MARTIN Bell has warned the British government that it faces tough choices over the Kosovo crisis.
The MP, whose BBC broadcasts brought the plight of the Kosovars to light, says Britain must either fight all the way into the province, or stay out.
And he doesn't expect us to stay out.
"We need to send in the ground troops. I have no great faith in a bombing campaign alone," said Mr Bell.
The MP launched his appeal after returning from a UNICEF mission to Kosovo this week.
He stayed in a small village just before NATO jets swooped in to bomb Slobodan Milosevic's war machine.
Mr Bell spent time helping Albanian children who were living and learning amid the fighting.
He added: "They were in fear and dread of the next influx of refugees, fleeing from Mr Milosevic. When they come, the fighting comes with them.
"I shall remember forever the eyes of those children. They were eyes which followed me with fear and hope, and looked for reassurance. I could not give it."
Defence secretary George Robertson promised Mr Bell, last week, that he would not rule out the option of a ground assault.
Although it could mean high numbers of British casualties, Mr Bell says we don't have a choice.
He added: "Mr Milosevic has never yet backed down until threatened with believable force. And both times he did so, the force was on the ground as well as in the air."
The only other option open to the government, he says, is to let Kosovo die, and then pick up the pieces. He describes such an idea as "extremely cynical."
"The pictures of human suffering will continue to cascade upon us from Kosovo, as they did from Bosnia," he said.
"Those children I saw need more than our pity.
"They need our help. I believe that we should give it."
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