Haselock: We did not mean to stigmatize the reputation of the KLA

PRISTINA, 7 February 2002 (Beta) - The head of the UNMIK Information Office, Simon Haselock, stated today in Pristina that the arrest of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) were not intended "to stigmatize the reputation of that organization", but he warned that no one can be immune from the law.

Individual acts cannot influence the reputation of an organization, said Haselock.

Demonstrations throughout Kosovo towns were organized by certain forces which desire to realize their own narrow interests, he indicated, without specifying, however, to which forces he referred.

According to Haselock, the Kosovo judicial system will also concern itself with crimes committed prior to the time the UN mission assumed administration of the province since, according to Haselock, there is no statute of limitations on criminal acts.

He indicated that the arrest of former members of the KLA was carried out after a long investigation, which began after the deployment of NATO forces on Kosovo territory.

"The accusations are related to crimes perpetrated against Albanians, including also women and minors. They were arrested, tortured, beaten up and then killed. These crimes are not committed against soldiers during a state of war, but against unarmed civilians," said Haselock.

According to him, the UN mission is endeavoring to form an independent Kosovo judicial system and this system will be developed independently of the political process.

Despite a warning from UNMIK, the organization committee for protests to be held tomorrow has called for new mass demonstrations in Pristina as a sign of protest against the arrest of the former members of the KLA.

I would merely point out that back in the 1800's, the conventional wisdom in America stated that the swarthy, non-Anglo Saxon South Eastern Europeans and Catholics were going to be the death of us.

Well, Hoplite, I would merely point out that these splendidly swarthy non-WASP chaps to whom you refer, did not arrive armed, never forcibly disposessed the 'native' stock in any of the many areas in which they became a majority, and were linked, albeit tenuously, by a religion similar to that practiced by the inhabitants. Furthermore, they shared certain crucial social customs with the natives, such as monogamy and the wearing of trousers in the home. Furthermore, they came to integrate (or survive), not take over.

Now as to the Bosnian brand of Islam: why the contrary Serbs of Bosnia, for that is what they are, became Muslims at the time of the Bogomil Heresy is just as much a mystery to me as it is to them. Suffice it to say, it got them a very good deal with the Turks at the expense of their fellow Serbs, upon whom they inflicted untold miseries for many centuries. I know personally that they are not very good Muslims, having hoisted many a jar of the local with a few of them. However, when the chips were down they lost no time in opening their province to Islamic Jihad Terrorists of every known stripe. Furthermore, although I personally know that many of them might wish to be rid of these more fanatical Muslims (and Albanians) ASAP, they have not yet done so. They won't until they drive the remaining Bosnian Serbs (Christians, you see) out of Bosnia. Their biggest worry is that a flood of unfashionable Albanians will try to pounce on the rich lands soon to be Serb-free.

This, and the fact that the Bosnians are guilty of the same blood-curdling atrocities as the Serbs and Croats (another story there) means that we shouldn't be so anxious to help them, except perhaps with 'humanitarian' aid. Even there, the Saudis have been magnificent in pouring out treasure to them, so they really don't need our money.

I think, Hoplite, that using our American standards, you have accurately perceived much injustice meted out by the Serbs, and like many another well-meaning American, you have assumed the other side to be 'victims' worthy of every assistance. In order to help you bolster these feelings, the Albanians and Bosnians have retained the PR firm of Ruder and Finn, one of the best known on the planet. Your opinions may have therefore, for the very best of humanitarian reasons, been molded to fit you. Ruder and Finn, among others, at a cost of many millions per year, have been shown to have completely fabricated many of the horror stories you read, while of course brilliantly suppressing any stories harmful to their clients. Hoplite, don't be shocked. It's their job to "Wag the Dog" and they do it very well.

The recent truth would have been bad enough to damn the Serbs, the Croats, the Slovenians, the Bosnians, and of course the friendly and colorful Albanians, forever. But Ruder and Finn marketed a bad guy, and turned you into an interventionist in the Balkans, where I am afraid we have made a terrible situation worse.

Speaking of perceptions, the Russians and their brothers, the South Slavs have long perceived themselves to be the Christian world's bulwark against the hordes of Islam. This perception, like most, is not completely inaccurate! As to the Russians and Bulgarians being too poor to sort this out, HA! I assure you there are enough unemployed volunteers in Russia to form an army of mercenaries, with the traditional Russian government blessing, who look forward to "living off the land," and sorting out the KLA and any other Albanians they might catch, because they are allied with the Chechnyans (and because it is something to do). If the Albanians aren't careful, they may help fulfill the old Czarist dream of an ice-free Mediterranean port!

My goodness! You seem to be suggesting that Putin should further empty his prisons and begin exporting his contract mercenary thugs to destabilise Albania and the Tetovo Republic as he has done in Chechnya. Careful with these type of seditious remarks -- or you may find yourself someday in the Hague charged with inciting War Crimes against Humanity.

The Kosovo Liberation Army -- created, equipped, and funded by the United States of America -- fights for freedom in the Balkans by challenging the jackbooted heel of Slavic expansionism. KLA/UCK cadres now prepare to defend the Tetovo Republic with a stunning pre-emptive strike in the Presevo Valley a la Israel in 1967. This campaign will seek to outflank illegal Macedonian paramilitary organisations that currently await the thaw to infiltrate the Kumanovo district of the Tetovo Republic.

