Serbs riot over Kosovo independence attack US embassy

[Suzie]

Protesters gathered in front of the Serbian government building light torches during a mass protest rally against Kosovo's declaration of independence in Belgrade, February 21, 2008. More than 150,000 Serbs massed on Thursday evening at a state protest against Kosovo's declaration of independence, showing their anger at the loss of their religious heartland.
Link to the slide show. (http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Serbs-riot-over-Kosovo-independence/ss/events/wl/022108kosovoprotest/s:/ap/20080221/ap_on_re_eu/serbia_kosovo_independence;_ylt=AiZQ0nSvagmSiH_Ny. JYcras0NUE)

This can't be good.

[ColonialMarine0431]

Kosovo independence from Serbia/Russia.

Another thorn in Vlad the Impaler's side.

[DeclinetoState]

Another hellhole in the world for McCain, Obama, or Mrs. Clinton to deal with.

[bigred1says]

Nation building at it's best.

[CzechPrince]

This is stupid. They shouldn't have been given independence in my opinion.

[Eagle1]

This is stupid. They shouldn't have been given independence in my opinion.

right on

I say let serbia deal with this problem in whatever way they see fit.

[Lubbock]

Has the NYT found a way to blame Bush for this yet?

[Suzie]

Belgrade's US Embassy set on fire (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_re_eu/serbia_kosovo_independence;_ylt=AkdomrCCaq0NrvwDrK N7Nmqs0NUE)

AP - 1 hour, 1 minute ago BELGRADE, Serbia - Serb rioters set fire to an office inside the U.S. Embassy Thursday and police clashed with protesters outside other embassy buildings after a large demonstration against Kosovo's declaration of independence.

[MrSanity]

Has the NYT found a way to blame Bush for this yet?Why shouldn't they?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/11/balkans.usa
www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/10/bush.europe/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/10/bush.europe/index.html)
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1820024720080219?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

After how enthusiastic he was for Kosovo's new islamic state?

Bush has probably the most utopian theories in foreign policy than any other president in my lifetime.

[Eagle1]

Bush has probably the most utopian theories in foreign policy than any other president in my lifetime.

true, he would feel right at home with woody wilson

[ColonialMarine0431]

It's a European problem. Let them deal with it.

[PrezLeefun]

^^^Ditto that.

Until it really has something to do with us then it is their problem.

[DesertFox]

To Serbia, with love.

[Suzie]

^^^Ditto that.

Until it really has something to do with us then it is their problem.

Burning down our Embassy has a little to do with us. :huh:

[PrezLeefun]

No one who works there was hurt. The embassy obviously needs more security but I really dont see how this is cause for any big moves by the US.

[DesertFox]

Apart from nuking the place.

[Suzie]

I just got a Yahoo news Alert
Breaking News Thursday, February 21, 2008, 2:28 PM PST


WASHINGTON (AP) The State Department says that Serbian security "wasn't adequate" at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade when protesters overran it and set it on fire.

Gee ... ya think???

[PrezLeefun]

^^^See, beef up security, fix problem.

[Eagle1]

yup, this whole secession thing is not our problem

[Suzie]

Maybe they can take volunteers to go secure things. Bet that would be a great job to have right now if a fire extinguisher is included.

My vote is we leave and let them have the rubble. But then I don't get to vote on much of anything these days.

[Beowulf]

Has the NYT found a way to blame Bush for this yet?
I blame Clinton for this one! After all, he had the U.S. involved in the first Balkan war and by the evidence, didn't do a very good job of it!

[Kathekon]

I do blame Bush for this. It was a bad idea. Kosovo is unsustainable as a country. Serbs do have a serious historical claim to the territory--it contains the battlefield where Prince Lazar went down fighting the Turks--the Serbian Alamo, Bunker Hill and Gettysburg all in one. They are NEVER going to let it go.

By endorsing and encouraging independence we just guaranteed a war in which NATO (i.e., the U.S.) will be smack in the middle.

The (illegal?) Albanian immigrants who became a majority in Kosovo in the decades since WWII are simply going to add that territory to Serbia's southern neighbor. If that precedent does not ring some bells, you are not paying attention.

[bigred1says]

The (illegal?) Albanian immigrants who became a majority in Kosovo in the decades since WWII are simply going to add that territory to Serbia's southern neighbor. If that precedent does not ring some bells, you are not paying attention.
How will the US act when Mexican immigration numbers grow so large that they decide to take Texas or California back fo Mexico. We are allowing the same thing here that has happened in Serbia. Will we be willing to let our territory go because the UN tells us it's the politicaly correct thing to do? Will we send troops to Austin or Sacramento or invite NATO in to quell irate Americans? Let's let Serbia take care of Serbia, end of story.

[TSawyer2112]

^^^See, beef up security, fix problem.
I thought that's what the Marine security guards were for. Of course if they get their orders directly from the diplomats, that explains a lot.

[Bluemoon_Rising]

This is stupid. They shouldn't have been given independence in my opinion.

It's not an matter of them being given independence. The Kosovos declared their independence just as they have been intending to do for months, years. The U.S. and key Western European governments followed by recognizing their independence.

[Un Con Troll Able]

Let the Europeans deal with this instead of us -- sigh -- trying once again to be an international policeman.

If they don't do anything about it, then let Europe burn.

[Bluemoon_Rising]

Eventually, the Kosovos will have to find a way to maintain their independence on their own or lose it.

[CzechPrince]

It's not an matter of them being given independence. The Kosovos declared their independence just as they have been intending to do for months, years. The U.S. and key Western European governments followed by recognizing their independence.

By these governments recognizing Kosovo, they have given them independence. Let's not kid ourselves: If Kosovo did not have the support of certain European countries and the US, do you really think this would last? Serbia would have sent troops in immediately.

[MrSanity]

I blame Clinton for this one! After all, he had the U.S. involved in the first Balkan war and by the evidence, didn't do a very good job of it!Clinton's involvement in the Balkans could easily be considered his best-kept secret scandal. The result of aiding radical islamists have been that they have spread into the region like a plague, and are far-more damaging than any intern could have been. The aiding of radical muslim extremists, along with bombing the Serbs, was done to [a] Win credibility with the Muslim World, and [b] to get Monica off the headlines.

So yes, Clinton deserves much of the blame for disrupting the region without probable cause.

Unfortunately, Bush has followed Clinton on a handful of issues that don't concern the U.S. government, it's citizens, or its security in any way whatsoever, and this is no exception.