Richard Holbrooke’s piece “Back to the brink in the Balkans” (BDN, Nov. 28) shows the possible unraveling of the Dayton Accords in the Balkans. The cause will be recognition of Kosovo as an independent nation by the U.S. and its European allies when Kosovo does declare independence. Holbrooke claims that U.S. policy urges the Kosovo move, but has undone NATO’s ability to secure the region from a Dayton status quo ante.

Would it not be better to continue the present condition? Kosovo isn’t happy with it, but another try at a compromise between the U.S. and Russia about what to do sounds better than what is in prospect.

John Lyman

Orono