For the past week or so, I've been trying to get a solid understanding of the Kosovo independence fiasco. I remember first learning about the Islamic heritage of the region when Muslim refugees, first from Bosnia and then from Kosova, were sponsored by Muslim communities throughout the US. Many of us perceived the decade long struggle by the Muslims (epitomized by the Kosova Liberation Army, KLA) to be a legitimate jihad against the naked aggressions of their neighboring Christians.
So when the US led its 'humanitarian' 11-week bombing campaign in 1999, almost every Muslim joined the overwhelming chorus of support that hailed it as a momentous occasion: "the tidal wave of self-adulation by respected voices, lauding the first war in history fought “in the name of principles and values,” the first bold step towards a “new era” in which the “enlightened states” will protect the human rights of all under the guiding hand of an “idealistic New World bent on ending inhumanity,” now freed from the shackles of archaic concepts of world order." Noam Chomsky
The Muslims weren't able to look beyond our religious affiliations and step back to analyze the situation objectively.
Sadly, resulting events proved that America's interference was far from humanitarian. The exaggerated calls for a second holocaust occurring in the heart of Europe were shown to be pro-war propaganda, as the mass media had clearly fallen in love with the good vs. evil story being peddled by the Clinton administration (Big bad Milosevic = Evil, Former terrorists, now freedom fighters KLA = Good). Oddly, the real genocide that had taken place just a few years before (at the time) in Rwanda wasn't worthy of any humanitarian intervention.
The Rambouillet Agreement, which was the proposed peace agreement offered to Milosevic by NATO, revealed itself to be a clear example of America looking for a satellite state in the heart of Eastern Europe, in the exact same manner that Iraq and Afghanistan have become satellite states in the Middle East and Asia. Referring to the agreement, British Lord Gilbert, defense minister of state, said, "I think the terms put to Milošević at Rambouillet were absolutely intolerable; how could he possibly accept them; it was quite deliberate."
And if there were any doubt, the ensuing construction (by a Halliburton subsidiary, no less) of a nearly 1000-acre US military base, Camp Bondsteel, exposed the real intentions of the occupying force.
Fast forward 9 years and we have Kosovo finally declaring its independence after nearly a decade of UN pseudo-occupation. What should we make of this?? I like what this brother had to say about it. Plus Safia referenced this very interesting article that coupled the recent discovery of oil and natural gas with the declaration of independence.
And if you read nothing else, read this piece at Counterpunch that provides a real good summary, drawing a chilling parallel between America's role in the Kosovo War under Clinton and its more recent Iraq War under Bush.
I really hope more people are questioning this historic event. However, I'm afraid that many are adopting the overly naive stance taken by some that since they are a nation of Muslims, we must automatically support their independence.
Merely because they are our brothers in faith does not necessitate our blind support for their questionable agenda. The wider geopolitical ramifications of their cessation must be analyzed in addition to the insidious role of the meddling US.
I can understand the ambivalent stance taken by some as the region is truly a complex smorgasbord of socio-political factors, but blind support should be out of the question. As I understand the current situation, I can't support the Kosova independence for it really doesn't bode well for the local population. And in the end, it should be about stability, peace, and justice for the people, even if it requires that Kosovo remain a province of Serbia.
WAW
2 days ago
33 comments:
The US has as much of a right to come into Kosovo and declare their independance as Serbia does going into Quebec and helping them break away from Canada. While we're at it, why not give Texas back to Mexico? That region is volatile enough and just getting back on its feet after a bombing campain in '99 that sent them back to the stoneage. Why not let them function as a province within Serbia, as its own municipality. This is totally in violation to international law and sets a dangerous precedent that many other nations will most likely try to reproduce. And for those of you naive enough to think the US is supporting the muslims, hello!!! what are they doing in Iraq and trying to do in Iran? This is just a move by the US to ruffle Putin's feathers b/c of his unwillingness to aid the US efforts in Iran. Can you say WWIII?
