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Violence likely in Kosovo, US
SERBIANNA ^ | February 7, 2008

Posted on 02/07/2008 9:02:53 AM PST by montyspython

Violence likely in Kosovo, US
February 7, 2008
SERBIANNA

In the Annual Threat Assessment of the Director of National Intelligence to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, J. Michael McConnell says that the Balkans will be "unsettled in 2008" because of the independence drive by the Kosovo Albanians.

"We judge that the Balkans will remain unsettled in 2008 as Kosovo’s drive for independence from Serbia comes to a head and inter-ethnic relations in Bosnia worsen," says McConnell.

Kosovo is a Serbian province ruled by Muslim Albanian separatists that have vowed violence if their demands for independence are not met by the international community.

"A delay in independence could provoke a violent response from embittered Kosovo Albanian extremists," says McConnell.

McConnell notes that NATO intervention in the province is a possibility after Kosovo separatists declare independence and any violence inside Kosovo will spill over into neighboring states.

However, McConnell warns that even if the status of Kosovo is resolved in favor of the separatists, the Albanian ethnic minorities living in Macedonia and southern Serbia are likely to continue "pressing for greater autonomy" which will be used by extremist Albanians to initiate violence there.

"[E]thnic Albanian extremists will attempt to exploit public discontent and use small-scale violence to rally support for unification with Kosovo," says McConnell.

The assessment notes that Serbia "will not intervene with the Serbian Army in Kosovo" but political and economic responses against Kosovo separatist will hinder any economic development of the province.

By referring in his early remarks to the Fort Dix terror plot organized by ethnic Albanian Muslims, McConnell indicated that these European Muslims will increasingly be used by the al-Qaeda to launch attacks inside the United States.

"A group of European and Arab Muslim immigrants arrested last May for planning to attack Fort Dix, New Jersey, used a group member's familiarity with the US Army base to determine their target," notes McConnell.

The assessment notes that the plot was thwarted in its nascent stage but the al-Qaeda sophistication will improve as these Islamic militants increasingly rely on "the internet to identify and connect with networks throughout the world".

Recently, a Bosnian Muslim was arrested for managing such internet network.

The assessment also notes that Bosnia itself may enter a period of political crisis in 2008 as Muslims there nurture fundamental differences with the Bosnian Christian majority comprised of Serbs and Croats.

"The international community presence in Bosnia is set to decline further in 2008. We judge the probability of interethnic violence is low absent a move by Bosnia's Serb entity, the Republika Srpska, toward secession," concludes McConnell.

On the Internet: http://intelligence.senate.gov/080205/mcconnell.pdf


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: albanianterrorism; balkans; serbia; wot

1 posted on 02/07/2008 9:03:06 AM PST by montyspython
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To: montyspython

And here I thought that Kosova was the “right” way to intervene in a foreign country, as this was Bill Clinton’s big foreign affair as president. Would be poetic justice to see things get unsettled there as Hillary runs for president again on Bill’s alleged record of achievements.


2 posted on 02/07/2008 9:06:56 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: kronos77; Bokababe; DTA; Banat; Wraith; Diocletian; kosta50; F-117A

ping


3 posted on 02/07/2008 9:07:31 AM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Many RINOs supported this action including McCain who took Albanian PAC money. Just for the record, its Kosovo not Kosov(a).


4 posted on 02/07/2008 9:08:51 AM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: montyspython

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a38b7e6657eee.htm.


5 posted on 02/07/2008 9:11:19 AM PST by gitmogrunt (McCain for President!!!!!..............(of Albania))
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To: montyspython

Surely McCain will repent & return all that Albanian/KLA PAC money now that he is a Conservative/s


6 posted on 02/07/2008 9:13:10 AM PST by iopscusa (El Vaquero. (SC Lowcountry Cowboy))
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To: gitmogrunt
Poll: Majority of Albanians demand neighboring territories
7 posted on 02/07/2008 9:19:59 AM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: montyspython

Chickens coming home to roost?


8 posted on 02/07/2008 9:30:30 AM PST by F-117A (Mr. Bush, have someone read UN Resolution 1244 to you!!!)
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To: F-117A

Jaun MeChAin


9 posted on 02/07/2008 9:33:08 AM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: montyspython

They needed an “expert” to tell them this?


10 posted on 02/07/2008 10:06:40 AM PST by cizinec
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To: cizinec

Apparently the State Department is full of non experts.


11 posted on 02/07/2008 10:14:19 AM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: montyspython
You just made me think more generally. That is, has there really been an 'effective' Secretary of State in modern history (post WWII era and excluding Kissinger for sake of argument)?

I can't think of one.

12 posted on 02/07/2008 11:03:19 AM PST by LjubivojeRadosavljevic
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To: LjubivojeRadosavljevic

Not one at all comes to mind, even Kissinger made some big mistakes.


13 posted on 02/07/2008 12:47:03 PM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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