August 28, 2012

Though I strongly opposed the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999 and was outspoken in my opposition (on national network news shows, articles widely circulated, etc.), Parenti kept telling people I was giving the "State Department line" because I also acknowledged the war crimes and human rights abuses by the Serbian regime. In other words, if you don't buy into his particular conspiracy theories, you are somehow a dupe for U.S. imperialism, no matter how strongly you oppose war and interventionism.  No peace group should even consider inviting someone who is so intentionally divisive and intent on destroying the reputation of those who refuse to deny well-documented atrocities.

Stephen Zunes
Professor of Politics and Coordinator of Middle Eastern Studies
University of San Francisco