Posted on 03/12/2003 5:16:46 AM PST by William McKinley
That is it so far.
Actually, if you look back on the thread, there are several others who beat me to it.
Still, it is an awful lot of fun being a history buff.
A passionate anti-communist, Djindjic joined the Democratic Party since its founding days and took over its helm in 1994. Milosevic's autocratic rule already had plunged the former country into a series of ethnic wars that wreaked Europe's worst carnage since World War II.IMO, this is hardly good news for us, above and beyond the Iraq matter I linked to above.In 1997, together with the Zajedno or "Together" coalition, Djindjic led three months of anti-Milosevic protests that daily challenged the dictator's police on Belgrade streets and caught the attention of freedom-fighters world over.
In 1999, Djindjic succeeded in uniting Serbia's fledgling pro-democracy movement and propelled the rise of Vojislav Kostunica in a popular uprising. It swept Milosevic from power in October 2000.
After Kostunica succeeded Milosevic as Yugoslavia's president, Djindjic emerged as the second most-powerful man in the country, becoming Serbia's prime minister after the pro-democracy alliance's convincing victory in December 1999 elections.
Djindjic's pro-Western government worked hard to bring the country into Europe's mainstream. For many Serbs, hopes of joining the European Union - and the promise of Western investment, open borders and free trade - was seen as the only way out of their misery of 60 percent joblessness, low living standards and staggering inflation.
Once in the prime minister's office, Djindjic accused Kostunica of nationalist rhetoric, pessimism and lack of determination to carry out changes after Milosevic's ouster.
Kostunica countered by saying Djindjic sought to turn Serbia into a "Colombia-style" mafia state, and he criticized the prime minister's suave public image, entourage of bodyguards and upscale lifestyle.
Djindjic was aware his pro-Western stance led to shaky popularity in Serbia, where nationalism still prevailed and where many were indoctrinated by Milosevic's reign into believing the West essentially anti-Serb. But he calmly pledged to continue on his reform path, and he declared an open war on the rampant organized crime that had engulfed the region.
Kostunica and Djindjic finally split, with Djindjic outmaneuvering Kostunica when what remained of Yugoslavia was transformed last month into a new, loose union renamed Serbia and Montenegro.
Djindjic's term was due to expire in 2004. It was not immediately clear who might succeed him.
Despite their bitter animosity, Kostunica deplored Djindjic's assassination, saying that while they disagreed on many issues, the shots that took Djindjic's life were "proof that terrorism must be condemned and fought relentlessly, everywhere."
All I was trying to point out is that there definitely was a Serbian connection to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.
As you pointed out, it was by mere coincidence that Princip was eventually successful in carrying out his plot. He had indeed initially failed, but chance fell into his hand when the Archduke's driver took that wrong turn.
While that is probably metaphorically true in general, this assassination is not related. This is the usual internal business and will not lead to war with Austria.
Uh huh. I suspect many Americans aren't aware of the way alliances against the WOT and traditional Western Liberalism are developing elsewhere. Here in America it's the radical left that's leading the appeasement movement, along with islamist or leftist muslims who try to remain fairly low key under the guise of being for "peace" and "civil rights". In Europe, however, muslims are more openly anti-western, and the extreme right is involved in the "peace" movement as well. What used to be called the "red-brown alliance" (e.i. commies and brownshirts) is rapidly becoming the "red-brown-green" alliance.
Sure radical Serbs were killin' muslims only a few years ago, but if you think that will prevent them for co-operating in common opposition to the Anglo-sphere's program to expand the domain of the civil society and the rule of law, you're crazy. These thugs may hate each other, but they recognize their common interest when thuggery itself is under threat as a viable enterprise. Saddam was killing islamists a few years ago himself, but is now tight with al-Q.
"BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro — Serbia's prime minister -- who spearheaded the revolt that toppled former President Slobodan Milosevic in October 2000 -- was assassinated Wednesday by gunmen who ambushed him outside government headquarters. Zoran Djindjic, 50, died of his wounds in a Belgrade hospital after being shot in the abdomen and back, said Nebojsa Covic, a deputy prime minister. Police sources told The Associated Press that snipers firing from a building across from the government headquarters shot Djindjic as he left his car. A high-power bullet left a dent on Djindjic's armored car. Two suspects were arrested, witnesses said. But police, unsure whether they had the gunmen, cast a wide net for the assassins, setting up roadblocks in Belgrade and halting bus, rail and plane traffic from the capital. The government asked acting Serbian President Natasa Micic to consider imposing a "nationwide" state of emergency that would give the military the same powers as police to detain suspects and investigate.
Djindjic had many enemies because of his pro-reformist and Western stands. He was blasted by Serbian nationalists for leading the popular revolt that toppled Milosevic then handing him over for trial before the U.N. war crimes tribunal at The Hague, Netherlands. Djindjic recently promised to try to arrest Ratko Mladic, a former Bosnian Serb military commander and the number 2 fugitive sought by the tribunal, thought to be hiding in Serbia. The tribunal is handling alleged war crimes committed during the wars that erupted during the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. Djindjic was also engaged in a bitter political feud with his former ally Vojislav Kostunica, who stepped down as Yugoslav president earlier this month after the formation of a new state, Serbia and Montenegro. Djindjic also was squaring off with the nation's powerful organized crime figures, declaring open war on rampant smuggling of contraband goods and women."
Seems like we lost one of the GoodGuys...MUD
Ok, now I see where you're comming from, and if that were true, I'd agree. However, those of us who have been following the Balkans threads closely recognize that Djindjic was a pure opportunist without principle who would have allied himself with bin Laden if he offered him a better hand. As such, I don't exactly mourn his death, though I am concerned about the political chaos this assasination may bring.
It may have been internal organized crime that did it, however, as others have stated, it is an odd coincidence that for the first time in his political career he began challenging NATO authority in Kosovo a few weeks ago, and now he winds up dead. Maybe tin foil hat, maybe not.
Your statement that "For all intents and purposes, NATO no longer has a common strategic vision that any country could oppose. turns FR into THE ONION webzine.
I would not say you are unfamiliar with NATO politics and propaganda tactics, quite contrary. I am familiar with the tone you use, I hear it every day. You have to try harder to succeed on FR Balkan Front :-)
Last week, an assistant to Lord Robertson's chief political advisers for Eastern Europe was arrested for laundering $200 Million of drug money. Albanian mafia and its KLA armed branch are holding Kosovo. United States Army is there and "see no evil, hears no evil..." DEA also.
KLA is inside NATO and through it Al Qaeda as well.
US Army, CIA and drugs. Golden triangle, revisited.
Anyone wanting to bring NATO's Golden triangle into law and order is violating the flow of drugs and profits.
When in doubt, follow the money.
I resemble that remark
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