Posted on 12/09/2008 1:02:33 PM PST by Bokababe
Civilian law-enforcement officials from the European Union, the U.S. and a handful of other countries began working in Kosovo Tuesday to bolster shaky police, courts and customs systems.
This unprecedented mission in a country recognized as a major conduit for smuggling drugs and weapons into Europe faces steep challenges. A bombing in Kosovo's capital of Pristina and a murky spy affair involving German agents highlight some of the diplomatic difficulties as the EU begins the ambitious effort in the Balkans......
In the BND report, a copy of which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci is linked to paramilitary groups, cigarette smugglers, extortion rackets and drug dealers. The report details connections among the ruling elite to Islamist militants who helped Kosovars, who are mostly Muslims, to fight in a guerrilla war against Serbian forces.
Similar allegations have been circulated by Serbia. But the charges have more credibility coming from Germany, which took a lead in securing international recognition for Kosovo's independence and is Kosovo's second-largest foreign-aid donor, behind the U.S.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Impossible! They're the good guys don't you know? < /sarcarsm >
Oh snap!
Yeah, that's about it.
LOL -- in a really sad, gallows-humor sort of way
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