himself that he's a brave man standing up to a mighty Hitler to justify his intervention in Yugoslavia. This is obviously a fight over territory which both sides clame.Constant use of word 'genocide', is trivialising what happend in the Second World War to the Jews. Hitler wanted to exterminate all Jews from the Europe, than from the world and to create a new "blue eyed and blond heared" race which would dominate the whole world.
M Ratkovic, London

If we are committing billions of dollars to continue military efforts against the Serbs, then has anyone tried to put a "hit" on Milosovic. Seems like a few million dollars would persudae one or several of his cabinet members to defect & perhaps carryout an assasination - might be an easier & cheaper way to end this madness - just a thought!
Anon, Phoenix, AZ, USA

I'm sorry that a man of T. Blair's intelligence should think that people will be taken in by the government's propaganda. Everyone knows what's happening in Kosovo. Attacking the Serbs verbally and by arms is not good enough. Nor is justifying the use of arm for moral reasons any use. (Indeed this has made matters manifestly worse.) Why bother with the propaganda which makes the Labour government look so pompous and self-righteous ? Do something positive as in Northern Ireland (Anglo-Irish Agreement), though ethnic cleansing still goes on there. Governments should help the people on both sides instead of killing them. It's the people that are the problem. Nato's intervention seems to be completely out of touch with reality.
Philippe O.Prey, France

Very compassionate, Tony. A couple of points: 1. You talk about atrocities. What about Nato member Turkey's atrocities against the Kurds? It seems you ignore some atrocities and precipitate others according to political necessity. 2. This whole business remains illegal, and should therefore stop regardless of empty "humanitarian" rhetoric on your part.
Tom Poole, UK

Nato bombing has only exacerbated the refugees' plight while adding to the misery by killing innocent Serbs and others. Either demonstrate the guts to engage in a ground war, or admit the hollowness of Nato's "strategy" and stop this senseless bombing.
Kirk Spence, Portland Oregon, USA

A good article, which states clearly the sad but unavoidable facts. A peaceful and stable Europe is impossible, as long as an irresponsible dictator can get away with genocide and mass expulsion of people from their homes. If Nato does not hold the line in Kosovo, it will only be a matter of time before Milosevic starts the same thing somewhere else. And the oftener he succeeds, the stronger he will get. It will be very difficult and expensive to stop him this time, but it would be even more difficult and expensive next time.
M. Perkin, Kingston, Surrey

Excuse but it seems that the majority fails to see the paradox here! The PM talks about further attacks with tha aim of returning the thousands of refugees back home, the refugees that only fled the country after those attacks begun! This can be summed up to the following words : "when drunk, drink some more to become sober again"!!! Reverse the problem with the same measures that created the problem. Mr Blair, if this is your plan then you are criminaly naive the least!
Spyros, Cardiff, UK

The aim of Nato so far seem to be to "degrade" Milosevic's ability to wage war by striking at the needs of the military, be it fuel or armaments or troops. So let's suppose that they do succeed, and his army is severely depleted. But we know that the KLA and their desire for independence is what is driving their battle against the Serbs, and that isn't going to stop. So what is Nato going to do once they beat back the Serbs and find that the fighting hasn't stopped, rather is being initiated by the very people on whose behalf they intervened? Seems as if people haven't looked far enough in the future and are assuming that averyone involved in the Balkans are going to respond like circus animals to the dictum of Clinton and you Mr. Blair.
Rahul Ghosh, Singapore

It is demagogy, it seems to me Kosovars are running away from the Serbs as much as from the Nato bombing. Mr. Blair cares about Kosovars the same way he cares about Kurds. The main objective is to destroy the only country which oppose Nato domination in Europe and on the Balkans, doesn't beg for the Western money and doesn't want to bend over like Russia, Bolgaria, Macedonia, Romania and etc.. who are ready to re- pay western loans with Serbian blood.
Arseni Goulioutine, Chicago, USA

