Kosovo May Explode -- Here

CNSNews.com Commentary ^ | March 16, 2006 | Julia Gorin

[tgambill]

The War on Terror suffered a major blow three years before it was ever announced. It happened when the people of this democracy were misled into attacking the sovereign, emerging post-Communist democracy of Yugoslavia, over rumors of genocide and ethnic cleansing that proved false. In so doing, we delivered the Balkans to al Qaeda.

Today we are being asked to seal that historical blunder, the repercussions of which are still escalating seven years later. The people we "rescued" have turned their weapons against United Nations and NATO forces.

While NATO spends most of its time rooting out terror cells in Kosovo and Bosnia, which served as the planning bases for the London and Madrid bombings, the 2006 deadline to complete our eagerly forgotten debacle and determine the province's final status is fast approaching.

To persuade the international community that only one final status will be acceptable, our Albanian "rescuees" have been stepping up the violence. This is a message to the West that it has only one possible exit strategy: grant unconditional independence -- without border compromises with Serbia and without protection guarantees for what's left of the non-Albanian minorities.

Here is the size of that hole so far: In November, 2001, what should have been an explosive article appeared in the European edition of the Wall St. Journal. Headlined "Al Qaeda's Balkan Links," it read: "For the past 10 years ... Ayman al-Zawahiri (bin Laden's second in command) has operated terrorist training camps [and] weapons of mass destruction factories throughout Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Bosnia ... Though the Clinton administration had been briefed extensively by the State Department in 1993 on the growing Islamist threat in former Yugoslavia, little was done to follow through ...".......

(continued)

[tgambill]

An outstanding article and true to the situation.

[eleni121]

The link has expired. Please post that link again as it is so very important.

[tgambill]

Good article

[Fintan]

I forget...who was president then?

[ThreePuttinDude]

When Clinton Lied - Serbs Died

[tgambill]

Full article can be viewed here

[tgambill]

Clinton involved us in the Balkans and Kosovo

[Cicero]

Quite a few Freepers understand that clinton fought that war on the wrong side. But I have yet to hear a single Republican politician or influential conservative pundit say it.

They remind me of the three monkeys. Hear no evil. See no evil. Shut your eyes and ignore it, and maybe it will go away.

Well, it won't go away, and if they agree to give Kosovo to Albania, it will only be the first step toward an effort to build Greater Albania in Europe.

[bkepley]

Compared to most Muslim areas this one is a model of peace and tolerance.

[Fintan]

I forgot to post this with my comment...

[eleni121]

This is sickening...a tragedy in the making...after so many in the region.

I do hope that our incompetent state dept is listening...I know that John Bolton spoke against our bombing the wrong side in the 90s and spoke out against our involvement on the wrong side. And of course the million dollar question is why...why did NATO and the traitor Clinton go ahead with bombing and involvement.

[Retired Chemist]

And the Democrats are still pandering.

[tgambill]

Exactly.......Now, it seems the Bush administration has worked something out with Russia and China. Both said that they would not stand in the way of the independence.

---

Russia and China pledge not to block new Kosovo

Russia and China have told the US that they will not block the independence of Kosovo, the breakaway Serbian province, according to western diplomats.

Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, discussed the issue with Sergei Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, in Washington last week and was told Moscow would not stand in the way of independence, the officials said. Russia and China would probably abstain in a proposed UN resolution that would grant independence.

Kosovo, with its ethnic Albanian majority and Serb minority, has been a ward of the UN since Nato forces bombed Serbia to halt ethnic cleansing in 1999 and then took control of the province. But the debate has entered a new phase with the start of UN-brokered negotiations to decide Kosovo's final status."

The US and UK are pushing strongly for Serbia to accept that Kosovo will become independent, while Russia, which had previously worried that the province would set a precedent for its own republic of Chechnya, has scaled down its objections.

The officials, who asked not to be named, said the Bush administration had persuaded Moscow and Beijing that independence for the Serbian province was "unique" and would not set a precedent for Chechnya, or for the Chinese-claimed territories of Taiwan and Tibet.

However, analysts said some in Moscow wanted a better deal with Washington that might leave open the possibility of a Kosovo-type solution for other regions, including Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, which is backed by Russia.

Last week Jack Straw, UK foreign secretary, said Kosovo's independence was "almost inevitable". But Philippe Douste-Blazy, his French counterpart, stuck closer to the European Union's official line by saying that the "negotiations should not be prejudged".

[Mr. Mojo]

Quite a few Freepers understand that clinton fought that war on the wrong side. But I have yet to hear a single Republican politician .....say it.

That's because all but a few of them were solidly in Clinton's corner. They bought the propaganda hook, line, and sinker.

