* cababarant *

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Slobo dead, mixed feelings abound

So yes, Slobo died. My husband works for the tribunal so I've been asked, "Now what? Is it still going to be there?" The answer is yes, of course-- Slobo wasn't the only war criminal and yes, there are other trials taking place and scheduled to take place. But, there were lots of people dedicated to his case and his case only, and I'm assuming that for at least some of those people, they're worried about their jobs and contracts. To put it in terms I understand personally, it might be if like, Microsoft said, "We're not doing MSN anymore!" You can imagine the job turmoil. (What's funny is that the idea of Microsoft dumping MSN has never been that unlikely... but that's a topic for another day!)

Anyway, all the pundits have mixed feelings about the matter. Many say it's a shame that he died because he didn't face justice, not to mention the whiff of martyrdom taking shape (some Belgrade newspapers had headlines that read "Milosevic Murdered!" Since when is a heart attack a murder?) Other pundits are saying good riddance; it doesn't matter if he died in prison before the trial is up, at least he died in prison.) But at least the general (non-Serbian) consensus seems to be: he was a war criminal, people. Don't feel sorry for him.

Slate: No Sympathy for Slobo - Let's not forget Milosevic's many crimes.
NYT: Slobodan Milosevic, 64, Former Yugoslav Leader Accused of War Crimes, Dies

posted by sheryl | 1:56 PM |

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