Clinton's Allies in Bosnia - The 7th Mujahedeen Brigade

BalkanPeace ^ | 2001 | unkwn.

[vooch]

7th Bosnian Muslim Brigade, based in Zenica - the international Islamic mercenary force known as the mujahedeen

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7th Bosnian Muslim Brigade, based in Zenica - the international Islamic mercenary force known as the mujahedeen


Alija Izetbegovic with memebrs of 7th Brigade
"... The first and foremost of such conclusions is surely the one on the incompatibility of Islam and non-Islamic systems. There can be no peace or coexistence between the "Islamic faith" and non- Islamic societies and political institutions. ... Islam clearly excludes the right and possibility of activity of any strange ideology on its own turf. Therefore, there is no question of any laicistic principles, and the state should be an expression and should support the moral concepts of the religion. ..." page 22 "The Islamic Declaration" book ("Islamska deklaracija"), written by Mr. Alija Izetbegovic, Bosnian Muslim leader.

In preparing the ground for the conflicts between Bosnian Cristians (Croats and Serbs) and Bosnian Muslims, residents of different Arab countries who in the B&H had recognized the elements and challenge of “a holy war” - jihad. Coming from different Arab countries, most of them were from Yemen, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Afghanistan, and bringing with them experience from a war from some of the Islamic trouble spots.

Mujahedin, or «holy warriors», is a generic term for Muslim volunteers fighting in the former Yugoslavia. Many Mujahedin originate from Muslim countries outside the former Yugoslavia. It was reported that the Mujahedin began arriving in BiH as early as June 1992. (Tom Post & Joel Brand, «Help from the Holy Warriors», Newsweek, 5 October 1992, at 52). Reports on the number of Mujahedin forces operating in BiH vary, but it is unlikely that the Mujahedin forces have made a significant military contribution to the BiH Government's war effort (Christopher Lockwood, «Muslim Nations Offer Troops», Daily Telegraph, 14 July 1993, at 14. According to Lockwood, Muslim nations depended on Western logistical support to deliver troops to BiH. He concludes that the same logistical troubles which kept the Muslim troops promised in July of 1993 from joining UN forces in the UN declared «safe havens» also limited the number of Muslim volunteers in the BiH armed forces. He states that the number of Mujahedin in BiH never exceeded three or four hundred. See also Mohamed Sid-Ahmad, «Muslim World Between Two Fires», War Report, January 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 63744. However, the Belgrade Daily, Vecernje Novosti, reported that as many as 30,000 Mujahedin were operating in BiH. «Other Reports in Brief: Muslims from Abroad Settling in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgrade Daily Claims», BBC, Summary of World Broadcasts, 19 September 1992. )

The Mujahedin forces came from several Muslim states and many of them were veterans of the Afghan war. (Andrew Hogg, «Arabs Join in Bosnia Battle», Sunday Times, 30 August 1992)

Reports submitted to the Commission of Experts alleged that the Mujahedin have been responsible for the mutilation and killing of civilians, rape, looting, the destruction of property, and the expulsion of non-Muslim populations. The deputy commander of the BiH Army, Colonel Stjepan Siber, has said, «it was a mistake to let them [the Mujahedin] here . . . They commit most of the atrocities and work against the interests of the Muslim people. They have been killing, looting and stealing.» Andrew Hogg, «Terror Trail of the Mujahedin», Sunday Times, 27 June 1993.

Several reports indicate that the Mujahedin were placed under the command of the BiH Army.(See «Some 400 Mujahedin Volunteers Fighting with Bosnian Muslims», Agence France Presse, 22 September 1992; Andrew Hogg, «Arabs Join in Bosnia Battle», Sunday Times, 30 August 1992; see also Charles McLoed, ECMM, «Report on Inter-Ethnic Violence in Vitez, Busovaca and Zenica», April 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 20178- 20546, at 20207; Croatian Information Centre, Weekly Bulletin, No. 9, 4 October 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 36434-36438, at 36435; US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62648, 62724, 62730, and 62756)

The Mujahedin forces were closely associated with the 5th Corps, the 6th and 7th Zenica Brigades, the 7th Travnik Brigade, and the 45th Muslim Brigade which belongs to the 6th Corps in Konjic of the Army of BiH (US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62648; see also Croatian Information Centre, Weekly Bulletin, No. 9, 4 October 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 36434-36438, at 36435; «Continuing Clashes in Northwestern Enclave Reported from Both Sides», BBC, Summary of World Broadcasts, 14 December 1993.)

