Informazione
http://www.antiwar.com/malic/m-col.html
ANTIWAR, Thursday, January 30, 2003
Balkan Express
by Nebojsa Malic
Antiwar.com
Balkanizing the World
What Empire Wants
If there were any hopes in the past few
weeks, what with the rising tide of
antiwar sentiment, that the Empire might
turn back from the brink of
invading Iraq, the Emperor's annual speech
should have dispelled them.
Within a few short weeks, before the
weather window closes, there will be war.
Baghdad via Belgrade
Before attacking Yugoslavia in the spring
of 1999, the Empire bothered to
create a pretext. First its diplomatic
observers - actually intelligence
agents - helped a terrorist group stage a
"massacre," then its top diplomat
proposed a "peace plan" that was in fact a
naked land grab in the language
of unconditional surrender. When the
Belgrade government understandably
refused, U.S. and its satellites unleashed
Hell. But because it lacked any
justification for the attack, the Imperial
Alliance made wild allegations of
"genocide" and "humanitarian disaster."
The ongoing farce in the Hague
Inquisition is an embarrassing reminder of
the lengths to which they have
gone to transform these lies into Official
Truth.
Now the same pattern is used on the eve of
war against Iraq, only some
portions are no longer necessary. The
pretext, for example, which was to be
fabricated by the weapons inspectors, has
failed to materialize. Wild
allegations are flying again, though, and
there has even been a threat of
charging Iraqis with "war crimes," such as
resisting Imperial invasion.
Hopes of the UN somehow stopping the war
are also baseless. Any moral
authority they might have had was
purposefully demolished in Bosnia, and
died when the first bombs hit Belgrade and
NATO got away with the
international-law equivalent of
premeditated murder. After what happened
in the ruins of Yugoslavia, with the entire
world watching, the Empire now
feels it can get away with anything,
anywhere, anytime. Its leaders have
said as much.
Up to Their Old Tricks
While the general public in
Imperial-dominated countries may have already
forgotten 1999, both those running the
Empire and their intended victims
have not. When the implausible proposal of
exile for the Iraqi leader was
floated ten days ago, Saddam Hussein must
have thought of Slobodan
Milosevic. His constant appeasement of
U.S. demands, from Dayton to
Kumanovo, only brought more demands and
new sanctions, which did not stop
even after he was taken to the Hague
Inquisition in chains. Clearly, in
Milosevic's case, trusting the Empire
proved his undoing. Unlike the Serbian
people, Hussein seems to have realized
that. What good that will do him, if
any, remains to be seen.
The 'Serbian Model'
If extracting parallels from the Yugoslav
experience seems a bit
far-fetched, how about this Monday's
Christian Science Monitor, which in a
series of articles openly discusses
upcoming "regime change" in Baghdad in
light of previous such actions,
specifically devoting a major portion to
Yugoslavia?
Apparently, Iraq should end up with a
similar result as the 2000 "October
Revolution" in Belgrade, if through
different, more violent means. Reading
the interviews with pro-Imperial
sycophants and foot-soldiers of the October
coup, it becomes obvious the Empire saw
nothing wrong with corrupting a
country's political process and literally
buying a government it desired.
After all, they've funded the terrorist
KLA, then claimed it fought for
"American values"?
So it is we learn of a "a three-year
[sic!] campaign by the US and other
Western governments to dislodge the
Yugoslav leader by strangling his
country's economy with sanctions and
rocking it with bombs," an admission of
international crime if there ever was any.
Iraq suffered three times as long, though.
Also noted is the role of
"non-governmental" organizations, such as
George Soros's Open Society and various "human
rights" groups, which were basically
fronts for direct action against their
host country.
The Monitor also mentions in passing the
following facts, which have been
known for years yet assiduously ignored by
the mainstream media. Upon
reading them, it is not hard to see why:
* "opposition parties ran all the
country's major towns and cities after
municipal elections in December 1996."
* "Milosevic never resorted to
dictatorial repression of his political
opponents at home."
