Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Argument Against an Independent Kosovo
One of the most notable conflicts today is Kosovo’s bid for independence from Serbia. While many have little or no interest in the state of the former Yugoslavia, this issue will have serious ramifications on the international community. The result of this conflict will set geo-political precedent, it will affect the security of Europe, and both of these issues will definitely have serious affects on America.
Like any problem in the Balkans, either side can ramble off 600 years of history to justify their case. The current state of affairs in Kosovo has more to do with the future than it does with making amends for the past. With all due respect to the old adage about being doomed to repeat history, I will not try to renounce or justify today’s Kosovo by making historical arguments. I believe that we must study history to gain perspective and respect for the present; nevertheless, two things happened in the last 20 years which have forever changed the world we live in and how we react to that world.
#1 – The Fall of Soviet Union
#2 – The 9-11 attacks on the USA
Following the collapse of the USSR the world was never the same. Communism kept a thumb on the average person in Eastern Europe. Communism also kept a thumb on the history, pride and religion of every culture in the Soviet Block. As a result, when the Soviet domination was removed, it left a governmental void in which crime, militias and old-historical arguments were used as justification for attempts at grabbing power. This post-Soviet Balkan Peninsula helped induce today’s problems.
Despite trying to persuade the UN and NATO, and despite bombing Serbia, for the most part Americans viewed the Balkans as a European or European Union problem. Then 9-11 happened. Now America does not have the luxury of ignoring regional conflicts. Regional politics and religious conflicts have become the new breeding ground for international terrorism. The USA will be proactive in preventing future strikes on American soil, and this includes preventing the escalation of regional conflicts.
Given the new rules the world plays by, Kosovo has an opportunity to create a dangerous precedent in the world. Kosovo has never been a country, at best it was a province of Yugoslavia; however, it has always been considered a territory of Serbia. Kosovo has a large Muslim population today, but Kosovo is still the cradle of Serbian history and religion. So, by granting independence to Kosovo I believe it will only be fair to make the following concessions to the rest of the world:
Make China grant independence to Tibet.
Make China give up all claims to Taiwan.
Make Russia grant independence to Chechnya.
Allow Northern Iraq to become the independent state of Kurdistan.
Make Turkey give up part of its Eastern Territory to join Kurdistan.
Every angry region or province in the world will feel they have precedent to ask the USA to support their bid for independence.
In this post 9-11 world Americans live in, the USA must consider the possible security threats posed by each and every country in the world. With respect to this new reality, Kosovo is too small and weak to be its own country. Kosovo will easily fall prey to outside influences like Albania which have a history of harboring terrorists. Kosovo will not have the ability to maintain a strong, centralized government that can fend off Muslim-extremists like the death squads running rampant in Iraq today. If these terrorists are allowed to infiltrate a fledgling state in the Balkans, then Jihadists will gain yet another foothold in Europe. And once in Europe, it is much easier to attack Western European democracies or even enter the USA.
Many people will have very strong arguments for or against an independent Kosovo. Many of those arguments will be based on historical examples and emotional beliefs. However, as Americans, what is best for the security and integrity of America and Europe? Is granting independence to a region on weak and tenuous grounds worth the risk? Keep in mind that Serbia is not an invading country, nor is it an occupying force. Rather, Kosovo is part of Serbia, it was granted a quasi-provincial status by the communists in Yugoslavia, and now it feels it deserves independence. I do not believe that it is in America’s best interests to grant independence to Kosovo.
Like any problem in the Balkans, either side can ramble off 600 years of history to justify their case. The current state of affairs in Kosovo has more to do with the future than it does with making amends for the past. With all due respect to the old adage about being doomed to repeat history, I will not try to renounce or justify today’s Kosovo by making historical arguments. I believe that we must study history to gain perspective and respect for the present; nevertheless, two things happened in the last 20 years which have forever changed the world we live in and how we react to that world.
#1 – The Fall of Soviet Union
#2 – The 9-11 attacks on the USA
Following the collapse of the USSR the world was never the same. Communism kept a thumb on the average person in Eastern Europe. Communism also kept a thumb on the history, pride and religion of every culture in the Soviet Block. As a result, when the Soviet domination was removed, it left a governmental void in which crime, militias and old-historical arguments were used as justification for attempts at grabbing power. This post-Soviet Balkan Peninsula helped induce today’s problems.
Despite trying to persuade the UN and NATO, and despite bombing Serbia, for the most part Americans viewed the Balkans as a European or European Union problem. Then 9-11 happened. Now America does not have the luxury of ignoring regional conflicts. Regional politics and religious conflicts have become the new breeding ground for international terrorism. The USA will be proactive in preventing future strikes on American soil, and this includes preventing the escalation of regional conflicts.
Given the new rules the world plays by, Kosovo has an opportunity to create a dangerous precedent in the world. Kosovo has never been a country, at best it was a province of Yugoslavia; however, it has always been considered a territory of Serbia. Kosovo has a large Muslim population today, but Kosovo is still the cradle of Serbian history and religion. So, by granting independence to Kosovo I believe it will only be fair to make the following concessions to the rest of the world:
Make China grant independence to Tibet.
Make China give up all claims to Taiwan.
Make Russia grant independence to Chechnya.
Allow Northern Iraq to become the independent state of Kurdistan.
Make Turkey give up part of its Eastern Territory to join Kurdistan.
Every angry region or province in the world will feel they have precedent to ask the USA to support their bid for independence.
In this post 9-11 world Americans live in, the USA must consider the possible security threats posed by each and every country in the world. With respect to this new reality, Kosovo is too small and weak to be its own country. Kosovo will easily fall prey to outside influences like Albania which have a history of harboring terrorists. Kosovo will not have the ability to maintain a strong, centralized government that can fend off Muslim-extremists like the death squads running rampant in Iraq today. If these terrorists are allowed to infiltrate a fledgling state in the Balkans, then Jihadists will gain yet another foothold in Europe. And once in Europe, it is much easier to attack Western European democracies or even enter the USA.
Many people will have very strong arguments for or against an independent Kosovo. Many of those arguments will be based on historical examples and emotional beliefs. However, as Americans, what is best for the security and integrity of America and Europe? Is granting independence to a region on weak and tenuous grounds worth the risk? Keep in mind that Serbia is not an invading country, nor is it an occupying force. Rather, Kosovo is part of Serbia, it was granted a quasi-provincial status by the communists in Yugoslavia, and now it feels it deserves independence. I do not believe that it is in America’s best interests to grant independence to Kosovo.