Of course America (and any other country in the world) has its own interests in Kosova. But this doesn't jusitfy the opposition to the free will of its people. It is the principle of self-determination on which international order is founded and more than 90 % of Kosovars want Kosova to be independent. This has been continuously proven in the referendums and public opionion analysis conducted. It's rather unfortunate that many left-wing guys succumb to the Serbian version of the story just because America (somehow) supported Kosovars (bear in mind that Kosova hasn't gained a full independence yet, an international mission headed by EU will be installed to monitor it's Government). Kosova Albanian Muslims were killed, terrorized, massacred, you name it, by the Serbs since 1912. Nothing can justify slavery. Freedom is the basis of human existence. We, Kosovars, want to be free. No matter who suports us or who hates us, we must be free and independent, able to determine our future.
kosovars are 15 percent of serbia what right does that give them to seperate. The only right the have is Nato and the US air force. Thats not a right its a big stick
kosovars ran kossovo dsuring the 80 s they had the right to their own schools facilitys in their own languages courts made up with a majority of Albainian personel and they also ran it poorly. They were not nice to the local Serbs as an institution. Dont forget large numbers of Albains basicly escaped from Albainia which was the poorest country in Europe at the time. The Serbs went over board during their time in control after autonomy was revoked for the shiptars. They did terible things in retribution for the terible things done in the 80's.Its been happening since before the 1900s Blood feuds ,murder ,invaision,religous fanatacism. Independance is is just another step in a seemingly endless circle of bad Karma.
I'm not saying they shouldn't run their society (which they have been doing for several years) but they're still officially a part of Serbia. If they were truly capable of sovereignty they wouldn't need their NATO watchdog to help them (since '99). From 1999 until 2002 was he timetable setup by the UN for Kosovars to develop a sustainable form of government (which they're doing with the help of NATO still). They're obviously not self-sufficient, but even that's besides the point. The point of the matter is that the US is setting a dangerous precedent allowing Kosovo to separate - ILLEGALLY - in violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 with regards to territorial integrity of borders.
I'd like to add that this is also a conflict of interests for the US b/c they're infringing upon the rights of a known ally (serbs helped them in 2 wars, even though they happened to start the 1st one) by helping a muslim state become independant, meanwhile the US is fighting muslim "extremists" and "islamofascists" in iraq, but they helping a muslim cause, and now extremists are calling for a greater Albania. Let the bloodshed begin with nationalist sentiment running wild in the balkans once again.
Canuck,
"I'd like to add that this is also a conflict of interests for the US"
Not sure what you meant in your last remark. Care to explain?
Anon,
"We, Kosovars, want to be free. No matter who suports us or who hates us, we must be free and independent, able to determine our future."
I certainly empathize with your sentiments, but freedom is never free. There is always a heavy cost associated with freedom and if the Kosovars are willing to pay that price, then I support them.
However, my fear is that the peoples of Kosova are being manipulated by false calls to 'freedom' and 'democracy' as we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let us learn from those dark examples.
As many Iraqis attest to, better to live under the ruthless hands of Saddam than the freedom of America.
I pray that Kosova's future is not the same.
Is Kosovo Serbia? We ask a historian :)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/26/kosovo.serbia
"is it a Serbian state? Ask a Historian" well, that's one Historian's viewpoint, and although it's true that it was 1 of 8 units of the federal system, this was done to give Serbia more pull in Yugoslavia b/c Kosovo would always be pressured to vote whatever way Milosevic wanted...that doesn't make it right, but that's the only reason it was given that much power. Same with Vojvodina, another Serb province bordering Hungary.
And to fear that the Kosovars are being manipulated is right on the money, the US interest in that region will wane as soon as they pull out of Iraq and are no longer preoccupied with Iran, and this is a conflict of interests b/c the US is antagonizing some pretty powerful allies in Russia and China, whilst creating a division within the EU ranks with nations like Spain and Greece opposing the move. I dont think this "independence" should be blindly accepted by anyone without a grain of salt.
"As many Iraqis attest to, better to live under the ruthless hands of Saddam than the freedom of America."
I think your example, no matter whether it reflects the reality in the ground or not, does not apply to the case of Kosova. Kosova is a European country, it doesn't have sectarian violence and was under the regime of the chauvinist Milosevic. Better to live under the freedom of America than the Christian Orthodox Fascism of Russia, Serbia and their ink. At the end of the day, this is our will, and, thanks, but no, we don't need you to give us lectures on international politics.