* "former members of the fractious 18
party "Democratic Opposition of
Serbia" (DOS) [say] US diplomats knocked
their heads together until they
formed a cohesive and united coalition."
* "western money funded the
development of Otpor."
Otpor ("Resistance") was ostensibly a
student movement advocating the
overthrow of government - but only the
Milosevic government. It was
organized and paid by the Empire to do a
job. The Monitor quotes one Otpor leader:
"Eighty-five percent of our funding came
from the United States," through
bodies such as the National Endowment for
Democracy, the International
Republican Institute and the National
Democratic Institute, as well as USAID.
The article ends with Zarko Korac, now
information minister in Zoran
Djindjic's quisling government, claiming
that what brought Milosevic down
was a "death by a thousand cuts."
Well, there's a cheerful picture:
"democracy" as a product of political and
military action based on ancient Chinese
torture. Truth can come from the
mouths of morons! But overall, it is a
chilling admission of how the Empire
is determined to have its way, and -
perhaps more disturbingly - how so many
are prepared to help it.
Caracas Copycats
But before the people of Iraq can dance
with joy at the prospect of a Zoran
Djindjic of their very own, it needs to be
made clear that the rest of the
world can look forward to such wonders as
well. Just last week, Washington's
patsies in Caracas have tried to copy the
Serbian Model, asking foreign
assistance to force early elections and
topple President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez is by no means a paragon of virtue,
and his socialist economic
theories leave a lot to be desired, but
while this describes most world
leaders, he differs by refusing to be
America's busboy. And because
Venezuela supplies over 10% of U.S. oil
imports, his defiance is more than
irksome to the Court of St. Abraham.
Battle Hymn of the Empire
This founder of Imperial Presidency sheds
much light on the belligerence of
today's Washington. Modern-day worshippers
of a president who shredded the
very real Constitution to save the very
abstract "Union" have gone much
further than the man who endorsed total
war against his own people. Lincoln
only claimed total dominion over the
United States of America; they claim
dominion over the entire world. Somehow,
at some point, America was anointed
with World Leadership, they say, and any
and all who resist it are "in
rebellion" against legitimate authority.
Thus, there is no need for
justification of further invasions, as
they represent legitimate suppression
of rebellions by the legitimate overlords
of the World.
Towards a New Liberty
Whosoever accepts this theory should know
that its end result will be like
the ruins of Yugoslavia: a foul, wretched
place, filled with tyranny, chaos
and despair. If this is the choice they
are prepared to live with, so be it.
They have been fairly forewarned. The
rest, one suspects, would rather be free.
Well, it's high time we be about it.
[Note: Antiwar is a conservative internet site based in the USA. CNJ]
ANTIWAR, Thursday, January 30, 2003
Balkan Express
by Nebojsa Malic
Antiwar.com
Balkanizing the World
What Empire Wants
If there were any hopes in the past few
weeks, what with the rising tide of
antiwar sentiment, that the Empire might
turn back from the brink of
invading Iraq, the Emperor's annual speech
should have dispelled them.
Within a few short weeks, before the
weather window closes, there will be war.
Baghdad via Belgrade
Before attacking Yugoslavia in the spring
of 1999, the Empire bothered to
create a pretext. First its diplomatic
observers - actually intelligence
agents - helped a terrorist group stage a
"massacre," then its top diplomat
proposed a "peace plan" that was in fact a
naked land grab in the language
of unconditional surrender. When the
Belgrade government understandably
refused, U.S. and its satellites unleashed
Hell. But because it lacked any
justification for the attack, the Imperial
Alliance made wild allegations of
"genocide" and "humanitarian disaster."
The ongoing farce in the Hague
Inquisition is an embarrassing reminder of
the lengths to which they have
gone to transform these lies into Official
Truth.
Now the same pattern is used on the eve of
war against Iraq, only some
portions are no longer necessary. The
pretext, for example, which was to be
fabricated by the weapons inspectors, has
failed to materialize. Wild
allegations are flying again, though, and
there has even been a threat of
charging Iraqis with "war crimes," such as
resisting Imperial invasion.
