A mob of hooligans threw grenades at my soldiers

Nedeljni Telegraf weekly, Belgrade ^ | March 24, 2004 | M. Lopusina

[MarMema]

Looks like the Albanian mobs made a lot of enemies last week. Their true colors are showing.

[GeronL]

"I was witness to how Kosovo and Metohija was transformed from a society based on law and order into a land of anarchy and violence. My Greek, Polish, Ukraine, Lithuanian, Armenian and U.S. soldiers understand that the violence resulted from a criminal group that wants to turn Kosovo into chaos. This minority tried to take the future of Kosovo and Metohija into its own hands and destroy it!" says U.S. general Rick Erlandson, the commander of Multinational Brigade East (and, of course, the U.S. base Bondsteel).

He's referring to Serbians. They are the minority. Remember the US is taking sides with the Albanians on this one. Its a bad policy and needs to be changed.

[DeuceTraveler]

"A mob of hooligans threw grenades at my soldiers".

Remove this man. He obviously doesn't know what he's dealing with. 'Hooligans' don't get their hands on grenades and then attack armed soldiers. This was a planned attack.

[MarMema]

Ping to some angry Kfor troops. The Albanians are in big trouble if they try another mob attack.

[MarMema]

Its a bad policy and needs to be changed.

The more I read of angry generals - there is a Swedish one who is making loud threats about what he will do next time and angry about his men narrowly escaping death - the more I think things may be in the process of turning.

[MarMema]

And don't miss the fact that they are apparently saying the US troops incited them to violence.

Typical islamonazi blaming others for their own actions.

[GeronL]

I think its time to end the occupation of Kosovo! Liberate Kosovo! Bring our troops home. =o)

[MarMema]

THE FINANCIAL TIMES (UK)

Serbia set to lose US aid over war crimes policy
By Eric Jansson in Belgrade
Published: March 31 2004 5:00

The US is today expected to block its annual $100m (€82m, £55m) aid package to Serbia for failing to co-operate with international war crimes prosecutors in The Hague.

The announcement by Colin Powell, US secretary of state, is likely after the Serbian parliament's decision yesterday to provide war crimes indictees, potentially including Slobodan Milosevic, with state financial aid.

The US aid package is conditional on the Balkan country's co-operation with international war crimes prosecutors in The Hague, where Mr Milosevic, the former Yugoslav president, is on trial for war crimes.

For three consecutive years after the overthrow of Mr Milosevic's regime, Belgrade has met Washington's criteria for aid, reviewed annually on March 31.

But a tough policy towards The Hague by the new Serbian government led by Vojislav Kostunica, the prime minister, elected with support from Mr Milosevic's Socialist party, means aid is almost certain to be blocked, US officials say. Washington has sought to play down the potential impact of Mr Powell's decision. "If he decides certification [of aid] is not possible, it does not close the possibility that certification will be possible some time in the future," Marc Grossman, the US undersecretary of state for political affairs, said yesterday in Belgrade.

But it puts Mr Kostunica in an uncomfortable position. His minority government's reliance on Socialist support in Serbia's parliament and his recent demand that future Serb war crimes indictees face trial in Belgrade, not in The Hague, put western diplomats on edge.

More than a dozen indictees remain free in Serbia.

A negative review from Mr Powell would injure Mr Kostunica's government.

[MarMema]

LOOK AT THIS. You simply cannot buy these people or threaten them successfully.

Serbia votes to 'pay Milosevic'

The Serbian parliament has adopted a controversial bill which provides financial compensation and state benefits to war crimes suspects.

It applies to former President Slobodan Milosevic and other Serbs held at the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague. Serbia's foreign minister dubbed the move - which makes it possible for them to get taxpayers' money for legal and other expenses - as irresponsible.

It comes ahead of a crucial US decision on whether to give Serbia more aid.

The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade reports says the decision - involving millions of US dollars - depends on whether Washington believes Serbia has been co-operating fully with The Hague and helping to extradite more indictees.

Defiance to the West

The legislation was proposed by the strongly nationalist Serbian Radical Party and was backed by parliament and the newly elected Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.

SERBIAN 'INDICTEES' LAW
Compensates suspects for lost salaries Helps them to cover legal fees Reimburses family members' travel expenses, visa and hotel costs Gives support towards phone and mail bills

The law calls for all those indicted for war crimes to be paid monthly compensation for lost salaries and legal fees.

It also provides financial help to families of the accused to cover travel expenses, hotel and visa costs and phone bills.

The coalition Serbian government - which includes Mr Milosevic's Socialist Party - has already made it clear that sending more indictees to The Hague is not one of its priorities.

Opponents described the move as a poorly-disguised gesture of defiance to the West and a pay-off to the Socialists for their backing of Mr Kostunica's minority government.

"What Radicals want is for the state to pay Slobodan Milosevic," Mr Svilanovic said.

The new law is unlikely to be welcomed in Washington, our correspondent says.

[CIBvet]

Can someone explain to me just WHY the Albanians should not be run back into their homeland of ALBANIA ?

[MarMema]

um, muslim appeasement?

[MarMema]

He's referring to Serbians.

You think? I am not so sure.

[GeronL]

He said minorities. Serbs are a minority in Kosovo aren't they?

[MarMema]

I wonder if he was trying to say that a minority among the Albanians were terrorists. It will be interesting to see what others think.

[askrenr]

Would the General please explain why, if in fact grenades were thrown at his men, they were not allowed to return fire? Just what are the Rules of Engagement (ROE) here?

[Lion in Winter]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[kosta50]

You simply cannot buy these people or threaten them successfully

You can biy some 11% or so who belong to the Democratic Party of former Zoran Djindjich, the "pragmatist" (read spineless backstabbing, self-hating scum). Oh, they are like Boris Yeltsin, ready to sell their young for the favor of their masters.

Imagine if by some political miracle, the world could indict members of the Empire for violations of the international law? How would that be received in our public? With scorn and spite! If the public reaction was indiciative when it came to the court martial of the mass murderer set free, American war criminal Lt. Calley, the reaction of the American public would not differ much from that of the Serbian people. It would probbaly be worse, because Americans are simply not accustomed to be called to task by anyone, no matter for what reason.

Oh, BTW, the Serbian Parliament voted in a resolution that proclaims Kosovo an "inalienable part of Serbia." In other words, Shiptari, the Serbs will be back to claim what is rightfully theirs. I would not unpack yet. Enjoy your moment of glory.

[Makedonski]

Here is a trick question for you guys.

WHAT DID KFOR DO WHEN VIOLENCE AGAINST SERBS IN KOSOVO STARTED ON 17TH MARCH 2004???

Answer:

Kfor heavily armed armoured troops took positions on the Serb-Kosovo and Kosovo-Macedonia border to PREVENT SERB army attack on Kosovo.

These are the facts as they stand.

Today 31 March 2004 United States is freezing the aid package of 100 dollars to Serbia.

Does any one have any illusions left??

Is it still Cliton policy at fault?

[American in Israel]

"A mob of hooligans threw grenades at my soldiers".

Your soldiers were sitting in tanks, mow them down, don't whine and screw around. End of problem. Not a one will be back to do it again. You had a chance to defeat 3,000 insurgents, crippling the enemy and blew it.

Political Correctness will be the death of us all at this rate.

[joan]

"He's referring to Serbians. They are the minority."

No, he's referring to "a criminal group" which he's claiming is the minority. He is saying that the attacking mob is not representative of the Albanians as a whole.