Meanwhile in Kosovo province, the K-6 wing of the KLA soon to take their own brand of urban combat to the Slavic revisionist and Yugoslav intelligence apparat elements that threaten the sovereignty of Greater Albania. I would suggest that should Mr Putin be foolish enough to invade the homeland of the descendents of Ancient Illyria, his ragtag forces will be crushed as now happens weekly in Chechnya.

The triumph of the GOP backed American foreign policy that is peace in the Balkans and the creation of the AMBO pipeline buffer in Greater Albania is far beyond the scope of the armchair quarterbacks to appreciate. However when their children and grandchildren are free of the dependence of Arab oil thanks to the efforts of Albanian and Chechen freedom fighters guarding the new Western lifeline, perhaps they will comprehend and be thankful.

The forces of freedom on the move. Europe trembles.

Sorry pal, your brand of racism is clothed in a sheepskin of seeming rationality, but ultimately it's no different in purpose or method than all the others - and some child somewhere who has a different background than you is going to get his throat ripped out because of it.

Well Hoplite, the situation is this: we have no idea who that child is going to be, and who is going to rip his throat out. I do not intend to absolve the Serbs of their sins, nor do I wish us to protect them from the wrath of their adversaries.

Do you wish to absolve the Bosnians and Albanians of their transgressions in the throat-ripping department and have us join them ... or protect them? Unlike you, I am totally unprepared to declare which of the adversaries in this fight is the worst. Unlike you, I am constitutionally unable to keep an atrocity score card. One on each side is enough for me to step back from both sides and try to persuade my countrymen to do the same.
It seems to me that each of the parties in the conflict has the wherewithal to fight its own fight. For us, or NATO, or The Russians, to tip the scales to the advantage toward one side or another will only prolong the horror. For example, by "protecting" the Albanians in Kosovo, we have enabled them to attack Macedonia. Having gone in ostensibly to protect them, is NATO (read us) now going to to have to do battle with them in order to control them?

In regard to racism: all of these people are more or less of the same race. Their differences are very largely national, religious, and cultural. Physically, one would be very hard-pressed to tell a Bosnian from a Serb from a Croatian from an Albanian.You are aware of course, that a good number of Muslim Bosnians have made common cause against the government of Bosnia, alongside Christian Bosnian Serbs? Doesn't sound all that racist to me.

Yes, I am against the expansion of Albanian Sovereignty anywhere outside of Albania. That does not make me a racist.

I've been waiting to see if you'd ever come back so finally we can get some things squared away.

When I posted some of Miro Bajramovic's confession of the torture/death camps and prisons of Serbs in Croatia, Wraith dismissed it as being something from one man's website (even though a search would show many hits for that confession).

According to Wraith, those of us who weren't there can't know what was going on, yet you were there, and even longer than Wraith.

We need to find out why Wraith wasn't aware of the torture/death camps of Serbs, but you were. Was it because you circulated in different parts, was it the timing, did Wraith not always know where to look? How could he not be aware of something you mention happened on a large scale? Please tell Wraith where a few of them were and what was done with the Serbs' bodies.

You also saw a crazy murderous Croatian man who killed the elderly in action, and though you went to officials, once you said his name, these officials said they could do nothing about it. Can you tell us this man's name?

The only thing I dismissed Joan is you which is why I generally don't bother to even answer. Please backup your accusation that I dismissed Miro Bajramovic's confession Word for word.

All you are interested in is spreading Serbian Nationalism and it appears that it is your life’s work to promote the wonderful faultless humane contribution the Milsoivic Regime and his followers like Arkan contributed to the Bosnian and Kosovo WARs. You never seem to want to comment on Arkan for some reason and what he and his Tigers did to those OTHER PEOPLE. Care to comment Joan? You have not yet mentioned the ARKAN name. Did you admire him Joan? Did you cry when Milosivic had his pumpkin aerated by one of his special units.

I will say this again because you are unable to - all sides Serbian, Roma, Croatian, Bosnian Muslim, Kosovar Albanian all contributed in the murdering of human beings from each others civilian populations.

Joan you can only talk about the injustices done to Serbs and no about human beings in general. Why? You talk as if only Serbs suffered during the Bosnian War. Can you explain this attitude?

Now be a big girl and admit that the Serbian Government under Milosivic are equally responsible for some of the mass killings of other ethnic civilian populations that took place in Bosnia and Kosovo.

You amaze me by trying to get WONDERS to help support your crusade but remember one thing, wonders like myself are outsiders who went to the Balkans for humanitarian/peace keeping reasons and not to take sides. You are definitely defending the Serbian side.

If anyone dismisses anything Joan its you in regards to the overall truth about what people are capable of doing to each other all because of ethnic differences . Grow up!

So what you're saying is that while the Ustashe in the '40's were the largest mass murderers in Yugoslavia, since the Chetniks were also killing people there's a certain symmetry and actual numbers don't mean anything, as a moral equality has been established.

Interesting theory - but for anything other than close contests, I'll keep my scorecard, thank you, and Bosnia wasn't a close contest.

I believe I've already explained my views on Greater Albania previously, and Fikret Abdic is just another General Vlasov, looking out after his own interests and being used like a tool.

Face it, while you're saying that telling Yugoslavia's inhabitants apart is somewhat difficult, last decade, it was easy and supposedly important enough to eliminate or expel portions of the population based on those differences, and without the presence of NATO troops, a relapse into that behaviour would likely ensue.

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