They also allegedly fought alongside the Muslim Police, the Krajiska Brigade from Travnik, units of Kosovo Muslims, Albanian soldiers, and paramilitary groups such as the «Green Legion» and the «Black Swans».(Charles McLoed, ECMM, Report on Inter-Ethnic Violence in Vitez, Busovaca and Zenica, April 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 20178-20546, at 20207; Croatian Information Centre, Weekly Bulletin, No. 9, 4 October 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 36434-36438, at 36435; US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62648, 62724, 62730, and 62756.)

Reports also indicate that the Mujahedin had the support of President Izetbegovic and his government. *57 This was demonstrated in the Bihac pocket, where the Mujahedin joined BiH forces loyal to Izetbegovic. Together, these forces battled separatist forces who entered into a separate peace treaty with Bosnian Serbs («Continuing Clashes in Northwestern Enclave Reported form Both Sides», BBC, Summary of World Broadcasts, 14 December 1993)

In Zenica, between 31 August and 2 September 1992, 250 Mujahedin troops allegedly come to BiH from Turkey, Qatar, Bahrain and Iran. These troops worked alongside the Green Legion and HOS paramilitary groups stationed in Zenica. The Mujahedin allegedly also operated a camp at Arnauti.(Charles McLeod, ECMM, Report on Inter-Ethnic Violence in Vitez, Buscovaca and Zenica, April 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 29043-29131, at 29064; Biljaja Plavsic, Republic of Serbia Presidency, To Serbs All Over the World, 30 September 1992, IHRLI Doc. No. 48072- 48093, at 48081)

It was reported that a unit of the Mujahedin, called the «Guerilla», participated in the 16 April 1993 attack on Vitez and attempted to exchange 10 HVO hostages for foreign prisoners held in HVO prisons. (US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62629; see also Charles McLeod, ECMM, Report on Inter-Ethnic Violence in Vitez, Busovaca and Zenica, April 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 29043-29131, at 29072 (attack on Vitez).

The Croatian Ministry of Defence is reported to have provided information about an event occurring in June 1993 -- a joint BiH/Mujahedin unit reportedly attacked Travnik, allegedly forcing 4,000 Croatian civilians and military personnel out of the town. (US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62650. Media reports however claim that Croats left Travnik voluntarily. The incident was investigated by an organization, which reported that the forceful eviction did not take place)

The Mujahedin allegedly fought alongside the 6th Muslim Brigade from Zenica and the Krajiska Brigade from Travnik. Witnesses stated that they saw Mujahedin operating in small patrols ahead of the approaching BiH troops.

According to HVO intelligence, Mujahedin forces arrived in Travnik sometime before June 1993 and came from Algeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. The Mujahedin trained at a camp at Mehurici, where they were allegedly financed and equipped by a man named Abdulah, the owner of the «Palma» video store in Travnik. Once in town, the Mujahedin were linked to the Seventh Brigade of the BiH Army, and were reportedly assembled into units of 10 to 15 men, and moved about on regular patrols. The Mujahedin created tension in Travnik in the days prior to the attack on 3 June. One witness stated that the Mujahedin directed their actions towards the HVO personnel in town. They allegedly demonstrated, shouted slogans and fired their rifles in the air.

Mujahedin allegedly participated in the attack on Maljine in Novi Travnik on 8 June 1993, killing 20 to 30 HVO members and transporting Croatian women and children to the training centre at Mehurici.(Croatian Information Centre, Weekly Bulletin, No. 1, 9 August 1993)

In Konjic, the Mujahedin were part of a 100 member force stationed at Liscioi and led by Haso Hakalovic. The unit was assembled in February 1993 and included some Kosovo Muslims and members of the Black Swans from the Igman mountain region. (US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62756)

