President Bush Authorizes Supplying “Kosovo” With Weapons (Or: Cold War? Too Early To Tell)

The ”big” news yesterday was President George W. Bush authorized a supply of weapons to Kosovo.  Almost like clockwork, Serbianna.com and others began characterizing the U.S. supply of weapons to Kosovo as either a) a provactive escalation of a proxy arms race between the U.S. and Russia, leading to ”one-upmanship” which leads to Cold War, b) an arming of jihadist terrorists making up the “narco-state” of [...]

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon: The UN Top Dog Shows Off Some Of His Ban-Chusa Chops (Or The Art of “The Bureaucratic Lingo”)

For most who have either met Ban Ki-Moon or who have seen him speak probably would not characterize him as a “vibrant,” “charismatic” or “over the top” individual.   As the U.N.’s top dog in charge, Ban Ki-Moon displays a detached, almost robotic, “yes sir may I have another” attitude.  This is not completely surprising, as Ban Ki-Moon was known [...]

Russia and Serbia To Kosovo: We must break you!

In the last few days, both the Serbian and Russian government have seemingly taken a page out of the playbook of Ivan Drago.  Its message to Kosovo pretty much amounts to this:  We must break you!  That’s too bad, because both Russia and Serbia’s statements, as well as their lack of statements, have revealed that history has [...]

Russia to Kosovo: No U.N. For You!

Russia, in a return to true iron fist form, not only used its veto power to thwart Kosovo independence through the Security Council, but promised to do all it can to shut Kosovo out of all international groups, such as the United Nations.  Put another way, Russia said to Kosovo, “No U.N. for you!”  When the [...]

Russia’s NATO Ambassador — Dmitry Rogozin — to Kosovo: Pay, You Terrorists!

Russia’s newly appointed ambassador/attack dog to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, demanded a special UN conference when Kosovo declares independence.  The purpose of this conference would be dedicated to “setting up of rules in cases where secessionist movements” seek independence. 
Viewed in the light most favorable to Rogozin, his concern for the “setting up of rules” is surely a laudable [...]

Serbia’s “X” Factor: Oil (Or: How The EU Is Trying To Sell Serbia a Seat At the Table)

In its potential path toward membership with the European Union, Serbia’s cooperation with handing over war criminals, particularly Gen. Ratko Mladic, is most often discussed as a necessary precursor.  But looming beneath the surface of EU idealism is a more bottomline concern that should serve as no surprise:  Serbia’s oil monopoly. 
Put another way, Serbia has an oil company, and [...]

Russia to Kosovo: Don’t Do It (Or: We’re Russia and We’re Vying for Relevance)

Acting on cue, Serbia’s attack dog, Russia, yesterday “reiterated” its warning to Kosovo against declaring independence.  Russia argued that absent a U.N. Security Council Resolution, Kosovo independence would be illegal — apparently referring to a violation of U.N. SCR 1244.  Russia also condemned the ”swift nature” of Kosovo’s rush to independence and urged for further negotiations.
Reading between the lines reveals [...]