There are only 4 month left until it gets cold in the mountains. Nato should do something urgently!
Walter Miesenboeck, Vienna, Austria

After the Nato bombs which first landed on Yugoslavia on 24 March, so started the Kosovo refugee catastrophe now facing us. Mr Blair's online propaganda therefore rings hollow. Will Nato apologize to the Serbian people at the end of it all, especially for the missile attacks on the hospital and civilian killings? For years Marshal Tito kept things under control. Economic development in the area would have been a better option for Croatia and Bosnia rather than Nato bombs and foot soldiers sent in to carve up the country as per its current unstable state. In effect, the Kosovo crisis need never have happened. Has the spate of collateral killings become the policy of Nato to prolong the war to save face and its break-up? Mr Blair has not come out of this mess in good light to say it mildly. This disastrous calamity will haunt him for the rest of his days as the de facto bombing Nato leader of the biggest blunder in the offshore history of England.
Ian King, East Croydon, Surrey

Americans have yet to fathom what the Prime Minister means by his constant repetition of "racial genocide." The first term makes no sense, and the last is a grotesque exaggeration. As any student of the region knows, the Kosovar Albanians are in some measure people of slavic descent who adopted Islam and the Albanian language. Regardless of that, they are all white Europeans. They are hardly racially different from the Serbs. Secondly, this is not "genocide" by any accepted meaning of the term. Does the Prime Minister define the forced and ruthless expulsion of 500,000 ethnic Germans by Tito in 1945-46 as "racial genocide"? I doubt it. I understand placing an event in a correct historical context is difficult; a little variation would be nice tho. Also, why shouldn't the Serbs have been planning for war? Nato has been planning for war against them since 1991. The only problem is, with all Nato's resources, they didn't do a very good job, and more people are dying as a result.
David Latane, Richmond, VA, USA

Dear Prime Minister, You speak for everything that is noble and decent about humanity. If it wasn't for our ability to tell good from evil, we'd have nothing left. Please keep your stance and God Bless.
Samuel Elwood, London

Success in this campaign will be easy to judge. Do the Kosovans get back to Kosovo, or not. I hope Tony Blair keeps his nerve, and I believe he will. But, at the end of the day, it is not in his hands, but those of Bill Clinton. After Blair offered him support in his time of need, Clinton thanked him, and said, I make you proud. Now is the time for Clinton to deliver.
George Kendall, Maidenhead, Berkshire

Mr. Blair: I thank you for the courage and bravery you have displayed in your comments and actions in Kosova, especially in the face of vacillating allied support and harsh opportunistic politics. I must say, if ever there was a man of the century, it would be you kind Sir. May God bless you, your family and Britain, whom my great grandfather had the honour and pleasure to serve in the capacity of the Nawab of Ghazni, Afghanistan.
Tahir Nawab Ghaznavi, New York, USA

I share Tony Blair's genuine concern for Kosovan refugees and admire the work that UK and other governments have done in supporting them.
But history may show that Milosevic was able to get prepare Operation Horseshoe - ethnic persecution, not cleansing, because Tony Blair joined Clinton's adventure against Iraq in Nov/Dec instead of focussing World resources on Milosevic.
When Nato did act the bombing of Serbia was another strategic error. The challenge to Serbia troops was needed from day 1 in Kosova. Instead it served to antagonise, not intimidate Serbian troops, possibly accelerating not thwarting the refugee crisis.
Instead of bombers in the air Nato should have put more peace and aid teams into Kosova, and refused to leave, so that the persecution could be confronted on the ground. Nato's intensification of bombing against Serbian civilian areas as well as troops is likely to start another refugee crisis, of much larger proportions - this time of Serbians as their economy collapses.
Error after error.
Dai Williams, UK

well what he said it is ok but one thing for England why has it so far taken only a few refugees then any other European country. it should take more refugees. what does tome blare says about that?
Ern, Germany