Slavoj Zizek on Chomsky's stance on Kosova:
To put it another way: Chomsky's own position on Kosovo, on the Yugoslav war, shows some of his limitations, because of a lack of a proper historical context. With all his facts, he got the picture wrong. As far as I can judge, Chomsky bought a certain narrative — that we shouldn't put all the blame on Milosevic, that all parties were more or less to blame, and the West supported or incited this explosion because of its own geopolitical goals. All are not the same. I'm not saying that the Serbs are guilty. I just repeat my old point that Yugoslavia was not over with the secession of Slovenia. It was over the moment Milosevic took over Serbia. This triggered a totally different dynamic. It is also not true that the disintegration of Yugoslavia was supported by the West. On the contrary, the West exerted enormous pressure, at least until 1991, for ethnic groups to remain in Yugoslavia. I saw [former Secretary of State] James Baker on Yugoslav TV supporting the Yugoslav army's attempts to prevent Slovenia's secession.
The ultimate paradox for me is that because he lacks a theoretical framework, Chomsky even gets the facts wrong sometimes.
You can find it at http://bad.eserver.org/issues/2002/59/zizek.html
Screw it all, I say let Kosovo become united with Albania (hold a referendum on that one, I bet most Kosovars would reject that idea), and in exchange Bosnia could give its serbian state independence and they could join Serbia if they wished (again, highly doubt serbs within that state would want to become a part of serbia). I believe the serb state within Bosnia is called Banja Luka
salam Br. Naeem
I don't think its naivety that was driving the post. Its brotherhood.
So, honestly, if you find out that one of your brothers was cleared of some charge, or was happy for some other reason; I think in general you would share his happiness, at least at that moment. Perhaps you have reservations about the brother, or how he was cleared, but I think you may reserve that for another time and join him in his joy for the moment.
I think if we can extend that courtesy to our Kosovan brothers and sisters who celebrated their independence, to share in their happiness; I find nothing wrong in that. Even if it is naive, sometimes its ok to be naive and celebrate. There is always time to introspect and investigate later.
So, the "later" has come and I am glad you are doing it :)
Canuck, Kosovar, and others,
The purpose of this post was not to figure out who deserves what, who is right/wrong, and so on. I was exploring the nefarious role that the West is playing in this historic event.
In the end, I do agree that a call to freedom is solely the prerogative of the people in question. My only apprehension was with the political context in which Kosova made its declaration. I think we all should have learned the lesson from America’s ‘humanitarian’ support of the Afghan Mujahideen/Freedom fighters (who later were called terrorists…hmm…sounds like a reverse of the KLA situation, no?) in the 80’s against the Russian Red machine – that being a pawn in this great war between two giants does not bode well for one’s future.
Remember how when American supposedly freed Afghanistan, they left a legacy of warlords and drugdealers spiraling the country into perpetual warfare (Don’t get me wrong, Russia had no right in Afghanistan, but the haphazard, thoughtless process by which the US fomented the Mujahideen insurgency laid the groundwork for a broken society).
I really don’t want to see even a single life lost for an independence that truly could have waited.
AA- Amad,
Thanks for your clarification, but allow me to disagree with your stance. Blindly supporting brothers who may be making a bad decision is not brotherhood – in fact, it may be contrary to that very concept. That is where sincere advice (nasiha) comes into play.
For what its worth, we should give them the proper advice as sincere brothers in faith who have the best interests of the Kosovars in mind.
salam Br. Naeem.
There is a time and place for everything. Good intentioned naseeha can be perceived completely negatively if both time and place are not chosen correctly.
I don't know how many Pakistanis might have felt at the time of partition, if some guy from Kosova questioned the intentions of the British for giving Pakistan independence? Regardless of how similar or dissimilar the situations are, sometimes emotions need to be appreciated before checking facts. There is always a time for the latter.
So, for me, I'll celebrate and be happy for Kosovars for now. Perhaps there are more sinister reasons but I can't imagine how any semblance of independence could be better than being under Serbia. I just can't.
I could be wrong. For Kosovars's sake, I hope I am not inshallah.
wsalam
P.S. I don't doubt your good intentions for a second in all of this. Just a difference of opinion.
"Perhaps there are more sinister reasons but I can't imagine how any semblance of independence could be better than being under Serbia. I just can't."
I of course meant "I can't imagine how any semblance of independence could NOT be better than being under Serbia"
"I really don’t want to see even a single life lost for an independence that truly could have waited."