Allegedly, Mujahedin troops killed and expelled villagers, and looted and burned homes, when they moved against the Jablanica- Konjic area. The Mujahedin troops and members of the Black Swans reportedly conducted occasional raids without members of BiH forces. (at IHRLI Doc. No. 62752 and 62756. The village of Vrci was attacked on 25 May, and the village of Radesine was attacked on 10 June. See also Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Fifth Periodic Report on the Situation of Human Rights in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1994/47, 17 November 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 52399-52435, at 52405 (alleging that the Mujahedin were involved in attacks at Kopjari on 21 October, Doljani on 27 and 28 June, and Maljane on 8 June). UN Special Rapporteur Mazowiecki claims that corpses of Mujahedin victims displayed evidence of protracted cruelty and mutilation. )

Reportedly, the Mujahedin volunteers arrived in Konjic in small groups. It was reported that they were from Afghanistan and that they claimed to be students. They were allegedly armed with Hekleri automatic weapons and former JNA equipment. Some Mujahedin were reportedly former students with no military experience.

Mujahedin forces were present in Mostar since early June 1993. They were reportedly stationed in the Santica neighbourhood on the Muslim/HVO front, where they manned bunkers, usually in groups of six or seven, armed with 7.62 millimetre semi-automatic weapons, machine-guns, and Zolja anti-tank weapons. They were billeted in a building they shared with the Muslim military police on the east bank of the Neretva River. The Mujahedin forces apparently left Mostar on 15 August. (US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62742 and 62677. For more details on the location of the Neretva living quarters, see Id. at 62739)

FRY reported that the Mujahedin began operations near Teslic in July and August of 1992. Troops from Saudi Arabia allegedly killed three Serbian Territorial Defence members and placed the victims' severed heads on poles near the «Tesanj turret». (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Second Report Submitted to the Commission of Experts, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 28401-29019, at 28533)

Beheadings of Serbs by Mujahedin forces have also been reported in other areas.

The Mujahedin were also alleged to be part of the forces that invaded the village of Trusina near Foca on 15 April 1993. According to the report, attackers wore white ribbons on their arms and fought beside Albanian Muslim troops. Twenty-two civilians reportedly died in the attack. (US Department of State, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 62612-62877, at 62648; Croatian Information Centre, Weekly Bulletin, No. 9, 4 October 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 36434-36438, at 36435)

The Mujahedin allegedly performed crude circumcisions upon Serbian police forces, who were later treated by an American surgeon at the Kosevo hospital in Sarajevo. (Letter dated 7 December 1992 from the Deputy Representative of the US to U.N. Secretary-General, U.N. Doc. S/24918, 8 December 1992, IHRLI Doc. No. 3160-3177, at 3173; Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Second Report Submitted to the Commission of Experts, 1993, IHRLI Doc. No. 28401-29019, at 28566)



This photograph was seized from Saudi Arabian fighters captured in Crni Vrh near Teslic, Bosnia. A Muslim solder displays the severed head of Blagoje Blagojevic, a Serb from the village of Jasenovo near Teslic.


The severed heads of three Serbs (identified as Blagoje Blagojevic, Nenad Petkovic, and Brana Djuric) beheaded by Muslim fighters. This picture was seized from Saudi Arabian solders captured near Teslic in Bosnia.



7th Brigade, loyal Islamic force
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/timbeat4.htm

Director of the U.S. Congress' Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional warfare: "Some Call It Peace"
http://members.tripod.com/Balkania/resources/geostrategy/bodansky_peace/bp_part1.html

7th Muslim "Liberation" Brigade
http://www.wargamer.com/sp/military/bih/armija/foreign.asp

Washington Post - Iranians Form Terror Force in Bosnia
http://impact.users.netlink.co.uk/namir/sreport.htm

Bosnia losing the pluralistic character
http://www.bosnet.org/archive/bosnet.w3archive/9501/msg00252.html


No future for Muslims in Europe unless they have a state of their own
http://www.amber.ucsf.edu/homes/ross/public_html/bosnia_/mus.txt

US Senate Document; Clinton-Approved Iranian Arms Transfers Help Turn Bosnia into Militant Islamic Base
http://www.senate.gov/~rpc/releases/1997/iran.htm

A BOSNIAN VILLAGE'S TERRORIST
http://www.mfa.gov.yu/Aktuelno/BIVSE/BiH/wpost11032000_e.html


