The Future of Kosovo from a Serbian-American Perspective

Glas Javnosti ^ | Saturday, September 23, 2006 | By: Michael Pravica, Ph.D.

[Bokababe]

I first visited Kosovo in 1988 with a group of Serbian-American students who toured some of the many historic monasteries and churches of Serbia and Montenegro. Even then, it was obvious to me that there were ethnic tensions in the Serbian province as ancient Churches were desecrated with Albanian graffiti, a car with Belgrade license plates was overturned, and we had to always walk with a guard during our stay at the Patriarchate of Pec. For me, this visit was critical in solidifying my cultural awareness and pride as a Serbian-American.

In that spirit, I strongly encourage the government of Serbia not to allow the West to bully it into granting Kosovo independence. Though there have been many innuendos about Serbia's difficulty in joining the EC if Kosovo is not "let go," and talk of "lost incentives" for Serbia, we should be very wary of any "promises" coming from the West as they have always been reneged. Serbia has a long tradition of self-sufficiency and independence. Joining the EC will not be a panacea.

In Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians have coexisted there for over 1300 years and must relearn how to coexist in the future. Granting independence to this Serbian province would set a dangerous precedent that terrorists who slaughter, ethnically cleanse, and terrorize innocent civilians can successfully alter the borders of nations and would encourage terrorists the world over in conflict-ridden places such as Chechnya, Canada, Spain, Turkey, Iraq, China, etc. From a Serbian-American perspective, Kosovo is part of Serbia, a sovereign nation. Though the ethnic demographics have shifted so that Albanians are currently in the majority, this has been due chiefly to illegal immigration of Albanians (encouraged by Tito) into the province. Granting Kosovo independence would be a dangerous harbinger of what might happen to America due to massive illegal immigration across its' Southern border with Mexico as many of these immigrants wish to reclaim "Azatlan" for Mexico. Kosovo is now the "black hole" of Europe and is becoming a fifth-column and training ground for terrorists who will attack Western interests.

The West has no legal basis to steal Kosovo from Serbia. The UN (of which Yugoslavia was a founding member) has no business interfering in Serbia's internal/domestic affairs. NATO was established to counter the no longer existent Soviet threat and should be out of Kosovo. Countries such as Germany that participated in the Holocaust of Serbs during WWII and helped catalyze the destruction of the former Yugoslavia for their own national interests should never have been allowed to station their troops in Kosovo. Serbia must regain Kosovo so that she can restore law and order because the UN and NATO are not doing the job. Serbia must also reclaim the businesses that were illegally pilfered by "philanthropists" such as George Soros. The Serbian Orthodox Church was the largest landowner in Kosovo before Tito. Lands that were illegally confiscated from The Church must be returned to their rightful owner.

During the summer of 2005, I met with two members of Congress, Shelley Berkeley and Jon Porter (my Nevada representatives). They agreed that Kosovo should remain with Serbia. I believe the US government is beginning to realize that major errors were made regarding Kosovo - especially in the post-9/11 climate - and my feeling is that with enough activism and steadfast resistance from the Serbian government, there is a good chance that the independence effort will not succeed. The Serbian government should work to restore ties with the United States and partner with it in the war on terrorism. We Serbian-Americans stand ready to aid the Serbian government in liaising with our elected officials and offering advice if requested. We must all jointly overcome lack of Serbian unity, lack of communication between the diaspora and Serbia, and lack of vision for the future.

No nation gives away land for nothing. The West may illegally recognize Kosovo's independence but no self-respecting Serb should ever accept it. Defeat occurs only when one accepts fate instead of trying to change it.

[Bokababe]

[Torie]

Sad, but of course, or no real moment. Alice in Wonderland is not a luxury in which Serbia can afford to indulge itself forever. It is not located in the Middle East, and doesn't have oil, and is in Europe.

[Torie]

Sad, but of course, or no real moment. Alice in Wonderland is not a luxury in which Serbia can afford to indulge itself forever. It is not located in the Middle East, and doesn't have oil, and is in Europe.

[kronos77]

Voice of sanity

[kronos77]

West, EU and USA were living in wonderland up until 9/11. Wonterlenc consists from blind belief that anyone actualy in world cares about ASA. Truth is No one does. Not NATo. Not single ally of USA. All of the allies sid to USA when up to Iraqi war "On your bike"

they were all joined in attack on small christian nation Serbia, but when confronted with raged Islamofascists, only American heads are rolling...

And USA is still living in wonderland, not seeing the truth that USA itself supported Al-Qaeda on Balkans, pumping blood to evil heart of Islamofascism.

Time for USA to wake-up.

[Brilliant]

Clinton was on the wrong side, as usual.

[Torie]

Of course you want to connect Jihad with the Balkans. I understand. That is the only card you have left to play. However, the card is not a trump card; it is something other than a trump card, and not a face card, and in a short suit, and won't win a trick.

