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The reason why people like myself seem to criticise the serbians more than others in the conflict is not because the serbians are especially guilty, but because the serbians appear to be in denial about what was done by their armies and militias. Other groups have accepted that their people have done such atrocites that cast shadows over their endeavours.

Other groups are in denial as well (Kosovo Albanians), but they are being rewarded. The supposedly high moral ground simply supports a cynical politicking. As all too often.
by Sargon on Wed Dec 12th, 2007 at 06:01:56 AM EST
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I was genuinely unaware the Kosovan albanians were in denial about the atrocities they committed. After all, the kosovan serbians are deserting the region in anticipation of independence because they remember what happened, yet what little I have seen suggests that the KAs want no repeat of that period.

My view is that if EU/NATO support this independence movement and intend to militarily guarantee it, then KSs should not just be protected but compensated generously. If they wish to leave then they should have equivalent land and shelter bought for them on our dollar in serbvian territory. Peaceful transition in a hot zone is expensive and this sounds a lot cheaper than any war to me. not that it will happen as I'd wish, we are short-sighted like that, but it should if we are to claim any high ground. the serbians have genuine fears and peacekeeping ain't good enough.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Dec 12th, 2007 at 06:33:38 AM EST
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You suggestion (on compensation) kind of reminds me of debates here and elsewhere on (potential) Pareto efficiency. The (counter)argument goes like this: yes, it might be true the losers from a particular policy could be compensated and there would still be something left for the winners, but the compensation is never going to happen/never has happened. As I see it, a definite anti-free-trade slant of ET is directly linked to this argument.

Now, it is very funny to find someone seriously proposing a compensation scheme in a case where potential losses are much larger than even a long unemployment spell for a Barby maker whose job has moved to China. Do you really believe anyone would think about compensating the losers, especially the losers who fought under "Hitler of our times" and thus deserve everything they've got?

I don't really understand your argument in the first paragraph. Majority of ethnic cleansing has been accomplished already, and Mitrovica could be lazily dealt with once the international community declares victory and leaves. Of course serious politicians would not contemplate war-like events now - they are simply not needed.

by Sargon on Wed Dec 12th, 2007 at 07:16:58 AM EST
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I think there is a bit of a difference between a worker who loses a job as a result of a policy when others are available and somebody who is fleeing in fear of their lives as a result of an international policy.

However, we are getting into the realms of strange hypotheticals where we end up with what the meaning of "is" is.

My position in this situation was clearly stated.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Dec 12th, 2007 at 07:24:30 AM EST
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BBC Radio 4's flagship current affairs programme, Today, had an interview with Gen Sir Mike Jackson (infamous for refusing Wesley Clark's order to use force on Russian troops at Pristina airport). He also seems to have heard that Kosovo's bordered were expanded at Serbia's expense in 1960's to include the Mitrovica and more importantly the Trepca mining complex.

Audio here: http://www.yugofile.co.uk/mp3s/20071211_today_kosmet_boundary.mp3
Transcript follows:
BBC (Sarah Montague): One of the things you have suggested is possibly changing the boundaries... General Sir Michael Jackson: Well, I put that forward for what it's worth. I'm sure Mr Ahtisaari will have looked at it, but it does seem to me that northern Kosovo, north of the river Ibar, Mitrovica, the town of Mitrovica, that area is almost entirely Serb. My understanding is that that area - which is relatively small - was, is not part of historic Kosovo. It was "moved" from Serbia to Kosovo by an administrative order of Tito sometime, I think, in the mid sixties.

by vladimir on Wed Dec 12th, 2007 at 09:00:12 AM EST
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