The Second Coming of Alija Izetbegovic
http://www.balkanpeace.org/our/our05.shtml

Selling the Bosnian Myth to America: Part I-Buyer Beware
http://reagan.com/HotTopics.main/HotMike/document-12.11.2000.3.html


Army suspects munitions manufactured for Bosnian army
http://archive.nandotimes.com/newsroom/nt/0204yugfff.html

Similarity - The 13th Waffen-Gebirgs Division der SS Handschar
http://www.wssob.com/013divhnd.html

Jihad - the "Holly War"
http://blaskic.croat.net/jihad.htm

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This web site, intended for research purposes, contains copyright material included "for fair use only"

[joan]

Since you say you are familiar with the case - who are the soldiers - name each one, and each person on the ground. And let us see the photos of their faces. Also, who is the photographer and what is the exact date this photo was taken.

Are their more photos from the scene as well?

[DTA]

Are their more photos from the scene as well?

check April 1992 issues of TIME magazine

[DTA]

>>>>The Lisbon plan, by the way, allotted 44% of Bosnia to the Serbs (in discontiguous lumps), yet in '92 they went and grabbed an extra 26% of the country.<<<<<

Thanks, Hoplite, the private property is the pillar of Western Civilisation if you havent' heard.That's why communists were agaist private property.
Prior to 1991 Serbs OWNED 67% of land in Bosnia Herzegovina. Serbs were mostly peasants who owned land, forrests, Muslims were were townsfolk and owned litle lland and forrest.

Even Lisbon Agreement was infavorable to Serbs, they ACCEPTED IT. Muslims were ones who rejected it.

"Grabbing" of Serb own land occured AFTER Muslims rejected the plan.

You are so helpful in exposing common misconceptions and outright lies that I consider you valuable asset on FR. But Bosnian Muslims are not very happy about your performance, for sure. Just to keep you up to date, Bosnia will be forced to compensate Serbs for stolen land and envoys are already begging for money in Arab states to build compensation fund.

[branicap]

#40

Thank you for describing yourself so nicelly!

I am anything but "ignorrant puke",but I will not go into that area(insults)!

And,I didn`t fall for anything,pal!

If you can`t give an answer on the relevant topics in the post or article,being arrogant ind abusive says more about you than people that you talk about!

As far as alleged "hatred" go,I fill no hatred at all!

Only a deep sorrow,when I reminisce about Yugoslavia!

You,in the other hand look like a poster boy"for hatred!

[Hoplite]

Perhaps if you are so concerned about private property you can explain how it is that the mostly rural Serb populations (they being farmers, mostly, and owning all the farmland so we've been told here on F.R.) felt it was necessary to boot non-Serbs out of the cities?

Wait, wait, don't tell me... those cities were built on old Serb farmlands so there was ample justification for the ethnic cleansing campaigns carried out in the cities in the Republika Srpska.

Whatever. Neither logic nor law are on your side in this matter, but thanks for trying.

[DTA]

Do you mean towns like Mostar, Sarajevo or towns where genocide against Serbs was commited in WWII, like Srebrenica? Or villages along Drina, or villages in Kozara mountains?

Do you know that in Herzegovina, after WWII, the first conscripts of Serbian nationality went to complete military duty in 1958? All born before 1940 were wiped out in WWII by friendly Croatian and Muislim neigbors?

(Picture is reproduction of SS recruitment poster that can be found on neonazi site that glorifies Bosnian WWII Nazis, Croatians and Muslims alike.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, atrocities happened on all sides in 1990's war. No angels there. All responsible for crimes should pay.The problem with Serbs is that some fell to the level of their Croatian and Muslim neighbors, unpunished and unrepented Nazis from WWII.

Golda Meir's thought can be applied to Bosnian Serbs. ("we can forgive Croats and Muslims for killing our children, but can not forgive them for forcing us to kill theirs.)

Some Serbs became animals the same as their Muslim neigbors and that is moral dimension of Serbian defeat in Bosnia.

I feel that speaking of moral issues with you is like appealing to mercy with loan shark, but at least I try.

Mirracles do happen.

