Nato sends more troops to Kosovo after border unrest

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Mitrovica is looking like potentially one of the places not to be.

Originally Posted by Betonov

The entire Kosovo is not the place to be.

Aye that

NATO should sort it just as easeily as they did Libya...oh, err wait

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Aye that

NATO should sort it just as easeily as they did Libya...oh, err wait

NATO, UN or EU can't grasp the scope of nationalism in the region and couldn't grasp it since 1991. Even Slovenia couldn't understand the madness that were the nineties. These are not redneck patriot groups of the USA, or the skinhead mobs of Germany nor the separatist organisations as IRA or ETA.
These are not angry mobs or terorist cells. There's plenty of idiots on both sides to raise an army to rival the official army of Serbia. Heck, there's enough ''recruits'' to over-run Sweden. And weapons are as easy as aquiring as canned food. Not over the counter hunting rifles but military hardware. And the last thing they are interested in is talking and diplomacy.
If the Balkans are lucky it will blow over, if not, Kfor should ask for a lot more reinforcements. The Serbs still remember their wars against the Ottomans and Austria-Hungary, for them the USA is still a third rate power hiding above the clouds in their airplanes just like in 1995. They won't back down just because an American GI or a Slovenian vojacek tells them to keep it quiet. And they as sure won't listen to Belgrade. They feel betrayed by Tadic.
Problem is that the Balkan wars tend to spill over. First you have the border incidents, then nationalist para-military units doing what they do best, bosnian Serbs seeing the weakness in NATO being occupied in Kosovo and we have another Bosnian war.

[Jimbuna]

You missed a little bit at the end....and further war crimes

[Betonov]

War is a crime

[Jimbuna]

I can agree but it would appear we've just rounded up one of the last of the big fish and we could yet feel the need to seek out more...a very nasty business.

[Respenus]

The (long) post by Betonov reminds me of a very poignant analysis offered by one of the characters in the game "The Last Express" (which, on a side note, I highly recommend, as it is a piece of art by any standard), that is, that war (conflict in general) is part of our blood in the Balkans. While hopefully stupidity is not a general characteristic shared by all living there (at least no more than the rest of the world), it, together with an aggressive mentality, can easily result in the horrors that the world saw in the 90s.

Just found the clip of the in question. Doesn't last more than 10 seconds, yet the message is clear.

[Lord Justice]

Originally Posted by Betonov

They won't back down just because an American GI or a Slovenian vojacek tells them to keep it quiet.

Oh but they would if the knew British SAS, Paras, Marines, Gurkha's, were made ready.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Lord Justice

Oh but they would if the knew British SAS, Paras, Marines, Gurkha's, were made ready.

Never happens at this time of the week. Government/Military Chiefs meet on a Thursday, decision made also on a Thursday, filters through commands Friday mornings and those affected find out (usually) just before lunch on a Friday ready to piss on their weekend plans. Seen it time and time again.

Let's hope that if we do go in we aren't left hanging around at the borders waiting for the Americans like last time - that's why the Russians beat us to the airport at Pristina - and what a find we would've had if we'd got there first.

Edit - actually rumours abound Friday lunch, it's not until the afternoon that anything is half-arsed confirmed.

[Lord Justice]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

that's why the Russians beat us to the airport at Pristina - and what a find we would've had if we'd got there first.

The paras were angry that day, there was a lot of tension, with the arrogance of the Russian's blocking them.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Lord Justice

Oh but they would if the knew British SAS, Paras, Marines, Gurkha's, were made ready.

Fat chance. They'd get a beating from the SAS (provided the SAS had free hands to kick some ass), but they wouldn't stand down based only on threats. Plus, the Serbs are not dumb. If they wouldn't be infested with this nationalism cancer they'd be one of the most prominent countries in the world. They'd find a way to turn their military defeat into a political victory.
Shame really, a cancer on an otherwise strong body. Smart people with a long history.

I've been told people there are always friendly to Slovenians for some reasons. Perchance it's our big pockets in comparison to everyone else?

No, the natives have an honest fondness of us. Money or not. Remember when Yugoslavia was still intact, the Slovenians were the honest brokers between the nations. No one nation in Yugoslavia had any current or historical resentment nor teritorial claims against Slovenia.

[Jimbuna]

What are property prices like in the area?

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

What are property prices like in the area?

Kosovo or the Balkans ??

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Kosovo or the Balkans ??

Anywhere/either with a pleasant climate most of the year round.

[Lord Justice]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Plus, the Serbs are not dumb.

I do not recall saying they were, they are your words my good fellow, I see you take quite fondly to the matter, no more funny prompts from me. As for the second you quoted, on post 18 that is not my comment, you should quote the posters name. I shouldn't fancy someone thinking it was mine. thank you.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Lord Justice

I do not recall saying they were, they are your words my good fellow, I see you take quite fondly to the matter, no more funny prompts from me. As for the second you quoted, on post 18 that is not my comment, you should quote the posters name. I shouldn't fancy someone thinking it was mine. thank you.

I know you havent. It was a general description, not a direct answer to your post.
And I still havent learned how to make double quotes, the second one was from Respensus.