Kosovo Declares Independence
by Robert Russo
On Sunday the former Yugoslavian republic of Kosovo made its formal declaration of independence from Serbia, and was immediately recognized by the United States along with Great Britain, France and Germany. This war-torn part of the world has been eclipsed for almost ten years by the Middle East crises in the American global mind, since victory was declared by both sides when the Serbs pulled out in 1999 at the high cost of ethnic cleansing. The following year Slobodan Milosevic's government was overthrown, and then-candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore both demonstrated faith in Pres. Kostunica as a progressive and rightful leader turning a new page of history. Now Kostunica and his government are declaring outrage at this secession (perhaps as Abraham Lincoln or even our current president would do) with Russia and China at their backs.*
As Iraq has proved the devastating results of interfering in foreign conflicts, it was this war that demonstrated the other side of that equation, what happens when we don't interfere with dictators and genocide? President Clinton authorized aid for the anticipated refugees and a peacekeeping force to enter once the Serbs had left, but refused to send ground troops to actually avert this expected genocide, and systematic cleansing of the Albanian culture by the Serbian army who met little resistance, physical or moral. The overwhelmed aid stations on the border simply wondered why no adult males were escaping, and to this day the number of casualties is "uncertain and highly disputed" of which some 3,000 people are still "missing".** Like all high-profile crimes this ambiguity which accompanies the world's scrutiny of the Balkans comes from ignorance and people not caring enough to intercede.
(Some would argue we did get involved through the NATO bombing campaign, and that violence was even encouraged by this. Pres. Clinton authorized air strikes on Saddam Hussein twice during his administration and cannot be called a non-interventionist, but he was not a wartime president as Bush is. It can also be said the Albanians were not guiltless as the Serbian minority in Kosovo was persecuted for years, and thus we were right not to choose sides.)
Tensions with Russia began even amongst the peacekeeping forces.*** Russia still considers the region part of its dominion and along with China, opposes this "warning of the danger of inspiring separatist movements around the world, including in their own sprawling territories".* So the real stakes are not a dispute between two ethnic groups but freedom everywhere and the future of domination. When the sound of freedom rings every bully raises his head, which brings the question at what point does our own government raise theirs? Historically the United States' policy on secession along with the rest of the world is to respond with force; if you believe the renegade state is illegal then there must be justice or there is no law and no union. Is this a double standard? The borders of these various unions were decided by conquest long before the advent of democracy, or ethnic groups have moved and grown in places where they didn't used to be, or cultures have simply evolved an awareness of themselves and their civil liberties to stand up and say the old ways aren't acceptable anymore. So what do you do when large, well-represented groups of people choose to defect even at the risk of their own lives? Subject them to slavery to preserve the so-called nation? The universal struggle for true representation until we are all representing ourselves clashes eternally with the struggle for community, tolerance and diversity (the global village).
The significance of Kosovo to Serbs is that it is where their culture originated, making it the political "Israel" of Eastern Europe.** This tiny country will now be a hub for the old East/West hostilities and worldview for years (although Serbia has ruled out a military response so it will fester slowly like the Cold War).* I read this story at news.aol.com/story/_a/kosovo-issue-widens-rift-among-nations/20080218154209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001.
*http://news.aol.com/story/_a/kosovo-issue-widens-rift-among-nations/20080218154209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo#Kosovo_and_the_breakup_of_Yugoslavia
***http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_War
Question of the Week: If civil war in the Balkans were to resume while we are still embroiled in Iraq, what should the United States do? Leave it to the European Union? Send your opinions to russo@richmondliberty.org.
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