[tgambill]

Good post.....

Mark, this is what I was talking about. I can say, case in point; reference our current conversation on "Bosnia Croat Killer Goes to Jail".

[mark502inf]

Tom, so far we have had good cooperation with the Bosnian government on interdicting terrorists in Bosnia and preventing attacks. Hopefully we will ocntinue to have successes as outlined in Stella's article above. Stella's pro-Serb agenda causes her to embellish her columns with some pretty goofy stuff (as covered in the posts immediately above), but the base idea that we need to pay attention to the Balkans in order to prevent al Qaeda setting up base there is valid.

The Bush Admiinistration policy to that end is to ensure regional stabilty by preventing a recurrence of the 1990s wars, establish a stronger central governemnt in Bosnia that can better direct internal security, catalyze the Kosovo status talks to end the uncertainty & potential for further instability, build up local police structures, and provide an ongoing--albeit much smaller--military & securtiy presence while encouraging the Europeans to shoulder more of the load.

As long as the extremist nationlists from any of the sides stay marginalized, that strategy will work.