Civil wars have always been accompanied by some degree of "ethnic cleansing". We have yet to see if the civil wars of the future, in which secessionist movements supported by massive Nato bombardments will produce refugee exodus on a larger or a smaller scale then the one we see in Kosova. It is a deliberate and very cynical propaganda to equate the current refugee crisis with a "racial genocide". I don't think that the Jews fought a guerilla war to carve a pure Jewish state out of parts of Germany, murdering German police and civilians. Mr. Blair should be thrown out of the office and restrained since he is a dangerous man whose hands are soaked with blood of many innocent people in the Balkans.
Stephen D. USA

I think that Tony Hollywood Blair enjoyed his visit to refugee camp. Children chanted his name probably wondering who he was. It was a nice set up for us, stupid people, to show us that Nato has support from Kosovo children. If it was not sad it would have been funny. I think he should go to village Korisa to explain to children how just he and his war are.
Predrag Dosen, Canada

As long as Nato does not use full measures this fiasco will only grow worst. I feel the first major mistake done was not leaving the door open for combat troops ,I learned a long time ago in Vietnam you never want your enemy to know what your thinking. Major budget cuts in Americas defence has left our military ill prepared .Now we have all these mistakes concerning bombing targets. The true reason is the fact that Nato does not want to take risk and allow our air forces to fly at a lower altitude, If our pilots were flying lower there would be less of a chance of civilian casualties, But more of a chance of Nato lives being at risk. This is war folks ,to win a war we must wage war.
Frank Urbino, USA

I agree with the prime minister, and am glad he is willing to speak with the public.
Sara, USA

Mr. Blair, Why England and other Nato countries (19) is not taking all the refugees instead, dumping them in to three poorest nations in the world, America , took all the wise and educated ones and probably England had his fair share of some rich guys . Macedonia or Albania did not started this war. World is watching you.
Erges, USA

I which he feel the same for the people of Iraq. Thank you...
Ahmad Ali Mohamad, Canada

It is rare to find myself in agreement with a British PM over military action abroad, rarer still to agree with the words used to justify it. But on this occasion I could not agree more, nor express it any better. His comment that "It is why it is vital we never tire of hearing the refugees 'stories' has particular resonance, given that weight of coverage seems to have swung toward covering events for which visual material is available - Nato bombing of civilians.
Stories recounted by refugees and coverage of their plight seems to slip further down the news list every day, perhaps not visually stimulating enough? As part of a democracy, we all bear some responsibility to remember why Nato forces are engaged in this action, and the media has a duty to balance its coverage, not merely provide airtime to those events that come with sensational footage.
Mark Woodward, London, UK

Mr. Blair is absolutely right. He is the best and nearest to what England and the world really need now, Lady Margaret Thatcher. If only Mr. Blair could take over from Bill Clinton. With Bill in charge, but without the Lady, things will continue in their muddle way under the direction of the supreme commanders and the general media.
Eduardo DeSevilla-Pierce, Atlanta, GA USA

I am really impress with what Mr. Tony Blair had said and my comment is that the world is becoming a world of fighting and this won't make takes work but rather disturb our day to day life especially Africa where there is too much of war.
Ann Marie Moore Banjul, The Gambia

There is no point in arguing with Mr Blair. This war will end when the British people have had enough of killing innocent civilians for no discernible gain. How many is that? 10,000 ? 100,0000 ? We will see.
Themos Tsikas, Oxford, UK

Mr Tony Blair is a politician who is shedding crocodile tears for the Kosovars.
Otherwise how can one explain the fact that the UN body looking after the refugees is running short of cash while the Nato bombing doesn't seem to have a cash crunch.
All the money that Nato is spending to destroy Yugoslavia would have been enough to bribe Slobodan Milosevic to sign the so called peace pact. With that kind of money any politician (Mr Milosevic or Mr Blair) will happily change his or her mind.
Sourav Dasgupta, India