Hopes of the UN somehow stopping the war
are also baseless. Any moral
authority they might have had was
purposefully demolished in Bosnia, and
died when the first bombs hit Belgrade and
NATO got away with the
international-law equivalent of
premeditated murder. After what happened
in the ruins of Yugoslavia, with the entire
world watching, the Empire now
feels it can get away with anything,
anywhere, anytime. Its leaders have
said as much.
Up to Their Old Tricks
While the general public in
Imperial-dominated countries may have already
forgotten 1999, both those running the
Empire and their intended victims
have not. When the implausible proposal of
exile for the Iraqi leader was
floated ten days ago, Saddam Hussein must
have thought of Slobodan
Milosevic. His constant appeasement of
U.S. demands, from Dayton to
Kumanovo, only brought more demands and
new sanctions, which did not stop
even after he was taken to the Hague
Inquisition in chains. Clearly, in
Milosevic's case, trusting the Empire
proved his undoing. Unlike the Serbian
people, Hussein seems to have realized
that. What good that will do him, if
any, remains to be seen.
The 'Serbian Model'
If extracting parallels from the Yugoslav
experience seems a bit
far-fetched, how about this Monday's
Christian Science Monitor, which in a
series of articles openly discusses
upcoming "regime change" in Baghdad in
light of previous such actions,
specifically devoting a major portion to
Yugoslavia?
Apparently, Iraq should end up with a
similar result as the 2000 "October
Revolution" in Belgrade, if through
different, more violent means. Reading
the interviews with pro-Imperial
sycophants and foot-soldiers of the October
coup, it becomes obvious the Empire saw
nothing wrong with corrupting a
country's political process and literally
buying a government it desired.
After all, they've funded the terrorist
KLA, then claimed it fought for
"American values"?
So it is we learn of a "a three-year
[sic!] campaign by the US and other
Western governments to dislodge the
Yugoslav leader by strangling his
country's economy with sanctions and
rocking it with bombs," an admission of
international crime if there ever was any.
Iraq suffered three times as long, though.
Also noted is the role of
"non-governmental" organizations, such as
George Soros's Open Society and various "human
rights" groups, which were basically
fronts for direct action against their
host country.
The Monitor also mentions in passing the
following facts, which have been
known for years yet assiduously ignored by
the mainstream media. Upon
reading them, it is not hard to see why:
* "opposition parties ran all the
country's major towns and cities after
municipal elections in December 1996."
* "Milosevic never resorted to
dictatorial repression of his political
opponents at home."
* "former members of the fractious 18
party "Democratic Opposition of
Serbia" (DOS) [say] US diplomats knocked
their heads together until they
formed a cohesive and united coalition."
* "western money funded the
development of Otpor."
Otpor ("Resistance") was ostensibly a
student movement advocating the
overthrow of government - but only the
Milosevic government. It was
organized and paid by the Empire to do a
job. The Monitor quotes one Otpor leader:
"Eighty-five percent of our funding came
from the United States," through
bodies such as the National Endowment for
Democracy, the International
Republican Institute and the National
Democratic Institute, as well as USAID.
The article ends with Zarko Korac, now
information minister in Zoran
Djindjic's quisling government, claiming
that what brought Milosevic down
was a "death by a thousand cuts."
Well, there's a cheerful picture:
"democracy" as a product of political and
military action based on ancient Chinese
torture. Truth can come from the
mouths of morons! But overall, it is a
chilling admission of how the Empire
is determined to have its way, and -
perhaps more disturbingly - how so many
are prepared to help it.
Caracas Copycats
But before the people of Iraq can dance
with joy at the prospect of a Zoran
Djindjic of their very own, it needs to be
made clear that the rest of the
world can look forward to such wonders as
well. Just last week, Washington's
patsies in Caracas have tried to copy the
Serbian Model, asking foreign
assistance to force early elections and
topple President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez is by no means a paragon of virtue,
and his socialist economic
theories leave a lot to be desired, but
while this describes most world
leaders, he differs by refusing to be
America's busboy. And because
Venezuela supplies over 10% of U.S. oil
imports, his defiance is more than
irksome to the Court of St. Abraham.
