Posted on 01/30/2008 2:38:38 PM PST by kronos77
MOSCOW (AP) - A senior Russian diplomat said Monday that Moscow has prepared an action plan that envisages close coordination with Serbia should the West recognize any Kosovo declaration of independence. Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, the Russian Foreign Ministry's special envoy to the Balkans, said Moscow is encouraging more talks between the Serbs and the province's
ethnic Albanian majority. He said, however, that chances for such talks are rapidly decreasing, with Kosovo's leaders expected to declare independence soon. Botsan-Kharchenko said at a meeting with Russian lawmakers that the ministry had worked out a plan of action if Kosovo declares independence, and the United States and the European Union members recognize it. He wouldn't give details but said the plan «envisages a close coordination of action with Belgrade. Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders had been expected to declare independence in February or March. Kosovo's independence is supported by the United States and most European Union members, including Britain and France. Serbia and its ally Russia strongly oppose independence for the province. Kosovo, though legally part of Serbia, has been under U.N. and NATO control since a NATO bombing campaign in 1999 ended a Serb crackdown on separatist ethnic Albanians.
(Excerpt) Read more at pr-inside.com ...
Ping!
I’m hoping we’ll have the good sense to stay out of it this time.
I hate it when I am on Russia’s side of something like this, but there you have it. They are right and we are wrong. Nothing good can come from an independent Kosovo, and, as this proves, nothing good can come from even talking about an independent Kosovo. It is a bad, bad idea to let militant Islam plant a flag in the middle of Europe.
This kind of thing in 1914 started a world war that we haven’t recovered from yet.
Let’s not do that again, please. . .
They should have just buried Francis Ferdinand and let everyone else get on with their lives. Whatever was ‘gained’ by World War I wasn’t worth it for anyone involved.
And today, let Serbia and Kosovo fight it out by themselves.
Can Putin whip up nationalist support for the Russian election in March?
Good for Russia. I hope they are not bluffing.
What are the logistics involved, and does Russia have the capability to insert troops and logistical support for an indefinite period?
Can it do this without the fly over or drive through permission of the surrounding countries?
The Russian military isn't the point, at least not yet. The Serbian military is. If they roll into Kosovo, Kosovo lacks the power to do anything about it. And the Serbs have threatened to do just that in the event of a Kosovar declaration of independence. That they'll have backup from the Russians just makes things a lot more complex for the West re: a repeat of our '98 or '99 operation.
Being in the active battle area means that attack by the West would involve killing Russian Nationals, and that prospect is exactly what held us back the first time - Armored Russian troops in battle order.
Though agreeing with Russia and Serbia on this (wait until this crap happens in the American southwest once levels of “former” Mexicans reach critical mass), it bodes ill. Serbian and Russian forces deploy, would NATO the chicken-hearted even have the balls to back up their support of Kosovo? Worse case scenario is that they grow a pair and wrong-headedly back up their words with force. Egad.
I hope the plan involves kidnapping both KKKlintlers, Wesley Clarke, Madeline Albright and every other candidate for all-time loser responsible for this mess, and burning them all at the stake.
If there's no outside Western sanctions to be afraid of, the Serbs will exterminate the Albanians in three months. And I would not shed a tear
If the US declines to get involved, the EU would do nothing
Agreed. Time to shutter the State department on this one and slide their meals under the door until it all comes down.
The Albanians have been attacking Serbs for years. The Serbs are just overdue for opening up a large can of whup-ass. Something like playing Cowboys and Indians, with the Albanians filling in for the Apaches
Only a kneeling Dhimmi would assert otherwise.
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