Just a few more thoughts on Yugoslavia.
What is really at stake here is whether Europe is willing to permit a leader like Milosevic to maintain a "pariah" status for Serbia while EVERY other nation surrounding his country seeks entry into the European economic community and NATO (with exception of Albania that I'm aware of).
Milosevic has denied his people the avenue of integration into the European economy and turned his country into an economic basketcase, all in the pursuit of maintain Serbian control and influence over former provinces of Tito's Yugoslavia.
Instead, he has sought to forment chaos and ethnic hatred as a means of maintaining his domestic powerbase. We have seen this in Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and subtle attempts at undermining Hungary and Rumanian's sovereignty through the Serbian population in those countries.
Europe has an interest in integrating Serbian into the EEC, if only for the purpose for maintain its own raison d'etre as a unifying force.
Having the US assume the lead in dealing with Milosevic undermines Europe's interests and places the US at risk of over-extending itself militarily and politically in a region where it has few DIRECT national interests.
US interests in the Balkans only exist in order to maintain stability and peace in Europe. There is no oil for us to fight over, little to no threat of aggression by Serbia against NATO members, especially the US proper. Only the desire to prevent European nations from reawakening ancient rivalries and feuds that result in the US having to once again fight a global conflict.
Btw, the only reason that NATO has become the lead organization in dealing with Serbia, and not the UN, is because of the intransigence of China and Russia, both nations possessing permanent veto status in the US security council.
The result of this intransigence on their part has created the circumstances where US soldiers, who just a few months ago were warmly greeted by Serbs in Macedonia as they drove their white vehicles and wore blue berets, have now become targets of abduction by Serbian special forces, and looks of hatred by those same people who waved at them just months ago.
What responsibility do China and Russia bare in creating the circumstances where people are being killed and dislocated enmasse, and Serbians suffering round-the-clock missile attacks and bombing??
Regards,
Ron |
