Melanie McDonagh

In the following viewpoint, Melanie McDonagh refutes Matthew Parris’s assertions that some people fight wars because they have a bloodthirsty desire to kill their enemies. For example, she argues, the war in former Yugoslavia occurred because of the actions and policies of its leaders. Furthermore, she contends, those who support the view that people war simply because they want to kill often base their opinions on ethnic prejudice. McDonagh is a reporter and columnist for the London Evening Standard.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Who were the victims during the war in Bosnia, according to McDonagh?
2. According to the author, what did most British policymakers believe about the war in Bosnia?
3. How did the arms embargo cost lives in the Bosnian war, in the author’s opinion"

An unmentionable thought is troubling me, one that...