Strange Bedfellows: Whose idea was it to send Serb peacekeepers to Afghanistan?

Time Europe ^ | 10/6/2003 | By DEJAN ANASTASIJEVIC

[Burkeman1]

The last time Serbian soldiers saw combat, they were being bombed out of Kosovo by U.S. missiles. Now they're set to fight alongside their former foes.

Following an offer from Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic to send up to 1,000 troops to aid U.S. forces in Afghanistan or Iraq, a Serbian battalion is being readied for Kandahar, where it will hunt al-Qaeda terrorists and Taliban guerrillas.

The Serbs' choice of leader for the force, General Goran Radosavljevic, could be contro-versial. During the Kosovo war, he led a cluster of anti-guerrilla teams that, human-rights groups claim, committed atrocities against civilians. Human Rights Watch alleges they killed 41 ethnic Albanians in the village of Cuska in May 1999; Radosavljevic was never indicted. A New York court is also considering charges that he and other police officials are responsible for the execution of three Albanian-Americans.

A senior Serbian security official tells TIME the general, who denies the allegations, "insists that he command the unit." Serbian and Montenegrin officials visited U.S. military leaders last week to talk about participation in Afghanistan. Radosavljevic was not part of the delegation, but was represented by his deputy.

[Burkeman1]

So the "evil" and "geonocidal" Serbs are now helping us in Iraq?

[Burkeman1]

Ping! Thanks Johngalt.

[Burkeman1]

Sorry- Afghanistan.

[Incorrigible]

Ha! The worm turns!

[Cicero]

Well, it's a positive sign, but I doubt that we'll ever admit that we fought the war on the wrong side. Even conservative reporters seem unable to see what a mess clinton made of it.

[Burkeman1]

Well- at least you admit we did fight on the wrong side. That is difference because conservatives and liberals. As for "conservative" reporters who still embrace and defend that most criminal of wars- are they really conservative? What are their stances now?

[Burkeman1]

I meant "between" conservative and liberals.

[ThreePuttinDude]

OK, let me see if I understand this:

The Serbs are bombed by the US AirForce under Bill Clintoon, as they are trying to stop the invasion of the Ethnic Albanians [muslim terrorists] in their home country, Yugoslavia and they are concidered Monsters.

Now the Serbs get to go to Afghanistan to help wipe out Muslim Terrorists....and they're Peace Keepers/Liberators.

Is it me, or is this a bunch of

[mark502inf]

Was just discussing the former Yugo Army at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/986581/posts

[Burkeman1]

NO- it is not just you.

[mark502inf]

As you were. Disregard post #9. Was just discussing the Yugo Army at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/986581/posts?q=1&&page=274#274

[okie01]

For what it's worth, I believe Bill Clinton's Kosovo Adventure is one of the lowest points in American history.

A nation was attacked and people were killed so that an American president could distract the media (and the nation) from impeachment, the Cox report and Juanita Broaddrick.

No good purpose was served thereby.

[lizma]

It's hard to distinguish fact from fiction in "our" war with Serbia.

Try as I might, it still seems to boil down to a president that would rather kill a few thousand innocent men, women, and kiddlets rather than talk about the State of His Zipper. I can't believe there was no outrage by the "peace" movement. (On the other hand, yes I can.)

At this point in time, I now know the our main-stream news media would make Joesph Goebbels happy. For Serbia, a faithful ally in WWII, to forgive us so quickly is admirable.

I have a hard time believing there were any war atrocities.

The Albanians set up a pozy scheme to rule their economy, it fell apart. They moved to a province of Serbia, decided they wanted it, told some lies and Clinton and NATO fell into line. Thousands of innocent people died. End of story.

Most of the planet doesn't have a frickin clue.

[MayDay72]

'Whose idea was it to send Serb peacekeepers to Afghanistan?'

...[timidly raising hand and looking at shoes]...That was my idea...Sorry...

[mark502inf]

The Serbia & Montenegro of today is significantly different than Yugoslavia under Milosevic. Milosevic was the last of the communist thug class of ruler. He's been out of power for three years now. Remember how quickly the Warsaw Pact countries went from our enemies to our allies? Its happening now with Serbia & Monte--a good step for both them and us.

Point of clarification--the fight in the Serbian province of Kosovo was an insurgency by the ethnic Albanians who lived there, not an invasion.

[Burkeman1]

Right on!

[NYC Republican]

The Serbia & Montenegro of today is significantly different than Yugoslavia under Milosevic. Milosevic was the last of the communist thug class of ruler. He's been out of power for three years now. Remember how quickly the Warsaw Pact countries went from our enemies to our allies? Its happening now with Serbia & Monte--a good step for both them and us. Point of clarification--the fight in the Serbian province of Kosovo was an insurgency by the ethnic Albanians who lived there, not an invasion.

Exactly true on both. I'm sure they know the facts, but are distorting history to win folks to their side.

[norton]

The 'ethnic albanians who lived there' have done a hell of a job of increasing their numbers while continuing to exclude the Serbs who also lived there....

It was an invasion and one that we aided and abetted.

Low point in US history for a fact.

[NYC Republican]

Ethnic albanians who lived there' have done a hell of a job of increasing their numbers while continuing to exclude the Serbs who also lived there.... It was an invasion and one that we aided and abetted.

Are you on drugs, or just lying through your teeth? What invasion???

[Destro]

General Goran Radosavljevic, could be contro-versial. During the Kosovo war, he led a cluster of anti-guerrilla teams

Who better to hunt al-Qaeda? He did a good job of it the first time around.