http://www.antiwar.com/malic/pf/p-m051602.html
ANTIWAR, Thursday, May 16, 2002
Balkan Express
by Nebojsa Malic
Antiwar.com
Empire in the Balkans: Hypocrisy Rampant
Next to the ever-present irony and all-pervading lies, hypocrisy is a
major
fixture of the Balkans nowadays. Besides the usual discrepancy between
words
and deeds common to politics, there is also a frequent discrepancy
between
words themselves, a sure sign that those who speak them have as much
commitment to principles as a windsock.
Like Master, Like Vassal
Serbian authorities held talks this week with high NATO officials on
joining
the Alliance's "Partnership for Peace" program. Three years ago, that
same
NATO was bombing Serbia to smithereens, yet was unable to conquer it or
Kosovo until resorting to treachery. Back then, most of those who run
the
current government whined how the bombing might hurt their chances to
win
power - not really giving a damn about the countless dead, displaced, or
dispossessed. Seeing how they are getting all friendly with NATO - on
top of
all the groveling before Empire's Hague Inquisition - their priorities
haven't changed, only their rhetoric.
When NATO was attacking Serbia, Macedonia supported the effort, and
joined
the calls branding Slobodan Milosevic a war criminal. After NATO forced
it
to capitulate to the very same Albanian militants as Serbia, and as
Interior
Minister Ljube Boskovski is rumored to be in the Hague Inquisition's
sights,
Macedonian media defend him much the same way Milosevic defends himself.
The
irony, and the comparison, is completely lost on the befuddled
Macedonians.
Neither Belgrade nor Skopje sees anything abnormal in this sort of
behavior.
Apparently, promising Serbs a better, more dignified life really meant
groveling before their executioners and being grateful for table scraps.
By
the same token, condemning Serbia for defending itself from terrorists
is no
obstacle to protesting Macedonia's condemnation for the same thing.
But what can one expect, when the Empire itself, the Alpha and Omega of
Balkan satraps' universe, is engaging in some of the most outrageous
feats
of hypocrisy known to man - and getting away with it?
Their Court, And Ours
Some ten days ago the US theatrically "unsigned" the treaty establishing
the
International Criminal Court, the genetically enhanced spawn of its own
Hague Inquisition. On that occasion, undersecretary of state for
political
affairs Marc Grossman said, "We believe that states, not international
institutions, are primarily responsible for ensuring justice in the
international system." (AP, May 6)
The same news story quotes Grossman saying that "the United States has
never
recognized the right of an international organization" to try
non-citizens
who commit crimes against other nation's citizens or on their territory,
as
that would "threaten US sovereignty".
Further down the article,
Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House International Relations
Committee, said, "We simply cannot accept an international institution
that
claims jurisdiction over American citizens."
Both Grossman and Hyde are absolutely right. The ICC is a threat to
national
sovereignty, which is the equivalent of individual liberty in the world
of
foreign relations. But substitute the "United States" with "Yugoslavia"
or
"Serbia," and these statements become mere echoes of Vojislav Kostunica,
Kosta Cavoski and yes, Slobodan Milosevic.
Given its insistence on creating the Hague Inquisition to further its
political aims in the Balkans; given its merciless cajoling, blackmail
and
arm-twisting of Serbia to surrender to the Inquisition's authority; and
given the current show trial of Milosevic at The Hague, the Empire has
no
moral right to object to a similar court wishing to try its citizens -
unless it disavows the Hague Inquisition first. Predictably, there has
yet
been no mention of the possibility.
Words and Deeds
Facts are, obviously, extremely relative when it comes to serving
Empire's
purposes. Discovery by NATO's occupation forces of two major weapons
caches
in the Muslim-controlled part of southern Bosnia was downplayed in the
media. Meanwhile, their counterparts in Kosovo have been frantically
searching for any weapons in possession of Kosovo Serbs, ransacking
homes
even on Easter Sunday. They have found nothing, because there is nothing
to
find - but they will keep looking. If only they had been so eager when
tons
of Albanian weapons found their way from Kosovo into Macedonia last
year?
Empire's legions behave much the same when confronting rampant organized
crime. It is common knowledge that trafficking in weapons, drugs and
sex-slaves is a very profitable venture for primarily Albanian gangsters
in
NATO's Great Protectorate. But Michael Steiner, Empire's viceroy in
Kosovo,
is far more concerned with cigarette smugglers, because vassal
governments
lose "large amounts of badly needed tax revenue." No mention of smoking
being harmful to people's health, or preferable to hard drugs, sexual
slavery or gun-running. See, there's just no revenue in cracking down on
those?