[tgambill]

"Compared to most Muslim areas this one is a model of peace and tolerance."

*****I assume that you are using /sarc. correct? As you probably know this is one of the worse examples in Kosovo. The Serbs have been cleansed since 1999 and it continues. The attacks against the Serbs has been going on since after the "retalitory murders" following the bombing. This also includes Albanian politicians that are not inline with the Greater Albania or the Mafia. Most Albanian targets have been members of the LDK party and FARK. Kosovo has been almost as bad as other Muslim areas but we have tolerated it, that is the difference.

[Decepticon]

You sir....are an FR legend. I always look for Fintan's smoking cigar....

[Cicero]

Very disheartening. I wonder what Bush promised Russia to get them to agree to betray their Little Brother Serbs.

[eleni121]

In addition to Bolton, who spoke out against Clinton and the bombing of Yugoslavia, - Senators who voted with Bob Smith against funding President Clinton's unconstitutional bombing of Yugoslavia were:

Allard (R-Col.), Bunning (R-Ky.), Burns (R-Mont.), Cleland (D-Ga.), Craig (R-Idaho), Crapo (R-Idaho), Enzi (R-Wyo.), Feingold (D-Wis.), Fitzgerald (R-Ill.), Gramm (R-Tex.), Grassley (R-Iowa), Gregg (R- N.H.), Helms (R-N.C.), Hutchinson (R-Ark.), Inhofe (R-Okl.), Nickles (R-Okla.), Santorum (R-Penn.), Sessions (R-Ala.), Thurmond (R-S.C.), and Voinovich (R-Ohio).

[t2buckeye]

I believe Clinton involved us and backed Kosovo thinking that he could appease the Islamic terrorists....it has of course done no such thing and has instead emboldened them. Another mess left over from the Clinton years.

[Cicero]

Thanks. Jesse Helms is much missed.

[tgambill]

Yes, side note....over the five years, the U.S. middle level officers (Major to Lt) confided in me that we were on the wrong side as they became disillusioned with the policy of not pursuing the Perps committing the murders and intimidations.

[Fintan]

 

Aw, shucks...

[Caveman Lawyer]

Interesting list. I doubt they agree on much these days with respect to Islamic terrorism.

[tgambill]

read post 13 as a possible explanation....

[Peter Libra]

They bought the propaganda hook,line and sinker.

Then there was Christianne Amanpour, courtesy of CNN. I understand she had some influence of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Throw in the present high Poobah of International "Human Rights", Louise Arbour of Canada. Bloggers give her as the "unindicted war criminal".

I pay grudging tribute to the MSM on the Kosovo conflict- the biggest wash job, since Walter Duranty, Dr Goebels, and Big Brother 1984.

[LucyT]

It wouldn't have anything to do with the 900+ stolen FBI files, would it?

[eleni121]

Compared to most Muslim areas this one is a model of peace and tolerance
__________________________________________________

To the contrary.

BOSNIA AND KOSOVO ARE DESTROYING ANY VESTIGES OF 1000 + YEARS OF XSTIAN CIVILIZATION - ITS CHURCHES, TOWNS, PEOPLE AND ARE MURDERING THE FEW XSTIAN SERBS WHO ARE LEFT. THE REGION HAS BECOME THE TERORIST TRAINING CAMP IN THE BACK YARD OF EUROPE...PREPARING FOR THE ONSLAUGHT TO COME.

UNLESS THE MOOSLEMS SEE THE LIGHT AND RETURN TO THE XSTIAN FOLD.

[ThreePuttinDude]

I've read enough of your posts to know it was sarc.
I should have been more clear on my end.

I get tired of seeing the..

"When Clinton Lied nobody Died" bumper stickers.

[frannie]

A very good article and information that I have been reading in different articles in the last few months.

I have commented on it several times and have had only two responses. For which I thank each of you.

So many times on Fox when Clark is on telling Bush how to correct the "mistakes" he has made no one asks Clark about the "blunders " he made in Kosovo,

I have been reading horrible articles about the Muslims, how they are destroyng the Christian Churches, terrorizing citizens and even killing those that get in their way.

I believe that the Balkans [ where two World Wars began} and Kosovo will turn out to be the center of Muslim plots and plans. There is NO one to interfere or stop them. Certainly not EU.

[eleni121]

More on those who objected and defied.

http://www.conservativeusa.org/yugo.htm

[agrace]

You mentioned the monkeys...

[Fintan]

That's okay...when Milosevic died, my first response was "Arkancide".

[tgambill]

"backed Kosovo thinking that he could appease the Islamic terrorists."