Battle Hymn of the Empire
This founder of Imperial Presidency sheds
much light on the belligerence of
today's Washington. Modern-day worshippers
of a president who shredded the
very real Constitution to save the very
abstract "Union" have gone much
further than the man who endorsed total
war against his own people. Lincoln
only claimed total dominion over the
United States of America; they claim
dominion over the entire world. Somehow,
at some point, America was anointed
with World Leadership, they say, and any
and all who resist it are "in
rebellion" against legitimate authority.
Thus, there is no need for
justification of further invasions, as
they represent legitimate suppression
of rebellions by the legitimate overlords
of the World.
Towards a New Liberty
Whosoever accepts this theory should know
that its end result will be like
the ruins of Yugoslavia: a foul, wretched
place, filled with tyranny, chaos
and despair. If this is the choice they
are prepared to live with, so be it.
They have been fairly forewarned. The
rest, one suspects, would rather be free.
Well, it's high time we be about it.
[Note: Antiwar is a conservative internet site based in the USA. CNJ]
Grupa APIS - 28. januar 2003.
Americko-iracki sukob
Jedino pravo protivnika - pravo na kapitulaciju
Milan V. Petkovic
Jos je Sun Cu Vu, oko 250.godine PNE, predvideo da protivniku treba
dopustiti da kapitulira, a Dzingis kan je tu privilegiju nudio kao
prvu mogucnost svakom svom buducem protivniku.
Moderni Mongoli tu privilegiju nude u zamenu za nemilosrdno
unistavanje u ime zastite humanih prava i osiguranja bezbednosti
vlastitih vitalnih interesa.
Rat koji SAD, pomognute Velikom Britanijom i grupom lojalnih
saveznika, vode protiv Iraka vec trinaest godina, u pocetku je kao
razlog imao kaznjavanje Iraka zbog okupacije Kuvajta (1990.godine).
Tada je, u to vreme drzavni sekretar SAD, Dzems Bejker, izjavio: "Nase
snage ce vratiti Irak u predindustrijsko doba."
Od 1991.godine, SAD pocinju svoj peti po redu rat. Najpre je to bio
rat protiv Iraka - 1991. Zatim je doslo do rata protiv Republike
Krajine i Republike Srpske 1994/95, pa protiv Jugoslavije 1999,
Avganistana 2000/01, mada Amerikanci tvrde da ne vode ratove nego
operacije (koje mogu da budu vojne i kompleksne). Ako zapocnu ovaj rat
protiv Iraka (2003.godine), to je u proseku jedan rat na svake dve i
po godine. Ali danasnji ciljevi buduceg rata protiv Iraka nisu vise
samo kaznjavanje za okupaciju strane zemlje, vec su dodatno
precizirani - da se zemlja koja raspolaze drugim po velicini rezervama
u tecnim energentima u svetu stavi pod punu kontrolu SAD, potrebno je
da se, bez obzira na cenu i zrtve, njen aktuelni rezim promeni.
Pripreme za realizaciju tog cilja odvijaju se veoma sracunato i
paralelno na obavestajnom, vojnom, politicko-diplomatskom,
psiholosko-propagandnom i ekonomskom planu. Ne treba zaboraviti
cinjenicu da su SAD danas najveci svetski vojno-naucno-tehnoloski
kompleks, drzava sa vojnim troskovima koji visoko premasuju vojne
troskove svih ostalih najvecih vojnih sila sveta zajedno. One
raspolazu najvecim svetskim arsenalom bakteriolosko-hemijskog oruzja a
da se ne govori o nuklearnom naoruzanju. Sve tri pomenute vrste
spadaju u kategoriju oruzja za masovno unistavanje. To je upravo ona
kategorija oruzja za koju SAD tvrde da njima raspolaze Irak te tako
ugrozava bezbednost samog americkog kontinenta. To je odmah istaknuto
kao najozbiljniji povod za zapocinjanje novog rata i trazi se da Irak
pruzi dokaze da ne raspolaze tim ratnim sredstvima ( ! ! !).