Then there is Herr Steiner's recently announced "reintegration" plan.
Under
the cover of encouraging returns of Serbs and other non-Albanians
expelled
at gunpoint (according to UNMIK, perfectly justifiably) in 1999,
Kosovo's
occupation authorities are determined to demolish the last vestiges of
Serb
society in Kosovo, completely subordinating them to the
Albanian-dominated
government. Nor does he stop there.
In an interview with Beta, a Serbian news agency, Steiner criticized
Kosovo
Serbs for wanting "what is not your [Serb] right"; defended his
privatization plan, which seeks to plunder Serbian property in Kosovo
for
sale to foreigners; rationalized the Albanian hatred of Serbs; and even
had
the nerve to say he supported "decentralization of power from higher
levels
to the local communities," which directly contradicts his
"reintegration"
plan.
Obviously, neither Steiner nor his masters believe in much of anything
except raw power. There is certainly nothing remotely resembling
principles
to be found in their words, let alone actions. And that's what the
Empire is
all about.
A Universe of Lies
Lies and hypocrisy - as a sophisticated form of lies - have been in the
Balkans for a long time. Only recently, though, has the Empire made them
into a way of life, built an entire elaborate universe out of them. In
that
universe, Ibrahim Rugova can freely commit perjury in the service of
Imperial "justice," while hypocritically accusing Milosevic of doing the
same. In that universe, there can be a sham court for the Balkans
savages,
but none for Imperial Übermenschen. Words and deeds are judged not on
their
own merit, but rather on the political correctness of those who stand
behind
them.
It is an act of supreme hubris, prideful arrogance, to defy reality
itself
and try to replace it with fiction. What dire consequences await on that
road? Perhaps the ravaged lands of the Balkans, reduced to mimicking
their
executioners and bowing to their every whim, should serve as a haunting
example.
And maybe, just maybe, if anyone there finds the strength and courage to
say
"No!" they might yet offer an example of hope.
ANTIWAR, Thursday, May 16, 2002
Balkan Express
by Nebojsa Malic
Antiwar.com
Empire in the Balkans: Hypocrisy Rampant
Next to the ever-present irony and all-pervading lies, hypocrisy is a
major
fixture of the Balkans nowadays. Besides the usual discrepancy between
words
and deeds common to politics, there is also a frequent discrepancy
between
words themselves, a sure sign that those who speak them have as much
commitment to principles as a windsock.
Like Master, Like Vassal
Serbian authorities held talks this week with high NATO officials on
joining
the Alliance's "Partnership for Peace" program. Three years ago, that
same
NATO was bombing Serbia to smithereens, yet was unable to conquer it or
Kosovo until resorting to treachery. Back then, most of those who run
the
current government whined how the bombing might hurt their chances to
win
power - not really giving a damn about the countless dead, displaced, or
dispossessed. Seeing how they are getting all friendly with NATO - on
top of
all the groveling before Empire's Hague Inquisition - their priorities
haven't changed, only their rhetoric.
When NATO was attacking Serbia, Macedonia supported the effort, and
joined
the calls branding Slobodan Milosevic a war criminal. After NATO forced
it
to capitulate to the very same Albanian militants as Serbia, and as
Interior
Minister Ljube Boskovski is rumored to be in the Hague Inquisition's
sights,
Macedonian media defend him much the same way Milosevic defends himself.
The
irony, and the comparison, is completely lost on the befuddled
Macedonians.
Neither Belgrade nor Skopje sees anything abnormal in this sort of
behavior.
Apparently, promising Serbs a better, more dignified life really meant
groveling before their executioners and being grateful for table scraps.
By
the same token, condemning Serbia for defending itself from terrorists
is no
obstacle to protesting Macedonia's condemnation for the same thing.
But what can one expect, when the Empire itself, the Alpha and Omega of
Balkan satraps' universe, is engaging in some of the most outrageous
feats
of hypocrisy known to man - and getting away with it?