We cannot stand by as onlookers,. We must react and however painful the present situation is we cannot allow free range to mass slaughter. those responsible must be brought to justice.
B.S.Wilkinson, Kingston upon Hull, UK

It is good to hear of your strong resolve to deal with Milosevic. However ,the broader world community must be brought into the fray as well. The poorer nations must make their political sentiments heard .The richer nations must aid Nato financially. Condemnation must come from the world over to stop this racist genocide.
Gregory Thomas, Columbus, US

However polished a case we present to justify the attack on Yugoslavia, Russia and China remain solidly opposed to this initiative. Had Russia retained until now her status as a world superpower, Britain would never have dared to speak and act with such bravado.
Against this backdrop, we cannot deny that we are somehow upholding the principle that "might is right" in that we have superciliously dismissed Russia's voice. But are we prepared then to fend for ourselves if this war suddenly develops into a global conflagration - an eventuality we can never discount? More than once in the past Russia has made cunning use of the element of surprise to swing a war right around in her favour. Her present outward impotence and internal political ills could well be, at least in part, just one more of the military ploys for which she is famous while she actually prepares herself to strike, if need be, in defence of her Slavic blood line.
This might explain why France and Germany have been so cautious in passing comment on Russia's opposition to the bombing campaign. Meanwhile is not China the definitively inscrutable 'devil' we do not know?
Simon Cameron London, UK

Mr Blair is absolutely right. This is not going to happen in Europe again. I fully support the war - I want a ground invasion - I am also sick of the coverage of Nato accidents, which is so 'naive' - thousands of civilians died in WW 2 (my father was in bomber command) and people mourned their deaths but accepted the price - to stop now would be immoral and indefensible.
London, UK

It is very difficult to detect any duplicity in his stand which has been a unique feature of British policy throughout. Surprising, isn't it?
Khursheed New York, USA

Little more than a tissue of lies to justify globalism... at what price?
Tom Sawyer, UK

Mr. Blair is a hypocrite as his friend Bill. If they care at all about human rights and freedom they would have at least stop supporting Turkey which occupies for 25 years Cyprus in violation of numerous UN and other international organisation resolutions. If he cared at all for justice and human rights he would have stopped supporting Turkey which has killed 20 times more Kurds than the total number of casualties in Kosovo from all sides.
Petros Komodromos Cambridge, USA

I think that Tony Blair is a incompetent leader. Are we to believe in what the KLA tells him, Are we idiots? How bored is he ? Doesn't he have anything better to do than kill innocent civilians? Am I so British to believe in his lies? Why doesn't he take some history lessons and stay in Britain where he belongs.
Yannis, London

Blair is right in saying that the atrocities cannot be seen - that's because they are not happening on the scale he is proclaiming. Even the satellite & reckon haven't revealed it. (except two possibly faked pictures)
He says the journalists are exceptional and yet NATO have bombed the TV studio in which they worked.
Milosevic didn't start this war, we did by attacking sovereign Serbian territory.
I should hope that we have damaged his capacity to wage a war, we have been bombing him with the most high tech bombs we can develop, solid, for the last month. I hope that after Yugoslavia we then take on Turkey and Indonesia, otherwise Blair's final paragraph is a whitewash.
This war should end NOW.
Richard Swain, Nottingham, UK

Your words, and all the news from BBC, are informative and most welcome. The UK, in my opinion, is giving much the better account, in the press, compared to the U.S., of the tragedy in Kosovo. The right will prevail. Nato will prevail. Thank you.
Dale Hobein Colorado, USA

Mr Blair, how are YOU and Mr Clinton going to apologise for civilian causalities and destruction of this country?
Vladan C, Yugoslavia

There can be no half measures about how we deal with Milosevic's brutality. This means that Nato has given up on "intelligent weapons". Now, they are using cluster bombs which have as much intelligence as 30 nail bombs scattered randomly.
Rob, UK

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