Free at Last. Montenegro declares independence

THE WEEKLY STANDARD. ^ | 7/24/06 | Stephen Schwartz

[ZULU]

Good suggestion.

We also need to take some kind of political action.

The Democrats are worse than useless, and many Republicans are usless.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I lived in Germany for four years and knew a few Yugoslavians (Slovenes and Croats). They complained that the Serbs diverted too much tax money to Serbia and the south. Also, they felt that the Serbs unfairly dominated the political decisions in the country.

It amazes me that Croats and Serbs would hate each other so much?! They come from the same ethic origin and speak the same language. I am aware of the Catholic/Orthodox differences, going back to the division of the Roman Empire in the Third Century AD along the boundaries of the two countries.

Of course my ancestors come from the British Isles, and all of my different ethnic groups fought each other for centuries: England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Wales was absorbed into England after several hundred years of fighting; Scotland and England fought for over five hundred years, and only became one country because of the crown of England was eventually given to a Scot. The British-Irish conflict finally seems to have reached a peaceful end of sorts, but it took centuries.

[sergey1973]

"Montenegro and Macedonia have bigger problems with Serbian Christians than with Albanian or other Muslims"


Really ? KLA tried to carve up part of Macedonia shortly after Serbian withdrawal from Kosovo and there were a series of fighting stopped after NATO moved in.

Stephen Schwarz is another Islamist Propagandist.

[Bokababe]

"I lived in Germany for four years and knew a few Yugoslavians (Slovenes and Croats). They complained that the Serbs diverted too much tax money to Serbia and the south. Also, they felt that the Serbs unfairly dominated the political decisions in the country."

Ironically, most of that "diverted money" went to support Kosovo, the original welfare state. The rest went to supporting bloated bureaucrats in Belgrade -- but that's the rub. Many of those "bloated bureaucrats in Belgrade" were also Croat & Slovene government reps, some of whom still live there. It wasn't like the Serbs were wolfing all the money for themselves.

The Croats & Slovenes had a legitimate gripe, the same legitimate gripe we would have about our taxes being too high. The place they pointed to was Belgrade, the capital of the country, just as we would point to DC. But because Belgrade was also the capital of Serbia, it was all too easy to say "those damn Serbs" and convince themselves and everyone else of it.

People also seem to forget that before the break-up, the largest ethnic group in the whole of Yugoslavia was "the Serbs". Even in a democratic country, they as a single ethnic group, would have the largest say in politics -- much as "White Anglo-Saxon Protestants" do in the US. But now, with the gerrymandered borders, Serbs are "a minority" everywhere except in Serbia & Montenegro. And Serbia keeps getting smaller and smaller.

"Of course my ancestors come from the British Isles, and all of my different ethnic groups fought each other for centuries: England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.."

Britain was lucky that it happened before the UN & EU got involved, or the fighting would still be going on!

There is this bizarre thinking that all you need are lawyers, judges and bureaucrats to end a war. It doesn't work. There must be a will for peace first, and no intervention can create that.

Please don't mistake what I am saying -- if you have something like "a Nazi Germany style, pick innocent civilians off the street who have no political agenda and simply kill them because they are Jews and you want to get rid of all the Jews in your country" kind of event, like even Rwanda was, it is incumbant upon those with a conscience to intervene and save the innocents. But the break-up of Yugoslavia was a civil war -- an "ethnic civil war", which means that people did divide along ethnic lines, but FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. If any side won, it was likely going to result in a disproportionate loss of life in one of the ethnic groups. Is it "genocide" when one group fights another for political puposes but the political divisions between the groups happen to be along ethnic lines? Every civil war has its civilian casualties, and some of those civilian casualties are war crimes because they are in fact, prosecutable "murders" -- but is that "genocide" in an ethnic civil war? Again, the same question arises in the difference between military "mopping up" and "ethnic cleansing" in an ethnic civil war.