*****yes, that is one reason I've heard. Also, it's part of a strategy to break down the Balkan states. There's also an oil pipline coming through the Balkans.

[Caveman Lawyer]

Thanks for that. Found this especially interesting:

"'There is no place in modern Europe for ethnically pure states,' said NATO's Supreme Commander U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark on CNN in April. 'That's a 19th century idea and we are trying to transition into the 21st century, and we are going to do it with multi-ethnic states.'

Just thinking about who he means by "we" sends chills down my spine.

[r9etb]

I believe Clinton involved us and backed Kosovo thinking that he could appease the Islamic terrorists....it has of course done no such thing and has instead emboldened them. Another mess left over from the Clinton years.

I disagree.

I think it was a few related things.

First, Clinton absolutely did not want to have another Rwanda-type genocide on his hands, and the truth is that the recent history of the region was "in favor" of a real genocide taking place, if not nipped in the bud.

Second, Clinton's cynical side cannot be ignored: even if there wasn't a serious genocide going on, it would be good politics for him to act as if there were.

Finally, Clinton wanted to be known a Wartime President -- recall that he was legacy-building by this time. And thus Rambouillet Accords, especially Appendix B, confronted Slobbo with an ultimatum (occupation by NATO) that no country could accept.

[glowworm]

If made independant.. I am sure it will become the next Afgan-I-Stan terrorist university .. Unless.. possibly the 250,000 Serbs who were promised the right of return will clean house again and finish the job this time unencumbered..

[bkepley]

UNLESS THE MOOSLEMS SEE THE LIGHT AND RETURN TO THE XSTIAN FOLD

Given the welcome they've received from the XSTIANS I doubt that'll happen.

[tgambill]

The reasons for going into the Balkans were fabricated to a certian extent. The murder of 8,000 Muslims in Srebincia didn't happen, the Rajak Massacre didn't happen, and the bombing at the market was done by the Muslims not the Serbs as later investigations have indicated. The U.S. Administration did want to appease the Muslims by siding with them, second, it was part of the overall strategy of the U.S./UN to break down the Balkans into pieces. We initially supported Milosevic in the 80's, while he was in New York. The CIA turned him from future Banker to politician. When he returned to Serbia he turned nationalist and separted from the U.S. influence. We imported Muzzies to the Balkans to fight with the Serbs and break up the Balkans. Murders by Serbian paramilitaries did occur, and they are being prosecuted. More than I can say for the ICTY......very poor conviction record. The Serbs on the other hand may be protecting some of the middle level policy commanders from prosecution.

Notice the dates and change of attitude...........

Holbrooke said the following:

Circa 1998:
There's a military insurrection that is taking shape, backed by the members of the Albania Diaspora in Germany, Switzerland, and right here in New York City, where a lot of Albanians and Albanian-Americans are sending a lot of money and support to Kosovo. (Gosh - NYC? -SG)

Holbrooke: An independent Kosovo would "unravel Southeastern Europe."

JIM LEHRER: And they want an independent Kosovo ruled by Albanians, right?

RICHARD HOLBROOKE: Yes. And more. I met with several Albanian leaders in Kosovo who said their goal is an independent Kosovo, their goal is to recreate the Greater Albania that existed briefly during the 30's and 40's, which includes Albania, Kosovo, and part of Macedonia. That, I can tell you, Jim, would unravel Southeastern Europe and dramatically increase the chances of a general war. And that's why the situation is both not the same as Bosnia and why it's so dangerous
I really need to stress this point so people do not misunderstand it. The Kosovo Albanians have been very badly treated for over a decade by the Serb minority in Kosovo. Their rights have been denied and the Yugoslav federal constitution was changed to reduce their powers. This was entirely wrong, and it led to the inevitable reaction which we're now seeing. At the same time, the violent solution which is being advocated by the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, which is really not an army but a lot of different groups that are gradually forming an infrastructure of resistance, this approach is highly dangerous to stability in the region.

---

Sept. 10, 2002

Cumberland, Md.: Where you aware of the KLA and Bosnian Muslims' ties to Osama bin Laden at the time you were negotiating with them?

Richard C. Holbrooke: Yes. In fact, we were so concerned about this issue that we wrote into the Dayton Peace Agreements a clause requiring the withdrawal of all "foreign elements" within a short time after the agreement took force. When we found elements that had remained behind, we launched raids against them. Not all of these people were removed,
and the effort is still continuing. Without the peace in Bosnia, there is a real chance that bin Laden would have been able to set up in the
Balkans what he did in Afghanistan with far greater danger to the West.