Their Court, And Ours
Some ten days ago the US theatrically "unsigned" the treaty establishing
the
International Criminal Court, the genetically enhanced spawn of its own
Hague Inquisition. On that occasion, undersecretary of state for
political
affairs Marc Grossman said, "We believe that states, not international
institutions, are primarily responsible for ensuring justice in the
international system." (AP, May 6)
The same news story quotes Grossman saying that "the United States has
never
recognized the right of an international organization" to try
non-citizens
who commit crimes against other nation's citizens or on their territory,
as
that would "threaten US sovereignty".
Further down the article,
Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House International Relations
Committee, said, "We simply cannot accept an international institution
that
claims jurisdiction over American citizens."
Both Grossman and Hyde are absolutely right. The ICC is a threat to
national
sovereignty, which is the equivalent of individual liberty in the world
of
foreign relations. But substitute the "United States" with "Yugoslavia"
or
"Serbia," and these statements become mere echoes of Vojislav Kostunica,
Kosta Cavoski and yes, Slobodan Milosevic.
Given its insistence on creating the Hague Inquisition to further its
political aims in the Balkans; given its merciless cajoling, blackmail
and
arm-twisting of Serbia to surrender to the Inquisition's authority; and
given the current show trial of Milosevic at The Hague, the Empire has
no
moral right to object to a similar court wishing to try its citizens -
unless it disavows the Hague Inquisition first. Predictably, there has
yet
been no mention of the possibility.
Words and Deeds
Facts are, obviously, extremely relative when it comes to serving
Empire's
purposes. Discovery by NATO's occupation forces of two major weapons
caches
in the Muslim-controlled part of southern Bosnia was downplayed in the
media. Meanwhile, their counterparts in Kosovo have been frantically
searching for any weapons in possession of Kosovo Serbs, ransacking
homes
even on Easter Sunday. They have found nothing, because there is nothing
to
find - but they will keep looking. If only they had been so eager when
tons
of Albanian weapons found their way from Kosovo into Macedonia last
year?
Empire's legions behave much the same when confronting rampant organized
crime. It is common knowledge that trafficking in weapons, drugs and
sex-slaves is a very profitable venture for primarily Albanian gangsters
in
NATO's Great Protectorate. But Michael Steiner, Empire's viceroy in
Kosovo,
is far more concerned with cigarette smugglers, because vassal
governments
lose "large amounts of badly needed tax revenue." No mention of smoking
being harmful to people's health, or preferable to hard drugs, sexual
slavery or gun-running. See, there's just no revenue in cracking down on
those?
Then there is Herr Steiner's recently announced "reintegration" plan.
Under
the cover of encouraging returns of Serbs and other non-Albanians
expelled
at gunpoint (according to UNMIK, perfectly justifiably) in 1999,
Kosovo's
occupation authorities are determined to demolish the last vestiges of
Serb
society in Kosovo, completely subordinating them to the
Albanian-dominated
government. Nor does he stop there.
In an interview with Beta, a Serbian news agency, Steiner criticized
Kosovo
Serbs for wanting "what is not your [Serb] right"; defended his
privatization plan, which seeks to plunder Serbian property in Kosovo
for
sale to foreigners; rationalized the Albanian hatred of Serbs; and even
had
the nerve to say he supported "decentralization of power from higher
levels
to the local communities," which directly contradicts his
"reintegration"
plan.
Obviously, neither Steiner nor his masters believe in much of anything
except raw power. There is certainly nothing remotely resembling
principles
to be found in their words, let alone actions. And that's what the
Empire is
all about.
A Universe of Lies
Lies and hypocrisy - as a sophisticated form of lies - have been in the
Balkans for a long time. Only recently, though, has the Empire made them
into a way of life, built an entire elaborate universe out of them. In
that
universe, Ibrahim Rugova can freely commit perjury in the service of
Imperial "justice," while hypocritically accusing Milosevic of doing the
same. In that universe, there can be a sham court for the Balkans
savages,
but none for Imperial Übermenschen. Words and deeds are judged not on
their
own merit, but rather on the political correctness of those who stand
behind
them.
It is an act of supreme hubris, prideful arrogance, to defy reality
itself
and try to replace it with fiction. What dire consequences await on that
road? Perhaps the ravaged lands of the Balkans, reduced to mimicking
their
executioners and bowing to their every whim, should serve as a haunting
example.
And maybe, just maybe, if anyone there finds the strength and courage to
say
"No!" they might yet offer an example of hope.