I believe that the break-up of Yugoslavia was made out to be what it was not -- "genocide"-- in order to get outside intervention by the ethnic groups who could not win a military or political victory without outside help. It was orchestrated, because that German and Iranian help was already waiting in the wings. The only real outside "wildcard" was the US, and the American people were duped into intervening where we had no business, against people who were our allies in two World Wars. We were lied to, most of us know it, but President Bush keeps acting like "the Clinton lie was the truth" in order to save face for the US. The problem is that we have already created one base for al Qaeda in the Balkans (Muslim Bosnia), and if we go along with granting Kosovo independence, we will grant al Qaeda another -- and we will sign the death warrants for the last of the remaining Kosovo Christian population in the process. In addition, the Albanians will be emboldened to demand more land completely destablizing the region in their quest for a Greater Albania.

Below is the map that ran on the Albanian American Civic League website for years, until they removed it because political commentators started referring to it. It shows that the Albanians want not only Kosovo, but pieces of Montenegro, Macedonia, Southern Serbia and Greece. Kosovo is only the Albanians "first step" if we give it to them. I say that we don't give it to them!

[joan]

But as the Croats and Slovene's were disproportionally represented and in control of the government, it would have been their decisions to spoil Kosovo.

This is another thing Croatia and Slovenia did, according to Croat-Serb Yugoslav who used to post here:

What they [Kosovo Albanians] use to do is to go and study in Zagreb, Croatia and came back with Masters or PhDs of very dubious quality. I know it first hand. Croats would let them pass the exams knowing that they will go back and work in Kosovo. The result is lots of "intellectuals" but very low quality, believe me. Albanians had it so good, for a long time!...

The scholarship for Albanians was paid by Serbian Ministry of Education. It was a system in which Fund for Education from ones resident municipality would foot the bill. Some of the post-grad education (Masters and PhDs ) were paid personally, or by one’s company. Or hospital. The point I want to make is that Croats and Slovenes had low criteria for Albanians because they wouldn’t be allowed to stay or work with their diplomas! Take the money for the course, let them pass and send them back to annoy Serbs!

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Excellent comments. Thank you

[Bokababe]

Julia Gorin's response to Stephen Schwartz and this article: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1672785/posts?page=1

[Banat]

Kosovar Albanians joke that Serbia is like a Nokia cell phone..."

Actually, this is a Serbian joke. Anyway, calling Lyon an "expert" is seriously stretching it.

[Banat]

I'd say 8-9% Bosnian Muslims + 5% Albanians. About 14-15%.

[ma bell]

Tom, do you know of or heard the Kvo Albs recieve 7,000 Euros per person each year? I've always figured that was "hush" money so the UN workers were to be left alone. A German Diplomatic Officer I had lunch with back in 2003/Novi Pazar mentioned it. He was escorting a Serbian girl to her village to lay her father to rest after he was murdered by the albs. The Spaniards were to escort them.

Simultaniously, he confirmed that Ceku and Thaci were protected from any snatches, persecution and given protection from all things.

How is the deep jungle of Afrika, errr, the desert sands?..:)

[tgambill]

I've never heard of this...However, I KNOW that the Islamic Charities give money to Albanians to become Saudi Muslims.....the moderate Albanians are not taking the money because they know what is expected as in calling in favors. The Italian Carbanarri gave me the bank account numbers, banks, and names of those receiving the money from Saudi Arabia. In one account they received $100,000 per month. I did pass this one to the several government agencies due to some contacts. I don't know if this info has been used or not. In any case, the poorer Albanian families are taking the money due to having no jobs. If you take the money, you make your wife wear the head gear, with full face..lolol.., five times per day prayer.....read Koran, (Terrorist: How to manuel), and recruit or work for the Mosque. wow, do you really think Ceku is protected...:)) /sarc......

[tgambill]

Oh, about Africa.....I'm going to kill my travel agent. He said it was like Hawaii....big lie.. lolol...:) Don't come here for sure. It's another political mess.....rock and roll....

[ma bell]

A German Counselar Diplomat, one of the more higher ranking dips brought that up to me, maybe that is the reason why they were being given that money?

Hell, If my wife were albanian, i'd hide her uglyness underneath the berka too!

I really don't want to ever visit Afrika, though I had the chance to do Djibouti but turned it down.

Happinness is that when in doubt, unload the mag then slap in a full one!

