August 11.

The current conflict in what was Yugoslavia is providing some

interesting lessons for those who want to have their wars in peace,

untroubled by threats of outside intervention.

The first lesson to be learned is what to do to your opponents. Avoid

at all costs putting them in camps, especially if you cannot feed them

and you feel like some torture. That attracts television, newspapers,

and even politicians. Much better to kill them. The dead are not very

interesting to look at, and they certainly cannot talk to the world's

press. ''Three thousand killed in fighting so far'' hardly draws any

attention.

The second lesson is about location. Never fight if you and your

opponent are white, European, and (if Brian Wilson's view is followed,

August 5) you live in a former package-tour destination.

To avoid outside interference you should ensure you are black (or

brown), your fight is in South America, Africa, or Asia, and you and

your opponent cannot be recognised as last year's tourist bus driver or

hotel waiter.

The third lesson relates to timing. Always try to ensure you do your

killing while white people in Europe are slaughtering each other. Too

many wars give the media problems and are boring. Wait till a good one

gets going, then you can continue your killing without hindrance from

journalists, politicians, and even writers of letters to newspapers.

So if today you are in Peru, Kenya, Ethiopia, Georgia, Burma, or many

other places, take advantage of Yugoslavia and get on with that killing.

You are not likely to hear any calls for intervention in your bloody

wars.

J. Riddell,

8 Montgomerie Crescent,

Fairlie.