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Kosovo poised for independence within 10 days
By Charlie
Success (?)
PRISTINA, Serbia (AFP) — Kosovo appears set to declare independence in 10 days' time, just ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, sources in Pristina and observers say.The authorities were "awaiting the green light from the West and consider the weekend before the EU meeting as the most probable date," according to a source close to the Kosovo government.
The European Union meeting on February 18 could approve the start of the deployment of an EU mission charged with supervising the initial phase of independence for the Albanian-majority southern province of Serbia.
Let me throw out a question here: does anybody care?
Really, does this affect anyone in any meaningful way? This impacts US national security how? This is essential for the NATO alliance why?
We still have a brigade of troops on the ground there, you know.
Ideally, we would like Iraq and Afghanistan to be modeled on the Kosovo conflict (US does heavy lifting in the first phases of conflict, then a multilateral, multi-country, multi-ethnic international forces moves in to peacekeep, of which the US is about 20% of the force, this force hangs around for as long as it takes to stabilize the area, and then withdraws leaving Jeffersonian democracy and free markets in its place.) However, the real world (and the enemy) get a vote on how these things actually play out. Kosovo may go independent, but I doubt most folks in America a) care b) are paying attention c) could point out Kosovo on a map.
Kosovo, along with other un-heard of troop commitments across the globe (Philippines, Djibouti, South America), is a good example of how our armed services are spread across the world in diverse environments and are struggling to accomplish their missions as best they can, in imperfect circumstances, with imperfect policies, and imperfect guidance backing them up. What this does underscore is the quality and commitment of the troops, who willingly sign up to go to these garden spots and execute a mission to the best of their ability.
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American boots stand on the soil of 130 out of 192 countries in the world. The sun NEVER sets on the American Empire!!!
A bid for Kosovar independence could destabilize what is a fragile peace there. The Serbs merely tolerate our presence, with the understanding that Serbia would not be further partitioned.
Under Tito, ethnic identity was important, but not to the point of slaughtering one another. The war in Bosnia changed that... and the formerly dominant Serbs really ate it hard over and over again at the hands of NATO... first losing Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia... then Montenegro walked. Now Kosovo? They may finally say, "enough is enough." And, after learning from Iraq that it is possible to kill Americans, they may start doing just that.
We'll have to see how this plays out.
Mainly it affects you in it that it will make Russia cranky, Russia may not have the muscle to do anything about it right now. But I would not be surprised if the gas pipelines to the EU experience issues, a russian battle group transits the gates of Gibraltar the same time a US carrier group or pay a visit to Cuba, or if whatever nation being an ass to towards the US, Iran most likely, gets some extra bargain prices for some hardware.
There's also always the option that Russia disagrees with "not having the muscle" part and either does it herself or loans the equipment to do something about it to Serbia.
Really, does this affect anyone in any meaningful way? This impacts US national security how? This is essential for the NATO alliance why?
You can bet your backside that the European NATO members take very seriously the idea of a war of any sort in Europe. So it's very much in NATO's interests to make sure the former Yugoslavia doesn't heat up into a shooting match again.
As I understand it, being part of an alliance means shared priorities. If we're going to complain about the Europeans' underwhelming commitment to Afghanistan, which I do, then we can't complain about having to care about Kosovo.
And if all you care about is American security in isolation from everyone else on the planet, then why participate in NATO at all?
In the broader view, the situation in Kosovo affest the USA via its military-diplomatic ties to NATO. Kosovo was touted as "NATO's first war" and like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo is seen as the triumph of the alliance.
Except it hasn't triumphed - the Fulda Gap just moved to Kosovo. This rankles the military forces of the countries who make up NATO and demonstrates the internal splits between the member countries' political and military classes.
Add to that the schizophrenia of being a member of NATO and the European Union, with its growing Muslim occupation and Europe's countries become big wild cards against the Russians, Iranians, and non-state players.
This means we won't be able to pull out of our bases as soon (meaning much more $$$ we'll pay in taxes). We'll have to spend more time and money propping up anemic European polities. We'll take much more abuse for our investments of diplomacy, industry, military, and other economy builders by the ultra-leftist European elites.
My two cents...
The world needs another nation why?
It already has too many nations and that is a big part of the problems we have today.
Oh and Bullnavm if Cotton says anything-don;t believe a word of it. That guy has done the reserves no favors at all.
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VADM Cotton was here last week and pointed out that of the 192 nations on this Earth, we have Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen/Marines in 130 of them doing exactly what you discussed.
How much of America knows or cares about that?