[tgambill]

Hey, watch your a$&, er, I mean your Donkey....you and I both know there WILL be one heck of a war soon, when Russia deploys to the ME, landing first, being welcomed in Iran and Syria. It's not an if..it's only a matter of when.

I wrote a short, very short assessment as follows:

"First of all we know that Russia is an enemy of Israel. Israel knows that Russia has been helping Iran to get ready to build or has already built Nuclear Weapons for a number of years.

Watch first for the EU to jump in and broker a peace accord with Israel at some point. This current offensive may start the ball rolling, but I sense that this one may come to a slow down point. However this will only last a short time for reorganization and consolidation of both sides. The trick will be when the U.S. and/or Israel bombs Iran because of the notion or even the actual existence of a serious effort being made to develop Nuclear weapons. Doesn’t matter if they have them or not, this will be the impetus or justification.

Once that happens, all hell will break loose. This will bring Russia to the Middle East, because they won’t have a choice. There are several reasons why Russia wants to dominate Israel. One, they need a warm-water entrance to the oceans of the world. Under Putin’s leadership, Russia made a 50 billion dollar oil contract with Saddam Hussein some time ago. This has also allowed Russian scientists to direct Iran’s nuclear weapons programs to destroy Israel. Putin has done a masterful job of removing the democratic process from Russia and at the same time, charmed us into becoming neutral. He was the former director of the KGB and is very slick. Second reason, and one of the most important, Russia needs the oil to regain its military superpower status. They long to have the status they had before. In order to recover from the crash of the former Soviet Union they need the Arabian oil. Last but not least, Russia’s economy is going south…….meaning down the tubes. The mineral deposits in the Dead Sea offers a financial gain that is off the scale (with 2 billion tons of potassium chloride; potash to enrich soil; 22 billion tons of magnesium chloride and 12 billion tons of sodium chloride. For these reasons, they just need a little push and there they come. We won’t be able to do a thing to stop it….especially if we get a Democratic heavy government by then. They won’t have the “drive” or “guts” to get involved with us still in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. Kosovo is just getting ready to heat up again with or without independence and soon. If North Korea sees our faltering and unsteady hand in dealing with this situation I have described, they will become unpredictable as to their intentions against South. They already threatened to launch attacks when we went to Iraq…but Bush put bombers on standby alert and gave N. Korea a strong warning. A Democratic government in the U.S. will be the death. By Bush’s actions of late, even Republicans are turning against him.

Oh, by the way, Russia’s allies will be Iran, Syria, Ethiopia, Libya for starters. There are two indicators to watch for….one, when a peace accord will be signed between the EU and Israel……secondly, bombing of Iran…….My best guess, the bombing of Iran, bringing the Russians in, and then the peace accord…

China is a wild card in all of this. China made a huge shift in their oil policies when we went to Iraq in 2003. Most of China’s oil came from Iraq until then. So, China could not put all of it’s oil in one basket so to speak. A man named Pan Rui, stated that Iraq changed the governments thinking. Remember not long ago China tried to purchase one of our foremost oil companies..forgot the name, myself…..This would have been a significant issue relative to our national security if it had been purchased. China will make a move at some time after Russia enters the picture…..

I firmly believe that before Bush goes out of office he will authorize a bombing of Iranian reactors, which will stir the pot even more…or, Israel will go after them, either way this will be the touch off, between now and when Bush leaves. Also, Israel will be counting on our help which it will not receive. The thing that will hold Bush back will be a Democratic Congress."

I also believe that Kosovo becoming independent, is supposed to set a precedence for particular Russian states to also go for independence and thus causing Russia to become even less of a threat. This would be concurrent with the future upheaval of Macedonia. However, I suspect it won't happen in time and Russia will deploy to Iran as I said before for the many reasons.......especially to regain oil and power.........2-3 years or less.....