[joan]

Hoplite talks about Serbs cleansing Muslims from cities in the RS, but what about Serbs from the cities of the Federation who were ethnically cleansed. Wasn't it a Serb from Sarajevo who was killed there in March 1992 at his son's wedding? And see this recent news from inet, it looks like the Muslims are still killing Serbs who try to return to their homes in Sarajevo - even if they are elderly:

Thursday, September 6, 2001

High representative Wolfgang Petritsch has condemned the murder of Rade Rajkovic (73), a Serbian, who has recently returned home to Sarajevo, and who was killed on Tuesday evening when so far unidentified persons set fire on his house. Petritsch has stated also that he believes that the authorities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) are doing their best to find perpetraters of this gruesome attack.

[joan]

Notice that in the littler picture that hoplite linked in his post #13, the red on the man's hand is much more marked and even seems to extend beyond places where in ends in the bigger picture, and it is also proportionately thicker. Does it look like photo tampering has been going on to you?

DTA: And as for you pointing to Time magazine, why should western press be fair. Was it Newsweek or Time that featured a Bosnian Muslim woman who said she was raped by Serbs but then gave birth to a black child who's father was serving with the French UN forces in Bosnia.

constitutiongirl: Notice we do not see the man in the black jacket's head because the woman's calf is in the way. You can see dirt and shadows on her shin, but I can not make out any definite blood. Also, her white sock - just above the man's hand - is clean looking, and if that was a pool of blood there, why isn't even the corner of her white vest even darkened a bit?

[DTA]

Joan, I am pointing to TIME magazine from April 1992 for specific reason. It is widely available in libraries all over the world and it can be used as a prooof that Serb "attrocities" occured AFTER Bosnian Muslims unconstitutionally declared independence APRIL 6 1992.

Warren Zimmerman and Izetbegovic are guilty for crime against peace (torpedoing Lisbon agreement) They kickstarted horrible events.

Bosnian Muslims are like someone causing fire on a gaspump by playing with matches and later claiming to be victim of fire hazard.

For Serbs April 6 is the same as December 7 for Americans-day of infamy,day when Hitler attacked Yugoslavia. Bosnian Muslims who fought on Hitler's side, deliberately chose that day to proclaim independence.

[vooch]

couple of points buddies

1) Hoplite has dominated the agenda....he posts a photo and now it is the sole topic. Instead of focusing on the Beheading of Civilians by the likes of the 7th Mujahedeen Bgd. , PAID, SUPPLIED, & PROMOTED BY CLINTION you allow your selves to be tricked into yammering endlessly about the Tigers.......I thought the subject of this thread was

"Clinton's support of killers such as the 7th Mujahedeen sullied this country, until we come to terms with our support of such killers as the 7th...."

2) Hoppie posted this gem
Lisbon would have resulted in the partitioning of Bosnia into 3 ethnically based areas, and the Croats, Muslims, and Serbs were mixed up enough to make it an unworkable scheme, given what was transpiring next door.

The Lisbon plan, by the way, allotted 44% of Bosnia to the Serbs (in discontiguous lumps), yet in '92 they went and grabbed an extra 26% of the country.

I do believe this is a wide open invitation......Hoppie is telling us that the Lisbon Plan was worse than War.......Hoppie in his statement is saying the Iztbegovic move towards War was fine........and you all let him get away with such stuff...............

[vooch]

Some of Hoplite's buddies in action. Hoplite's Humanitarian Warriors supplied, funded, and promoted these paramilitary killers thereby smearing our country with their crimes.

The ICTY has determined that defacto command responsibility (ie supply, funding, and promotion) is enough evidence for proving guilt in the event of war crimes. It is only just that those Humanitarian Warriors who supported such paramilitaries as the 7th Mujahedeen face trial for their crimes. For more see USFM 27-10 chp. 6, para 366

[Pericles]

What you said does not apply to me. Read my reply to Hoplite again, vooch. It's good Shiite.

[vooch]

what do you think of Hoplite's blatant admission that War was preferable to the Lisbon Agreement ?

[Hoplite]

WW2 is no excuse for what happened in the 1990's, just like the 1990's will be no excuse for any sad sack trying to take revenge 50 years down the road.

