INCENTIVE FOR INTERVENTION IN KOSOVA
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An exhausted refugee weeps, top; bottom, a train departs from Pristina carrying ethnic Albanians to the Macedonian border
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The reasons behind US participation in NATO-led airstrikes against Serbia
are not easily discernable in today's media-controlled society. Although
the recent attacks against the Serbian government are said to be the direct
result of humanitarian obligations to the Kosovar Albanians, the US, some
would argue, has an alterior and somewhat sinister motive for their pivotal
role in the Balkan conflict.
In order to appropriately explain this complex situation, it is important
to first understand US aversion to Islamic influence in this area. A growing
concern in recent decades, Islamic fundamentalism is firmly establishing
its roots in eastern Europe, and US political strategists are well aware
of this development. No longer confined to the Middle East, the world's
fastest growing religion with more than 1.3 billion adherents is taking
Europe by storm. In fact, many non-Muslim sources predict that Islam will
reach the status of the majority religion in Europe in less than one hundred
years. The US, a stern opponent of the placement of Islamic ideology into
the political realm, has shown its adamant disapproval of Muslim-backed
politics since this issue became prevalent. Once again, it would appear
that US fears have only compounded an already complicated situation in
the Balkan powder keg.
To put things simply, the US has intervened in Kosova in order to coerce
both sides into a peace agreement that would deny Kosova complete freedom.
Total freedom for this province, the singular motive of the Kosova Liberation
Army (KLA), is an unacceptable option from a US point of view due to the
simple fact that the KLA embodies the Islamic ideal. According to Western
strategists, the KLA is struggling for an Islamic state, and the US is
unwilling to allow this to occur, however remote the possibility of KLA
victory may be. Thus, the US (under the banner of humanitarianism) intervenes
in the Kosova crisis in order to stop the fighting and to possibly establish
autonomy for Kosova (thereby allowing semi-democratic representation for
the Kosovars but ensuring that Kosova remains a part of greater Serbia).
As long as Kosova exists as a part of Serbia, it does not pose any immediate
threat to US interests. Either way, the US sees its primary objective as
ending the KLA's attempts at freedom from Serbian oppression. Humanitarism,
therefore, would appear to be a cleverly constructed smokescreen in order
to conceal the crucial intersts that lie just below the surface of the
"truth."
According to numerous Western journalists, the subjugation of the KLA
and its fundamental interests appears to be the US goal in this endeavor.
Humanitarianism and the protection of the Kosovar Albanians seem to be
used as "righteous excuses" to legitimize US/NATO airstrikes
in the war-torn region. Although the situation Kosova is riddled with uncertainty,
it is becoming painfully clear that goodwill is of secondary importance
to Western society.
J. Adam Brockwell (Site Coordinator)
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