Posted on 03/19/2008 4:08:36 PM PDT by joan
WASHINGTON (AFP) — President George W. Bush authorized Wednesday supplying Kosovo with weapons, signaling the establishment of government-to-government relations after recognizing its independence, the White House said.
In a memo to the State Department made public by the White House, Bush said: "I hereby find that the furnishing of defense articles and defense services to Kosovo will strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace."
A senior official said the authorization followed US recognition of Kosovo's independence and was part of the normal process of establishing relations with a new government.
In a comment apparently meant to allay concerns from Serbia and its ally Russia, the official stressed the military restrictions imposed on Kosovo under a plan by former UN special envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari.
Under the Ahtisaari plan, which is the basis for Kosovo's supervised independence, Kosovo is allowed a lightly armed 2,500-person security force under NATO oversight and training.
Kosovo, an Albanian-dominated Serbian province under UN administration since 1999, unilaterally declared its independence on February 17. The United States recognized it on March 18, despite strong opposition from Serbia and Russia.
The US official, who asked not to be identified, said the US weapons deliveries were preparing the ground for the future, adding that the United States had struck similar relations with other countries in the region.
Furthermore, the official said, provisions of defense equipment and services would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The official said that providing military equipment to Kosovo would improve security relations and engagement with Kosovo, promote security and stability throughout the Balkans, improve Kosovo's capacity to take part in peacekeeping activities, to detect, deter and defeat terrorists, and to deal with humanitarian emergencies.
Yeah, there will be chickens coming home to roost after this one.
Bush is an idiot.
This is the most bone-headed idea I have heard in a long time.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.......
War On Terror, eh?
well, if they are going to shoot a Putin’s mercenaries.
he really is out of his mind!!!
Yeah, supplying the terrorists!
I DON’T WANT TO SELL ARMS TO KOSOVO!! HEY, YOU WORK FOR ME!
LOL! You are right on that one!
This has the stench of Condi Rice all over it.
She’s done more to jeopardize America that anybody outside of Jimmy Carter.
I must be stupid. We are going to supply arms for a muslim nation establishing itself in the heart of Europe? Because Clinton began this process of shooting Serbian Christians in the back, President Bush thinks it’s a good idea to keep it going? Isn’t that where the First World War started? Am I gonna have to ask the doctor to up my meds?
BRAVO SIERRA
>>Yeah, supplying the terrorists!
I DON’T WANT TO SELL ARMS TO KOSOVO!! HEY, YOU WORK FOR ME!<<
I believe you are being too optimistic. I suspect we will be “giving arms” more than “selling arms.”
“In a comment apparently meant to allay concerns from Serbia and its ally Russia, the official stressed the military restrictions imposed on Kosovo under a plan by former UN special envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari.”
Bravo Siera, pure BS, sometimes, when war breaks out, when the bodies start to pile up, this statement should be hung about the Bushies necks like a stinking dead skunk.
We are gonna have to make our voices heard on this one.
I am tired of this crap. He is so wrong on this, and his immigration policy...can’t he see that this is why his approval points are so low? His own supporters are tired of him ignoring us!
I stand corrected.
WTF?
Another welfare “nation” and this one made up of muzzies!
Wow, we’re arming al-queda now. What’s next, giving bin laden amnesty for 9-11 and making him an honorary US citizen?
A new standard for idiocy has just been set.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.