The writer ignores history - (1)Milosevic was a serbian "nationalist" before the Yugoslav fedeation broke up and elected to the head of the Yugoslav federation by the Serbian majority of Yugoslavia on a "Serbian nationalist" platform; (2)every "Serbian minority" militant group in Croatia and Bosnia had organizational links to Milosevic, before Croatia and Bosnia seceeded from the federation.
Milosevic was now trying to hold onto a province not of Yugoslavia but of Serbia itself, a province that had been colonized by ethnic Albanians. The Serbian population in Kosovo was outnumbered nine to one and suffered greatly at the hands of the KLA.
Again more ignoring of history - Was Kosovo "Colonized by ethnic Albanians"?? - No. Did they became a majority that was Muslim and identified with the Muslim Albanians? Yes. The people in Kosovo are not much different than the people in Serbia, other than, unlike the Serbs, their ancesters had not renounced the Muslim identity that their forefathers had taken, by compulsion, during rule under the Ottoman empire. When did Kosovo become a majority of non-Serbs? Centuries before Yugoslavia was Yugoslavia. Yet, from the end of the Ottoman empire, the now-minority Serbs of Kosovo ruled, not so nicely, over all of Kosovo - education, language, media, etc. At the start of the Kosovo push for autonomy there were active moderate forces other than the KLA. The longer the abscence of autonomy took, the less popular the moderates became and the KLA began to seek external support - thus, the origins of its association with Middle East terrorists.
The writer ignores how much Serbia dominated all of Yugoslavia, when it was still Yugoslavia. Most of the military and all important military leadership positions in "Yugoslavia" were held by Serbs. With the dictator gone and seeing the opportunity for more autonomy, all the non-Serbian provinces of Yugoslavia naturally felt occupied and instead of recognizing those natural forces, Milosevic thought he could depend on the Serbian majority alone and continue to promote its supremacy across Yugoslavia. The desire for secession, from Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo were not without justification.
Did all the troubles of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia bring in "Middle East" groups and others and allow them to get established? Yes. But it was Milosevic's promotion of Serbian nationalism instead of a true pluralistic federalism that made it all possible. He and other groups of Serbs initiated the military confrontations and carried out most of the "ethnic" cleansing. You reap what you sow.
It has reinforced my belief that this was an internal civil war, in whose outcome the United States had no interest whatsoever.
Kosovo is a part of the legal territory of SERBIA-MONTENEGRO.
Whether YOU like it or not, ths land of KOSOVO-METOJIA( MEANING THE LANDS OF THE MONASTERY) IS NOT THE LAND OF THE ALBANIANS.
So-called Albanians just moved into Kosovo with the help of the Turks hundreds of years ago.
Later, during WWII, under their friend, Hitler, they got more land as payment for their mining lead for Hitler's bullets and for forming a division of SS.
When Tito the commie atheist took over, he gave them more lands so the CHRISTIAN CHURCH of Kosovo would be weakened and hurt.
And, now with the help of the Clintonistas, the EU and the UN, the ALbanians have have become some of the BIGGEST LAND THIEVES IN THE BALKANS!! PLUS, they have stolen from a CHURCH!!
They have burned Churches and desecrated over 200 cemetries, removing not just crosses and monuments but also the DEAD . HOW CIVILIZED OF THE ALBANIANS TO TOSS DEAD CHRISTIANS BONES AROUND LIKE TRASH!!!
Plus, their primitive and feudal-type clann society is NOT one which can adapt to the level of Europe. The clan system defies freedom and democracy and even representative democacy.
The article on this thread is NOT very good and Milosevic was NO friend to the Christian Church in Kosovo-Metojia. In fact, his commie government refused to return Church property after he came to power.
Slobo was no friend of the Church and was an atheist!!
DOES EUROPE NEED ANOTHER COUNTRY FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SO PRIMITIIVE AND VOLITILE AS TO BEHAVE LIKE WILD ISLAMICS WHO RESIDE IN THE AREAS AROUND ISRAEL???
I think not.... somebody CIVILIZED needs to rule Kosovo for a long, long time.. and try to breed/teach/knock some sense into the heads of those wild Albanian tribal clans!!
And it not ALBANIAN CLAN CHIEFS who need to be in charge... that would like letting the insane run the asylum!!
Are you serious? What a load of crap you've posted...
"The writer ignores how much Serbia dominated all of Yugoslavia, when it was still Yugoslavia. Most of the military and all important military leadership positions in "Yugoslavia" were held by Serbs."
If you find the time, check out the roster of the top military brass just before the breakup of Yugoslavia, you will find it enlightening.
I don't know where you obtained your information but I suggest you ditch it ASAP.
-------------History gone wild bump.