The Serbs under Karadzic perpetrated 90% of the atrocities in Bosnia because they overran large areas in 1992 before the non-Serbs could evacuate, and thus had a large captive audience on which to display their tender mercies. When the tide turned against the Serbs, they were more adept at evacuating their civilians before the territory changed hands.

we can forgive Croats and Muslims for killing our children, but can not forgive them for forcing us to kill theirs

Pathetic.

[Hoplite]

Your are getting to be worse than Stella.

Murder of Rajko Radic Not Ethnically Motivated

The Sarajevo Cantonal Ministry of Interior Affairs detained Jela Ivanovic. She is suspected of deliberately setting the house in Dobrosevic on fire, in which three days ago, her common law husband, Rajko Radic, was killed. In today’s announcement by the Ministry, it was stated that Jela Ivanovic confessed to the criminal act before the investigative judge of the Sarajevo Cantonal Court. Police found a purse with the things Jela reported to be missing in order to cover up the crime. The canister she used to get the gasoline from the gas station in Stupska Petlja was also found. The Cantonal Ministry concluded that the mentioned criminal act was not ethnically motivated. –IP

I'll allow you to track down your own independent confirmation of the above.

I'm sure you'll agree that correct information is beneficial to having an informed opinion.

[DTA]

>>>>"WW2 is no excuse for what happened in the 1990's, just like the 1990's will be no excuse for any sad sack trying to take revenge 50 years down the road" <<<<<<<

Whoa ! That's awesome. You provide the rationale for Bosnian Muslim propaganda of 200,000 dead. Once it is cemented by media and friendly NGO's it will go in history as fact, much like Tito's fabrications of "brotherhood unity". Fifty years from now, some sack will finish off genocide of Serbs started in 1941.

Thanks for an early warning shot.

As of moral issues, I give up.

Back to the subject, 7th brigade and command responsibility of Izetbegovich.

[Alexandre]

Perhaps if you are so concerned about private property you can explain how it is that the mostly rural Serb populations (they being farmers, mostly, and owning all the farmland so we've been told here on F.R.) felt it was necessary to boot non-Serbs out of the cities?

Again, Hoplie poses as a great intellectual - by asking what appears to be a tough question. But all is simple: those in towns decided that all the land around an Islamoc state. What the heck islamic state is - visit USA-feed and backed Talibanese Afghan.

Come back (in one piece) and keep squeeking about Serbs who do not wish to live in islamic state.

[Alexandre]

BTW, similar stories happened before. During civil war in Russia, Ukrajnian farmer's armies pillaged cities with mixed population and kicked out everyone they thought to be associated withe white or red (depending on the war period). And hey, this almost always happened to be Russians or Jews.

Finally, they lost - and know what was done to them a bit later?

[Hoplite]

Thanks for that little bit of ill-informed irrelevance.

The Muslim residents of Bosnia's towns and cities that fell under the thrall of Radovan Karadzic were not as a group the fanatical adherents to Islam like they're made out to be - they did, however, own property and have valuables that could be extorted, stolen, or otherwise expropriated by Karadzic's followers.

Lastly, the US never supported the Taliban: Afghan history seems to be as mysterious to you as does that of Bosnia.

There's a price to be paid for being ignorant, and you'll continue to pay it until you address the deficiencies in your knowledge base.

[Alexandre]

...hey did, however, own property and have valuables that could be extorted, stolen, or otherwise expropriated by Karadzic's followers.

I can repeat for you [others could read the answer in my posts, you failed - sorry]. Farmers are much more linked to their property [land] than town dwellers. And they much easier go rampant if their environment is threatened. Establishing a farm and garden takes generation. Establishing workshop or store - few years.

Sorry if it is above your level of understanding.

Lastly, the US never supported the Taliban: Afghan history seems to be as mysterious to you as does that of Bosnia.

Oh yeh, me knows your expertise in Afghan affairs. The only (very small) question is: how freedom-loving West could allow Taliban to smash and squash all their faithful allies? Or Taliban fits better for Western plans in the region than Massud et al resting in peace? Taliban in Central Asia, KLA and Izegbekovich at Balkans... Not even Islam is a special issue, but militant radical movement what really matters.

My knowledge base may have certain deficiences - but can you the most informed one help me with this contraversy?