It is generally accepted that NATO’s military intervention against Yugoslavia did not conform to recognized rules of legal positivism. For most western observers, the justification relies on its legitimacy rather than its legality. This moral argument is based on the belief that the humanitarian plight of the Albanian populations in Kosovo was exceptionally grave. While the situation on the ground prior to NATO’s bombing campaign warranted western involvement, the article shows that it was not exceptional in relation to other armed conflicts around the world.Western diplomacy in this Balkan crisis reflects an element of selectivity concerning respect for public international law that will have negative consequences on the future of international relations. The result in the immediate region is a change in the balance of power accompanied by general destabilization. Despite the large international military and civilian presence, Kosovo has been transformed into an almost homogeneous Albanian territory and neighbouring Macedonia is threatened by an extension of the Albanian insurrection. This international intervention confirms the relevance of established legal norms on the use of force because they allow better chances for action guided by reason rather than one-sided media pressure.