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Belgrade's US Embassy set on fire (FNC Report: charred body found in US Embassy)
Yahoo News ^ | 6 minutes ago | By SLOBODAN LEKIC, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 02/21/2008 11:04:42 AM PST by 11th_VA

BELGRADE, Serbia - Serb rioters broke into the U.S. Embassy Thursday and set fire to an office after a massive protest against Kosovo's independence that drew an estimated 150,000 people.

Masked attackers broke into the building, which has been closed this week, and tried to throw furniture from an office. A blaze broke out inside one of the offices and parts of the facade also caught fire.

Authorities drove armored jeeps down the street and fired tear gas to clear the crowd. The protesters dispersed into side streets where they continued clashing with authorities.

The neighboring Croatian Embassy also was attacked by the same group of protesters.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack strongly urged the Serbian government to protect the U.S. Embassy. He said the U.S. ambassador was at his home and was in contact with U.S. officials.

More than a dozen nations have recognized Kosovo's declaration of independence on Sunday, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

But the declaration by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership has been rejected by Serbia's government and the ethnic Serbians who populate northern Kosovo. Russia, China and numerous other nations have also condemned the declaration, saying it sets a precedent that separatist groups around the world will seek to emulate.

Kosovo, which is 90 percent ethnic Albanian, has not been under Belgrade's control since 1999, when NATO launched airstrikes to halt a Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. A U.N. mission has governed Kosovo since, with more than 16,000 NATO troops and KFOR, a multiethnic force, policing the province.

But Serbia — and Kosovo's Serbs, who make up less than 10 percent of Kosovo's population — refuse to give up Kosovo, a territory considered the ancient cradle of Serbs' state and religion.

Earlier Thursday, police estimated that about 150,000 people had attended a rally in the Serbian capital. The crowd waved Serbian flags and carried signs reading "Stop USA terror." One group set fire to a red-and-black Albanian flag.

The U.S. embassy in Belgrade burns after masked attackers broke into the building and set an office on fire at the end of a massive protest against Western-backed Kosovo independence, in the Serbian capital, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. More than 150,000 Serbs gathered at the rally vowing to retake the territory which is viewed as Serbia's religious and national heartland. (AP Photo)


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: albanianinvasion; balkanization; balkans; belgrade; bomb; bombcommutertrains; clintonlegacy; kososvo; kosovo; mccainkosovo; mcterrorist; serbia; usembassy
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To: SUSSA
Serbia as a state hasn’t existed for anything like 800 years. It wasn’t until 1912-1913 that most of Kosovo came under Serbian rule - and “rule” seems to be the right word. As for being 90% Serbian, during the period between the World Wars there were certainly plans to produce this situation by driving ethnic Albanians out and replacing them with Serbian settlers. But these plans were not implemented (no doubt because Yugoslavia had bigger problems) and the actual population remained predominately Albanian.
861 posted on 02/21/2008 10:50:40 PM PST by Christopher Lincoln
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To: Technogeeb

Thank you. I have to do some other things now, but it has been a thought-provoking discussion.


862 posted on 02/21/2008 10:52:02 PM PST by La Enchiladita
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To: farlander

“The US contacts with Iran are handled through the British embassy in Tehran.”

Might want to check that. I would but it’s too late, and I’m tired...


863 posted on 02/21/2008 10:52:53 PM PST by jedward (Anti-Bush-Bot Spray...Get yours Today! (Patent Pending))
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To: Lijahsbubbe
"Any time we support the side of Muslims, we are on the wrong side."

I'll get hammered for this, but I'm starting to wonder if the underlying rationale for this is in the Orthodox/RC schism and some Protestants' attitude toward both...supporting one side as a means of punishing the other.

864 posted on 02/21/2008 10:53:01 PM PST by norton ( There is no longer any choice)
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To: Christopher Lincoln

What are you smoking ? What the hell were they fighting for then in 1389 ? Yea it hasn’t existed because it fell under the Ottoman Empire invasion. In the 600s there was a Serb state there called Rashka.


865 posted on 02/21/2008 10:53:32 PM PST by farlander (Try not to wear milk bone underwear - it's a dog eat dog financial world)
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To: montyspython
Good point.

One World War has been started in the Balkans, I'd really hate to see another one kick off there in the near future, because I don't trust our esteemed leaders in Washington to put us on the right side of the conflict.

866 posted on 02/21/2008 10:53:46 PM PST by Stonewall Jackson (Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. - George Patton)
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To: farlander

In this case, I know more than you do.
Have you ever heard of the Cossacks? Do you know the Jewish point of view on that?


867 posted on 02/21/2008 10:54:23 PM PST by La Enchiladita
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To: Christopher Lincoln

There are Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo dating back to the 14th century and perhaps earlier.


