"Hardliner set for Serbia poll win"

[sonar732]

Originally Posted by elite_hunter_sh3

why the hell are national GUARD soldiers being sent to my country?? not a good idea to hope that "all will be will" knowing the current situation...

Per the UN Mandate of Resolution 1244 (.pdf file)...

NATO’s initial mandate was: [2]

• to deter renewed hostility and threats against Kosovo by Yugoslav and Serb forces;
• to establish and maintain a secure environment in Kosovo, including public safety and civil order;
• to demilitarise the Kosovo Liberation Army;
• to support the international humanitarian effort;
• to coordinate with and support the international civil presence.

Today, KFOR focuses on building a secure environment in which all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origins, can live in peace and, with international aid, democracy and civil society are gradually gaining strength. KFOR tasks have included:

• assistance with the return or relocation of displaced persons and refugees;
• reconstruction and demining;
• medical assistance;
• security and public order;
• security of ethnic minorities;
• protection of patrimonial sites;
• border security;
• interdiction of cross-border weapons smuggling;
• implementation of a Kosovo-wide weapons, ammunition and explosives amnesty programme;
• weapons destruction;
• support for the establishment of civilian institutions, law and order, the judicial and penal system, the electoral process and other aspects of the political, economic and social life of the province.

[Skybird]

Realpolitik: I hope he wins for pure prgamtaic reasons. He possibly will stop the EU's insane influence on the Balkans that tries multikulti experiments that I cannot see to work in the long run and cannot see to work now, especially in Kosovo and Bosnia, and he will offer Moscow the platform in the region to become a power facotr on the scene, that the EU cannot afford and does not have the means to ignore. that way, it all saves the EU from itself and it's own ignorrance of unwanted but existing realities. I do not agree with the nationalistic tone, and in no way excuse things like warcrimes. as I aid - it is Realpolitik, not more, not less.

Interesting: the EU wanted democracy and freedom in palestine, and the Palistinians brought Hamas to power. The EU wanted a civilised way of doing politics in Lebanon, and the Hezbullah infiltrated the government and now is a state within the state. America demanded Esgypt to allow more freedom, and the muslim brotherhood immediately raised the number of parliamentary seats substantially. America said it wanted to remove Saddam to free the Irquis, and removing Saddam's strong fist set all the long-cooking ethnical and religious hate free and turned the country into chaos. The EU wanted the same on the Balkans, and Albania claimed Kosovo and the Mafia/UCK took it over.

Reason and tolerance are two nice thing, dear EU. But if you sit at the table with players that give **** about these things - you are screwed. You will never learn, I know, and will ignore that it is in opther's powers to ruin your beloved match by just not agreeing on your self-made rules, That's why I want the Russians in place to confront you with a solid wall in your way that you cannot pass, so that you may be protected from your own follies and their longtermed negative conseqeunces.

that all has nothing to do with sympathies for Serbia, or Russia. It is - realpolitik, and willing the election victory (eventually) of that extremist, and using the Russian to stop the EU, are just tools to implement it, and prevent greater damages. Damages to Europe I mean, not necessarily Serbia. I have no deal whatever with Serbia, neither in good, nor in bad.

It all is about islam too, of course. the EU certainly is bitterly determined not to stop but to assist the spread of Islam in that region and europe in general, but where the EU is failing miserably, the Russians and slavic people and the orthodox church hopefully are more determined to try to stop islam marching on the Balkans and into europe again. Having experienced the threats of Islam in their own sphere and having been confronted by islam much more directly than the EU (which is being taken with soft power from within), the russians have a lot less illusions about it, than Europeans. I am absolutely sure that Putin's poltiical analysis rates Islam as the top strategic threat and challenge beside the the US and NATO. If that knowledge will be enough to counter the negative effects of the demographic facts, must be questioned, but at least Putin is aware. Things like the Nashi movement are directed against the Western infuence and Islam as well as they are directed to the inside, by putting a course that brings more young ones into line with the official state, and make them think positive about Russian law and order, instead of alcoholism and drugs and decline of culture and values.

[sonar732]

Good write up Sky!

[elite_hunter_sh3]

a thousand cases of becks for skybird!!!

[sonar732]

I'll add to my post in that the relationship between Serbia and Russia is also some concern with Russia's latest saber rattling. With their conventional status down, they came out recently with the statement of using nukes whenever their allies, or Russia themselves, are attacked.

[joea]

Originally Posted by sonar732

I'll add to my post in that the relationship between Serbia and Russia is also some concern with Russia's latest saber rattling. With their conventional status down, they came out recently with the statement of using nukes whenever their allies, or Russia themselves, are attacked.

Hmmm which is just like NATO reserving all options, including nuclear, in the case of a Warsaw Pact conventional attack. This when the Soviets had massive conventional superiority.

[Dmitry Markov]

Being Russian citizen I only care for our foreign politics expences to be quite balanced. During CCCP times our government spent more funds on our allies than on ourselves. I still remember myself collecting pencils and erasers for "schoolchildren of Nikaragua" while it was problem to buy cosmetics for my mum in our own country. Nevertheless I do like Serbs and Serbia and I hope that there would be no foreign soldiers there (KFOR or not...). I also hope that Serbia would stay united.

[sonar732]

Originally Posted by joea

Hmmm which is just like NATO reserving all options, including nuclear, in the case of a Warsaw Pact conventional attack. This when the Soviets had massive conventional superiority.

joea, this is true to a certain extent. However, in the cold war, that type of doctorine was a no brainer. Both sides threatened each other with nucs. We are at a critical time in history in which all nuclear capable countries use that as a trump card and aren't afraid to state it. The US recently quoted it as "all options are on the table", while the Israelis also said the same regarding Iran using any type of nuclear attack. So, of course Russia would follow the example lead by the jewish state and the US.

Regarding Serbia...the only way I see something bad come out of this new election is if the elected nationalist president attacks KFOR soldiers. Unlike the Yugoslav civil war, the UN wouldn't allow it this time. It won't even depend on the nationality because within hours the Security Council will meet and throw out a resolution for use of force, which Russia will veto, and then the KFOR nations would have to react on their own accord. Russia would be pissed at the ability of the council members to ignore their veto and send a few subs to the Med and Adriatic Seas as reminders of what they stated earlier.

Regarding Iran...I'm sure that no matter what type of conflict happens here, Russia will get involved with either troops, nucs, or both. They would see what the armed conflict will do to the world economy regarding oil prices at the start, and defend Iran as a chance to prove they are still capable of projecting their influence. Otherwise, I think the only way that their opinion will sway is if an Islamic Extremist attack is launched within Chetznia with ties to Iran.

As a final note...let's just pray that cooler heads prevail in all world situations and that diplomacy stays firm.