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Also, I would like to share this bit of information that might be of some interest....from a report I wrote in 2003 while still in Kosovo.

follows:

" The following is an exerpt from a security report I submitted while I was in Kosovo....thought you might find it interesting......since no one else did.........:)

follows:

The overall situation in the Gjilan/Gnjilane region remains calm but guarded. The recent rash of grenade attacks and bomb threats, two in the Gjilan region highlighted the week. The follow on articles and comments generally speak for themselves, however, it becomes more apparent of the existence of the ANA in the region and that they have something planned. The appealing bit of information is that it seems the Albanian Extremist are having some problems agreeing on who’s in charge, what agenda they want and not being able to predict how their “operations” will turn out. The rift between the two former UCPMB factions that existed during the UCPMB vs Serbs conflict in 2000 seems to prevail even to this day. It appears from local sources that Shefket M. Skender H. Ljirim Jakupi, and Besem Tihiri (Sp), may be the focus of the problems in this region. They also are reported to have ties with Muhadeen groups that are appearing in the region. A very reliable Albanian source indicated that the explosives found on the person of the two ANA members killed by the MUP, was destined to be put on the Bus that goes from Pristina to Drenica. The bus was to be destroyed and the scene fixed to look like the Serbs did it. The source has the ability to know this type of information.

PREKAZ: AZEM (BRAHIM) AHMETI KILLED
17 March 03 Azem (Brahim) Ahmeti, known as Begu, 52 years old, was killed on Monday at around 19:00hr by unidentified persons. Begu was on his way home, on the road between Prekaz i Epërm – Tërrnavc. The LDK branch presidency in Skendreaj issued a communiqué, harshly condemning this killing. The communiqué reads that Begu was member of the LDK sub-branch presidency in Prekaz i Epërm, and the nephew of Ahmet Delia (Albanian hero). (most papers, primary source Epoka e Re)

On 20 March 03, I received reliable information from a professional source that in the village Velekince an Iman (Muslim religious leader), approximately 25 years of age brought in some Muslims dressing in robes and short pants wearing the long beards. I spent 4 years in Saudi Arabia and learned over the years a lot of their habits, modus operandi and attitude. People of the village have not seen these people before and are complaining that they are praying and acting in different ways than the Albanians are accustomed to doing. It is thought that there are three or four of these individuals in the village. Following this report I inquired about any other reports and was told that the same reports came from Malisevo, Dobercane, Urosevac, and Mogila. The group in Malesevo was reportedly recruiting for fighters in Iraq about 4 weeks ago. In Dobercane the source reported that new faces have appeared and are recruiting young men to be Muslim by paying them. Also in Urosevac it’s the same reporting of Muslim extremist fitting the same description. Finally, in Mogila, Vitina Municipality, there is the same report of these types in the Albanian section of town. This doesn’t mean that they live there or hang around on the street corners with empty coin cups.

Finally, I just recently received a confirmed report that approximately 1.5 weeks ago, 12 Chechens went through the Pristina airport unchecked or unimpeded. The source is confirmed and extremely reliable, however, will remain unnamed."

Comment: I can now say since I'm gone, I received this from Russian intelligence persons that I because acquainted with. Since no one was interested in the 12 Chechens, but them they provided me the information. They did an investigation of the incident and confirmed it......

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[tgambill]

Oh, about the muny....yes, I do believe that the SJRC, gave them the money to be better Muslims.......that is the only reason they would embrace Islam......Also, many Albanian village politicans complained to the UNMIK as to why they allowed the Saudi "Charities" to come in with promises of building schools, hospitials etc....but, with one requirement first before building....You MUST BUILD A MOSQUE first.....then we build you the school, hospital or recreation center etc....

[tgambill]

Oh,...clarify one thing....I know for a fact that the SJRC and other Charities gave money to be Muslim.....like the IMAMs wanted, not the Mullah's.

What I "believe" was referring to was the notion that this could of been what the Dipl. was talking about.

[infidel_and_proud]

as usual , fascinating article and analysis...i'll post soon...all the best.....

[infidel_and_proud]

"People of the village have not seen these people before and are complaining that they are praying and acting in different ways than the Albanians are accustomed to doing."

my god , it's like a stencil......the "soft" arabic cum islamic theory is slowly but slowly introduced...remember , slowly but ever so surely....

once that is completed , then you get the radicals coming into the forefront.....the bullying , the vectoring.....

like it or not , we are the FRONT LINE....fight for every inch....every micro inch.....

[tgambill]

I'm afraid that that fight is not far off.....