Posted on 03/30/2004 10:24:57 PM PST by MarMema
U.S. general Rick Erlandson, commander of Multinational Brigade East and Bondsteel, testifies for NT regarding the violence in the south of Kosovo and says:
"A mob of hooligans threw grenades at my soldiers".
"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).
The Albanian terrorists, some 500 of them, threw bombs and bottles of benzene at KFOR tanks from Bondsteel in Urosevac on March 17. The attack continued even after the Greek commander, with the intent of dispersing the terrorists, ordered his soldiers to fire warning shots in the air.
The attackers did not withdraw; on the contrary, their numbers only increased - to 3,000. The situation became critical. Flaming devices were thrown at KFOR vehicles, the last obstruction to the fleeing Serbs... That's how the situation remained until the arrival of U.S.
In the clashes a soldier from the 525th Greek mechanized airborne battalion sustained second degree burns to the face and neck as he defended an observation post near the church of the Holy Emperor Uros in Urosevac, where the fleeing Serbs sought sanctuary. One U.S. soldier and 16 Greek soldiers were wounded by explosive devices thrown at them by the Albanians.
False witnesses
Also present during these tumultuous events was general Erlandson. Thanks to major Christopher Cole, the spokesman at Bondsteel, we managed to get the testimony of general Erlandson regarding the bloody events in the south of Kosovo. The general is convinced:
"Insane acts of violence, destruction of holy sites and attacks on innocent civilians have painted a picture that the world will not soon forget. I don't know their motives and I don't care about them. My concern is with the majority of the residents of Kosovo who know what it means to be in a civilized society, and my task is to oversee the rule of law. Multinational Brigade East is here to return control and for Kosovo to go forward."
Our collocutor says that Greek army major Kiriakos Kondogianis, a battalion commander, and U.S. intelligence lieutenant Milan D. George from Bondsteel have opened an investigation into what happened in Urosevac and crimes that were committed. When asked how much truth there was in the rumor launched in the meanwhile by the Albanians ("that the U.S. troops incited attacks by terrorists", general Erlandson says:
"I heard stories from the media that some of my soldiers incited these incidents. It's not true. These false witnesses forgot to say how my Greek and U.S. soldiers came under fire while they were guarding the church of St. Uros. How some 20 hand grenades were lobbed at them and how the soldiers were targeted by flaming bombs with the intent to wound or kill them. One of my soldiers was wounded when a grenade was thrown from a mob of hooligans. I filmed the incident on videotape and know exactly how events unfolded."
"The people who took part in those attacks will be brought to justice! I also believe that all leaders are responsible for such attacks, and here I am thinking primarily of the leadership of the Urosevac municipal assembly. Civil authorities are responsible for such incidents and their task is to maintain order and peace. Some of them have been very unsuccessful in doing so. This responsibility is something the leadership of Urosevac must not be allowed to forget."
Following orders
When asked what he did concretely to stop the violence, he says:
"I introduced a curfew and restricted movement in the city because the right to free movement was abused. My soldiers will undertake new actions against the criminals who committed these crimes, regardless of their nationality. I want them to respect the orders of my soldiers! We want peace, and a few aggressors have ruined years of great progress in life in Kosovo. The international community is very upset by this.
General Erlandson concludes:
"Now people from Kosovo need to assume control and show the world that the true rule of law and respect for others are not just phrases, but a reality that must be lived."
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.
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.
Typical islamonazi blaming others for their own actions.
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.
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.
You think? I am not so sure.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.