Now--fast-forward Nov 8 2005:

Holbrooke, the architect of the 1995 Bosnian peace deal, who said that independence was the only way forward for Kosovo and its mainly Muslim Albanians.
"I cannot see any final status for Kosovo other than independence," said Holbrooke, who forged the Dayton Peace Accords that ended Bosnia's 1992-95 war.
"But at the same time ... this cannot be achieved without ironclad guarantees for the safety, security, and protection of the rights of the Serbs who live in Kosovo and the protection of their magnificent monuments," he said.

---

******* Okay, now for the grand daddy of all moves by the
adminstration

---

Subject: Kosovo Independence and a new Initiative from the U.S.
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2006 23:34:13 -0800 (PST)

23/12/2005 Washington
Albanian Push for Kosovo

With negotiations on the final status of Kosovo set to begin in early January, Kosovo residents of Albanian origin and their friends in the United States have launched a campaign in Washington in favor of the territory's independence. An organization named Alliance for a New Kosovo was founded last month and is being run by two lobbyists from the American firm Jefferson Waterman. They are Samuel Hoskinson, former vice chairman of the National Intelligence Council and Kempton Jenkins, an ex deputy assistant secretary for East-West trade at the State Department. The organization has lined up a high-profile consultative council whose members include Frank
Carlucci, chairman of the Carlyle Group; lieutenant-general Robert Gard, former president of the National Defense University; William Edwin Ryerson, ex American ambassador to Albania; Walter Stadtler, who long handled European affairs for the U.S. delegation at the United Nations; Fred Fielding, who served as Ronald Reagan's lawyer; and William Walker, former chief of the OSCE's Kosovo Verification Mission. [From the French intel publication, Intelligence Online]

---

[bkepley]

--I assume that you are using /sarc. correct?

Only partially.

[P-40]

When Clinton Lied nobody Died"

I always wonder which lie...and/or which Clinton they are referring to.

[P-40]

"'There is no place in modern Europe for ethnically pure states,'

The more ethnically pure the more peaceful the country I've found. Think Vermont.... :)

[P-40]

Another mess left over from the Clinton years.

The 911 Commission Report gives Clinton a pass at times over things he should have done because he was busy in the Balkans. Kind of sad...

[horse_doc]

Don't forget Bob Dole's role. I like Bob Dole, and think that on the balance he is a decent man.

But he was paid handsomely to lobby for the Albanians, and his support for the war killed ANY Republican opposition.

[frannie]

I hope you are right. When you read the history of the Muslims and the Serbs we had no right to interfere.

It wasn't just like "Bill" told us. It, IMHO was a wag the dog scenario.

The Serbs will need some one to back them up and from the way our State Dept. and the President [I back him ALMOST
100%]are talking they are not taking the Serbs side nor is any of the EU countries.

[Peter Libra]

On Bob Dole, your statement.

..... on the balance he is a decent man. But he was paid handsomely to lobby for the Albanians.....

Thanks for the heads up. Yes, Bob Dole a very civilized and decent man. The fact you raised, that he was paid- hurts deep down though.

What a propaganda job, we got. At least the media could have given something else of the poor suffering Albanians, warts an all.

[Lion in Winter]

First, Clinton absolutely did not want to have another Rwanda-type genocide on his hands, and the truth is that the recent history of the region was "in favor" of a real genocide taking place, if not nipped in the bud."

OH, what BS!! You always post in favor of clinton... what are YOU on FR for except to support billy boy!!

Rwanda was STILL in turmoil while billy j was still President!!! He never did anything to help the Africans.

THERE WAS NO GENOCIDE IN KOSOVO EVER, EXCEPT WHEN THE SS NAZI ALBANIANS WERE KILLING OFF EVERY NON-ALBANIAN THEY COULD GET THEIR BLOOD COVERED HANDS ON DURING WWII.

TAKE YOUR SUPPORT FOR BILLY-J OVER TO THE DU. They would appreciate your concerns for poor billy-j's bombing innocent Christian folks in support of islamics!!

[FormerLib]

The presence of the cigar serves to indicate that the sarcasm switch is on. Whaddya gonna do with these n00bs, anyway!!!

[Lion in Winter]

Well buddy.. if any of them do convert, their "religion of peace" brethren will just CUT off their heads after extreme torture!!

[Cicero]

You know, I remember that there were some objections to the war at the time, although I didn't remember all the names. But since then there have been almost no protests, no questions why we are still there, no objections raised to the behavior of the Muslim terrorists. There's that one Canadian diplomat who has spoken out very boldly and sensibly several times, and that's about it.

Of course Tony Blair was right in the thick of it, if anything even more eager to go in than clinton was.

[Lion in Winter]

He has had Albanian connections for years. Paid lobbyist for sure.