[kronos77]

"Bosnia: Birthplace of Al-Quaeda"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1701375/post
http://www.helleniccomserve.com/jatrasbosniajun05.html

"U.S. Protects Al-Qaeda Terrorists
in Kosovo"

http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2001/2842us_alqaeda_kla.html

"Al Qaeda´s Balkan Links"

http://www.balkanpeace.org/hed/archive/nov01/hed4304.shtml

"U.S. supported al-Qaeda cells during Balkan Wars"

http://www.prisonplanet.com/us_supported_al_qaeda_cells_during_balkan_wars.html

"A Balkan Base for Al Qaeda?"

http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21712

[kronos77]

IN YOUR FACE TORRIE!

God, Im good!

[Bokababe]

With Kosovo, Clinton & Blair unsuccessfully tried to play FDR & Churchill -- problem is that they were so stupid that they joined the Fascist side.

[Torie]

Except for the curious WSJ link, which if the link is taken a at face value, allowed some spook to write an op ed column, what you offered up is one spooky site after another.

[gotribe]

It would seem incredible to think that al qaeda wasn't in the balkans. That would make it one of the few terror-free spots on earth. So why not join forces with the other side?

[kronos77]

Lick your wounds....

Sorry, but if American, Jewish and Greek authors are "Spooks" to you... than what the hell Im talking with you?

A NATION CHALLENGED: THE MONEY TRAIL; U.S.-Based Muslim Charity Raided by NATO in Kosovo

*Please Note: Archive articles do not include photos, charts or graphics. More information.
December 18, 2001, Tuesday
By PHILIP SHENON (NYT); Foreign Desk
Late Edition - Final, Section B, Page 6, Column 5, 860 words

DISPLAYING ABSTRACT - NATO troops raid offices of American charity in Kosovo as part of investigation linnking at least two large Muslim charities based in Illinois to fund-raising for Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda terrorist network; raided are two offices of Global Relief Foundation, which raises millions of dollars a year; NATO statement cites credible intelligence information on terrorist links; Global Relief and Benevolence International Foundation deny allegations and charge anti-Muslim smear

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00811FB3F5A0C7B8DDDAB0994D9404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fA%2fAl%20Qaeda%20

NY TIMES


Im good, Im good, yeah, yeah, Can you feel it Torrie?
:)))))))))))))

[Torie]

It's "Torie" honey. If the charity is dirty, shut it down.

[kronos77]

Torie, i wish that you are a girl...
:)

[Torie]

Oh, the article is 5 years old, a veritable history piece.

[kronos77]

Al-Qaeda's Recruitment Operations in the Balkans

By Anes Alic
The recent arrest and pending trial in Bosnia of three young men believed to have been plotting terrorist attacks on Western targets in the capital of Sarajevo has sparked fears that al-Qaeda is recruiting "white Muslims" in the country. Bosnia's porous borders and weak law enforcement institutions, coupled with the presence of hundreds of Islamic fighters who arrived from Arab countries during the 1992-1995 war, make this small war-torn country an easy meeting point for al-Qaeda networks.

http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370031


A NATION CHALLENGED: BALKAN TRAIL; U.S. Labels an Arab Captive A Planner of Qaeda Attacks

*Please Note: Archive articles do not include photos, charts or graphics. More information.
January 23, 2002, Wednesday
By PHILIP SHENON (NYT); Foreign Desk
Late Edition - Final, Section A, Page 8, Column 5, 958 words

DISPLAYING ABSTRACT - US law enforcement and military officials say terrorism suspect handed over to Americans by Bosnia and Herzegovina is identified as European lieutenant in Al Qaeda terrorist network who was ordered to carry out attacks on American targets in Balkans after September 11 attacks; say intercepted telephone calls and other evidence show suspect Bensayah Belkacem, who is believed to be native of Yemen or Algeria with Bosnian citizenship, had numerous conversations on cellular telephones with leaders of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00B1FFC3B5F0C708EDDA80894DA404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fA%2fAl%20Qaeda%20

[Torie]

One doesn't lash out indiscrimately due to religious animus, which in this case is the veneer fostered by Serb agitprop to cover ethnic animosities and hatreds, regarding which the Serbs were the prime perps in fostering in recent history.

[kronos77]

BOSNIA: 50 AL-QAEDA SYMPATHISERS LOSE CITIZENSHIP Sarajevo, 5 Sept. (AKI) - The Bosnian authorities have revoked the citizenship of 50 foreigners, mainly from Asian and African countries who are suspected of having links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, a Bosnian official said on Tuesday. Out of the 400 cases processed so far, 50 individuals have been stripped of their citizenship and are to be deported, said Vjekoslav Vukovic, the president of a state commission which has been reviewing the citizenship granted to foreigners during Bosnia’s bloody 1992-1995 civil war. "Among them are people who are on the United Nations list as supporters of Al-Qaeda, as well as people for whom we have data linking them to terrorist activities, Vukovic told Sarajevo media. Thousands of mujahadeen from Islamic countries fought on the side of local Muslims during the civil war, and many were given citizenships and passports and remained in the country after the war. According to intelligence reports, some of them have been operating terrorist camps in Bosnia and indoctrinating local youths with radical Islam. http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.336787118&par=0 September 5th THIS YEAR BABY! 2006! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! Immmmmmm Gooooood!