Cold War deja vu in Kosovo

[w1z4rd]

Kosovo's quest for independence from Serbia is one of several issues (Iran is another) that have brought the U.S. and Russia into opposition in ways not seen for many years. And so far, Moscow has managed to seize the initiative here and thwart Washington's plans.

Nine months ago, Kosovo's independence seemed inevitable and imminent. Instead, talks dragged on until last week, and the breakaway republic's status remains unsettled, its resolution delayed at least until next year. The deadlock threatens regional stability, many officials warn.

That Russia has been able to undermine U.S. intentions owes to the rising influence of President Vladimir V. Putin and the reluctance of numerous European governments, dependent on Russian oil and gas, to challenge Moscow, analysts say.

Russian support has emboldened the Serbian government in a manner that could hinder democratic reforms.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw...dec06,1,2253829.story?coll=la-headlines-world

And in other news...

News on Russian ship movements in the Black Sea:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/06/content_7206722.htm

The minister said an aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser, two anti-submarine ships and a tanker left for the Mediterranean on Wednesday, where they will be joined by a Black Sea Fleet missile cruiser and a tanker.

 

[Alan]

Yeah things a starting to heat up in the Balkans again. Considering the death and destruction sparked by that part of the world for centuries including WW1 makes the middle east look like child’s play

 

[Skeptik]

I'm a bit confused by your second point about Russian ships. Why singl them out, where is the US ships report - you would need a few pages for that. A British destroyer visited Cape Town a month or so back, as did a nuclear powered ship (I forget the nationality). Why did you hide those reports? You do know WHERE the Black Sea is now., surely?

As for Kosovo. Why should Serbia give up it's territory to an alien group who decided to settle there years back. Let's give Hillbrow over to the Nigerians and Belleville over to the Somalis.

 

[w1z4rd]

I'm a bit confused by your second point about Russian ships. Why singl them out, where is the US ships report - you would need a few pages for that. A British destroyer visited Cape Town a month or so back, as did a nuclear powered ship (I forget the nationality). Why did you hide those reports? You do know WHERE the Black Sea is now., surely?

Dude, take your prozac. Relax, smoke some spliff. It was just other russian news that was too arb to fit into its own topic. Im thinking of starting a thread called Russia Today.. hehe, to centralize the topics.

As for Kosovo. Why should Serbia give up it's territory to an alien group who decided to settle there years back. Let's give Hillbrow over to the Nigerians and Belleville over to the Somalis.

I actually agree with you on that point, it just when they start committing genocide against the civilians... thats perhaps a bit to much enthusiasm wouldn't you say?

So dont be so melodramatic otherwise you will win the myadsl drama queen award.

 

[PeterCH]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw...dec06,1,2253829.story?coll=la-headlines-world

And in other news...

News on Russian ship movements in the Black Sea:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/06/content_7206722.htm

That's basically the entire Russian fleet, they only have one aircraft carrier.
As for Kosovo, I think the west stuffed up there, Kosovo was originally Serb,
now that the Al Quada linked KLA is controlling it - it will surely become
a den of drug smuggling and terrorism into Europe. Well done Europe!
(It was actually Germany and France which pushed NATO towards the
Kosovo/Serbia bombings under Clinton).

 

[PeterCH]

Yeah things a starting to heat up in the Balkans again. Considering the death and destruction sparked by that part of the world for centuries including WW1 makes the middle east look like child’s play

The assasination of Archduke Ferdinand was not the cause of the War,
it was a mere pretext. WW1 would have come along anyway with these
dinosaur empires controlling Europe - each one trying to outdo the other.

 

[Skeptik]

That's basically the entire Russian fleet, they only have one aircraft carrier.
As for Kosovo, I think the west stuffed up there, Kosovo was originally Serb,
now that the Al Quada linked KLA is controlling it - it will surely become
a den of drug smuggling and terrorism into Europe. Well done Europe!
(It was actually Germany and France which pushed NATO towards the
Kosovo/Serbia bombings under Clinton).

Kosovo was very interesting. The Yugoslavs under Tito were very lenient and allowed the Albanians a lot of freedom to come and go. If you look at the detail, it is this constant trickle of immigrants with a different appearance, culture and religion that started the whole problem. They felt discriminated against and started the agitation against ethnic Serbs in and around Kosovo. It is then that the Serbs sent in the police units to suppress the militant Islamists. Of course we know the Serbs were heavy handed and all the sympathy ended up being on the side of the 'poor muslims'.

BUT the real point is how a country can tolerate large scale immigration to the point where these 'guests' get so bolshey that they want to break away from their host country and become a separate nation. Somehow that doesn't sit well with many. Also other groups are looking at what transpires so they can do the same. Abkhazia & South Ossetia breaking away from Georgia is a good example. How could the UN say "NO" to that.

 

[Alan]

The assasination of Archduke Ferdinand was not the cause of the War,
it was a mere pretext. WW1 would have come along anyway with these
dinosaur empires controlling Europe - each one trying to outdo the other.

I said it sparked it off.