868 posted on 02/21/2008 10:54:37 PM PST by MarMema (kosovo will always be Serbian)
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To: jedward

www.britishembassy.gov.uk/iran


869 posted on 02/21/2008 10:54:45 PM PST by farlander (Try not to wear milk bone underwear - it's a dog eat dog financial world)
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To: La Enchiladita

I thought you were all about sticking to the thread topic.


870 posted on 02/21/2008 10:55:52 PM PST by MarMema (kosovo will always be Serbian)
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To: farlander
I believe in the America that is the beacon of freedom and justice that acts [righteously} like it did in the last century freeing millions from [oppression].

You are right on one level.

However, you have to be careful, "Dr. Kissinger." For example, bombing Cambodia and killing innocent women and children was wrong.

I'm sure you understand.

871 posted on 02/21/2008 10:56:12 PM PST by LjubivojeRadosavljevic
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To: John123
"I call ‘em like I see ‘em."

Your batting avg sucks, FRiend.

872 posted on 02/21/2008 10:56:47 PM PST by endthematrix (He was shouting 'Allah!' but I didn't hear that. It just sounded like a lot of crap to me.)
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To: farlander

You’re going to make me work, eh? How about through the swiss as well.


873 posted on 02/21/2008 10:57:23 PM PST by jedward (Anti-Bush-Bot Spray...Get yours Today! (Patent Pending))
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To: endthematrix

I like your tagline...


874 posted on 02/21/2008 10:57:32 PM PST by MarMema (kosovo will always be Serbian)
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To: La Enchiladita
Cossacks are not Russians. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossack "The Cossacks (Russian: Каза́ки, Kazaki; Ukrainian: Козаки́, Kozaky; also known as Polish: Kozacy, originally derived from Turkic Qazaqlar) are a traditional community of martial people living in the southern steppe regions of Eastern Europe (primarily southern Russia and historically Ukraine) and Asia (Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan). They are famous for their self-reliance and military skills, particularly horsemanship. "Cossack" has also traditionally referred to a member of a Cossack military unit." "Their numbers grew during late medieval times, joined by numerous Ukrainian, Russian and Ruthenian serfs fleeing from their owners. Eventually Cossacks became guardians of ethnic and state boundaries. In the 18th and 19th centuries Cossacks in Europe became known for the numerous wars with Russia and contributed to the stereotypical portrayal of Russia." "Currently in Russia, Cossacks are seen as either ethnic descendants or by their active military service and often both."
875 posted on 02/21/2008 10:58:48 PM PST by farlander (Try not to wear milk bone underwear - it's a dog eat dog financial world)
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To: jedward

Yes I blieve you’re correct, actually. Perhaps both. Swiss deliver carrotts, and British sticks, probably. :)


876 posted on 02/21/2008 11:00:02 PM PST by farlander (Try not to wear milk bone underwear - it's a dog eat dog financial world)
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To: farlander

Funny, and accurate too :)


877 posted on 02/21/2008 11:00:37 PM PST by jedward (Anti-Bush-Bot Spray...Get yours Today! (Patent Pending))
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To: farlander
"I believe in the America that is the beacon of freedom and justice that acts righteously like it did in the last century freeing millions from oppression. Not rewarding an insurgent minority with the worst precedent that returns us 100 years back when wars were fought every few years moving the borders. The sheer arrogance on display here by you is mind bogglin

Bravo, precisely! We are supposed to lead by example, not act like some bully on steroids -- but I guess that this is just too hard for this narcissistic generation, who deserve to really have their clock cleaned.

When we push around people just "because we can", when we screw up people lives, just because we can, when we think that the world is just our personal playground and that other people aren't really people like we are (unless the media tells us that they are), then we have lost all sense what "America" really means!

878 posted on 02/21/2008 11:00:39 PM PST by Bokababe ( http://www.savekosovo.org)
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To: LjubivojeRadosavljevic

Yes I do, perfectly. A lot of innocent people tended to get caught up in the crossfire between the superpowers during Cold War. Not any more wrong than Nazi and Allies civilian terror bombings of WWII. War and Conflict is Hell. It is also part of the world we live in. I prefer my country to at least be on the righteous side of it. The end result has been freedom for millions.


879 posted on 02/21/2008 11:03:58 PM PST by farlander (Try not to wear milk bone underwear - it's a dog eat dog financial world)
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To: farlander

I knew you were going to have to look it up...:-)

Eventually, you will realize what effect they had on the Jews of Russia and why Russian Jews were the first settlers, indeed the founders, of the modern state of Israel.


880 posted on 02/21/2008 11:04:07 PM PST by La Enchiladita
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