-Caveat Lector- http://nypress.com/frame.cfm?content_id=705&now=11/23/1999&content_section=1 Loyal Opposition David Corn Making Kosovo Safe for Gangsters As President Clinton was preparing for his trip to Kosovo last week, I came across an e-mail from an acquaintance who works in the Pentagon and who was recently in Kosovo. His note was a scathing counter to the official happy-talk appraisals of life in Kosovo. For example, when Gen. Michael Jackson, NATO’s top commander in Kosovo, recently vacated that post, he declared, "We have seen a return to normality" in Kosovo. He also hailed the "successful demilitarization" of the Kosovo Liberation Army and "the establishment of law and order." My Pentagon pal’s dispatch neatly sums up the troubles there–and illustrates the hollowness of the Clinton promises that accompanied the bombing of that province. With his permission–and in accordance with his wish to remain unidentified and employed–here are his observations: "Things seem much gloomier today than when I was there in the summer. I can only speak for myself (and the dozens or so various people who told me similar things), rather than on behalf of the U.S. government, but it is clear the UCK (KLA to non-Albanophones) is totally out of control, and unlikely to live up to its commitments on demilitarization. Ethnic Serbs and Roma continue to be attacked and leave the province. Right after I left the city of Pec (Peja in Albanian) in the western part of Kosovo, where violence was at its heaviest in the spring, a group of Serbs leaving the province, only ten miles from crossing into Montenegro, was attacked by a mob and barely got out alive (though their cars were all burned). Some of our (US) guys told me that in several villages where the ethnic Albanian citizens had elected their own mayors and councils, the UCK came in and told them who their new mayors would be. It’s clear that disenchantment with the UCK is not limited to Serbs. It also appears that the judicial system is a sham, since all judges not associated with the UCK have been shot at or have quit their jobs or have been intimidated into releasing suspects. It’s possible the UN Mission will turn that around, but I’m not optimistic. In essence, the international community went into Los Angeles, drove out a corrupt and brutal LAPD, and left the Bloods and Crips as the de facto government. This is hardly an original revelation on my part, but the vision of a multi-ethnic Kosovo is giving way to reverse ethnic cleansing. I agree that we needed to dp something about the mayhem which Milosevic and Company authored. Unfortunately, it seems that we drove the Yugoslav military and police out with the promise that we (the entire international community) could provide a safe and stable environment for all Kosovo’s citizens. And we just could not deliver." So much for the authenticity of that Clinton endeavor. vol 12 no 47 -- ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
