I'm sure you're aware of the 'letter writing' campaign that has been
initiated by OH2BH, W3UR, etc, to solicit favorable consideration by
the ARRL to retroactively change the DXCC rules to accept Kosova as a
new DXCC entity, effective February 17, 2008. (And consequently approve
the YU8/OH2R operation as counting for the new entity.)<br>
&nbsp;<br>
<strong>I am opposed to changing the DXCC entity rules <em>retroactively, after the fact.</em></strong> While I personally think that accepting Kosova as a new DXCC entity is a noble and moral idea,&nbsp;the idea of changing the rules <em>after </em>the operation is over simply does not smell right&nbsp;to me,&nbsp;and&nbsp; would lead to many questioning the integrity of the DXCC program.<br>

&nbsp;<br>
I am well aware that among the DX community there is a large group of
&#39;Martti haters&#39;, that oppose the proposed rule change simply because
Martti/OH2BH is involved.&nbsp;I am emphatically <em>not </em>among
that group. I&nbsp;have been, and remain a big &#39;fan&#39; of OH2BH/N7NG/W3UR, and
have become weary of listening to what seems to be incessant whining by
those who dislike Martti for&nbsp;reasons that were and remain unclear to
me. I have always admired Martti and continue to hold him in the
highest regard.<br>
&nbsp;<br>
But&nbsp;my opposition to the proposed DXCC rule change to accommodate the
&#39;unique&#39; situation in Kosova has nothing to do with who
supports/opposes it. (If personalities&nbsp;<em>were </em>the only thing involved, I&#39;d be strongly in <em>favor </em>of the change.)<br>
&nbsp;<br>
My opposition is based on my belief that it is generally ill advised to
change the rules after the &#39;game has been played&#39;, and I see this
situation as just that.<br>
&nbsp;<br>
In addition, I would be <em>very </em>cautious
about changing the DXCC rules in the future to accommodate the &#39;Kosova&#39;
situation. I can imagine future cases where a group &#39;declares
independence&#39;, is recognized by some other country, but the moral
legitimacy is counter to what we in the USA believe. Recognizing Kosova
as a new entity, even&nbsp;though it&nbsp;does not meet UN membership or&nbsp;ITU call
sign block assignment criteria sounds good &#39;this time&#39;, but if we
change the rules to recognize&nbsp;Kosova, we may find ourselves&nbsp;forced to
recognize&nbsp;other &#39;entities&#39; that have no real validity&nbsp; or legitimacy.
(E.g. the Indian tribe that declared it&#39;s &#39;independence&#39;&nbsp;from the USA
some years&nbsp;ago.)<br>
&nbsp;<br>
I trust&nbsp;your integrity and&nbsp;judgment for what influence you may have in
this issue, but felt compelled to voice my&nbsp;opinion as a counter to the
many &#39;pro-Kosova&#39; cards I&nbsp;suspect that you will receive.<br><br>----------------------------------------------------<br><br>73, Bob -- W6RGG<br><br><br>&nbsp;
<br>