Really, it could have waited??? More than 50 % unemployment, a ruined economy, bitter memories from the devastating Serbian terrorism and you want us to live with them and under their authority again?! Never, never! No Foreign Direct Investment was being made, we couldn't travel to many parts of the world, we had no status, nothing!!! We could not wait, we desperately needed independence, we declared it, we are happy about it and we are working on the prosperity of our country and we don't care what others think about this. Full stop. End of the debate. Chess mate.
They couldn't travel you say? They had no status? I dont think this "independence" will change that much (atleast not for the long haul). They'll still be needing Visas to travel everywhere (including now serbia) and they'll be a bitch to get. Plus, they've been governing themselves since '99 with the help of NATO and UN, Serba hasn't really played any role whatsoever in their affairs.
I feel bad for those people b/c they're gonna be left outside in the cold after the US gets what it wants out of this deal. The US has a satellite state in the mideast/central asia (Iraq) and now it has one in eastern europe(serbia/kosovo). I dont think this issue should be put to rest just yet, nor should it be blindly accepted b/c international law has been violated as well.
AA- Amad,
I’m glad you brought up the partition of India/Pakistan as I was thinking of that as well. I’m sure you are aware of arguments (then and now) against the creation of Pakistan, so no need to rehash those arguments.
I would simply like to highlight one pertinent issue that I believe is extremely relevant to the Kosova independence – the unimaginable resources wasted in maintaining a military needed to defend against a neighboring archenemy.
Looking back, we can see how the two superpowers (US, USSR) manipulated the Pakistan partition to create a constant source of revenue for their respective military industries.
The US has done the same in the Gulf by supplying arms to the Muslim countries (Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait) in order to protect them from their neighboring enemies (Iraq in the 90’s, Iran in the present).
I can see a similar turn of events taking place in Kosova. The new found wealth gleaned from oil and natural gas will undoubtedly be used to fund a military needed to thwart the Serbian threat. That is but one of the ways the US will benefit from this independence.
Kosova may consider itself free, but it will be as free as Pakistan – technically free, but a slave in every other way imaginable.
the US is essentially Kosovo's pimp and will benefit from all their drug ties...I'm sure they'll be able to get great deals on marijauna and heroine and it'll most likely be used to back the upcoming presidenial camaign illegally for the Democrats, or Republicans although I dont see McCain as a pothead ;)
"Kosova may consider itself free, but it will be as free as Pakistan – technically free, but a slave in every other way imaginable."
Wow, you wanna propose a libertarian anarchist state instead?
actually, i heard something about ties between Kerry and Albania during the last election, so something like these Kosovo independance shenanigans are not too surprising to me. looks like they'll be funding Obama instead of Kerry
"Wow, you wanna propose a libertarian anarchist state instead?"
Wow, how in the world did you come to such a whack conclusion from my comments?!
"The new found wealth gleaned from oil and natural gas will undoubtedly be used to fund a military needed to thwart the Serbian threat"
I dont know how much of a threat they actually pose right now seeing as how serbs haven't been relevant to any of the goings-on in Kosovo since '99, if anything the serbs within kosovo need to be protected from the albanians. I'd also like to add that, as a serb my viewpoint is obviously subjective (as are the majority of these posts), but I will say that there's definitely something fishy going on and the albanians need to be on their toes, but I'm sure their druglord PM will keep them all knocked up on goofballs. They'll be as peaceful as hindu cows when they're eventually screwed over and won't be able to raise much of a fuss
Br. Naeem, I would like to take exception in this. I do agree with some of what you say, but I will argue that the moment a government oppresses a people- it loses the right to govern them.
Also, it is already done. Kosova is already free.
I would love to hear what you have to say about the future.
-Manas Shaikh
AA- Manas,
"I will argue that the moment a government oppresses a people- it loses the right to govern them."
Is that a hard and fast rule bro? Does that mean that every group that is oppressed is justified in seeking independence? Whatever happened to mediation?
Anyways, you are correct in that its done. As for the future, I pray that it will mimic that fate of all other hopeless colonial territories.
Woops!
I pray that it will NOT mimic the fate of all the other hopeless colonial territories under US 'control'.
"I pray that it will NOT mimic the fate of all the other hopeless colonial territories under US 'control'."
Amen.
But that is very general. Suppose you are the prime minister of Kosova. Now. What would you do for your country? :)
-Manas Shaikh
Wa'Alaykum as-Salam wa Rahmatullahe wa Barakatuhu
(I am sorry, I forgot to return the Salaam.)
-Manas Shaikh
Good informative post
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