Prema recima uglednog americkog vojnog strucnjaka Vilijema Arkina,
koji je u "Los Andjeles Tajmsu" od 25.januara 2003.godine, objavio
svoju analizu situacije oko Iraka, SAD su spremne da upotrebe cak i
nuklearno oruzje protiv Iraka "za unistavanje podzemnih komandnih
polozaja, kao i protiv irackih snaga koje bi pokusale da upotrebe
oruzje za masovno unistenje" bez obzira na to sto optuzbe da Irak
poseduje to oruzje nisu dokazane.
Posto je osnovni cilj u tom ratu promena rezima u Iraku i instaliranje
politicke garniture koja ce sprovoditi planove SAD, za post-sadamovski
Irak su trenutno definisana dva modela posleratne stabilizacije i
razvoja pod americkim patronatom : (a) nemacki model - iza koga stoje
administracija SAD (Stejt department) i CIA ; (b) japanski model - iza
koga stoje tzv. jastrebovi, odnosno konzervativci iz Pentagona i
Kongresa (ovaj model podrazumeva cak i upotrebu nuklearnog oruzja kao
sredstva za "pacifikaciju" Iraka). Spor izmedju pristalica jednog i
drugog modela predstavlja vise-manje doktrinarnu raspravu jer su i
jedni i drugi saglasni da silu svakako treba upotrebiti posto je to
nuzno jer Irak nece da se preda.
Osnovna poruka rasprave je da niko ne sme da se brani od SAD ukoliko
ta odbrana podrazumeva moguce americke gubitke u ljudstvu. Ona u
sustini predstavlja nametanje sopstvene volje drugima primenom
sredstava visoke tehnoloske superiornosti i drzavnim terorizmom a
ukida pravo na odbranu. Jedino pravo koje se dozvoljava protivniku je
da kapitulira pre pomisli na pruzanje otpora. Ako to nece, bice
razoren i doveden u "predindustrijsku eru".
Hoce li vojne operacije SAD protiv Iraka poceti najkasnije za sezdeset
dana (racunajuci od 1.januara 2003.godine), kao sto to smatra direktor
Instituta Stratfor, ili ce se ceo postupak razvuci do jeseni tekuce
godine, kako to pretpostavljaju analiticari nekih drugih institucija,
pozivajuci se na lokalne klimatske uslove i opste uslove vodjenja rata
u pustinji, ili ce pocetak rata biti pomeren da bio se izbegao gnev
muslimanskog sveta ako rat zapocne dok traje hadz (od 15.februara do
4.marta), ostaje da se vidi. Ono sto je vec sada izvesno jeste
cinjenica da su pripreme za predstojecu ratnu operaciju toliko odmakle
da bi eventualno odustajanje od rata bilo prakticno nemoguce a ako bi
do njega doslo, politicke implikacije za sada vladajuu garnituru u SAD
bile bi katastrofalne. Po svemu sudeci, kako to smatra svetski poznati
pisac, nekadasnji obavestajac i vojni analiticki ekspert Dzon Le Kare,
SAD su, zbog jedne pogresne procene, upale u jedan od svojih perioda
ludosti, kakvi su bili makartizam, propali pokusaj invazije Kube u
Zalivu svinja ili rat u Vijetnamu. Posledice, medjutim, mogu da budu
mnogo dublje i mnogo dugorocnije i po SAD nepovoljnije (treba se samo
prisetiti kako su se te epizode americke novije istorije zavrsile). S
druge strane, na Zapadu mediji dosta spekulisu sa konstatacijom "da je
Sadam Husein lud". Kejt Kil iz Kraljevskog instituta za medjunarodne
odnose u Londonu, medjutim, smatra da je "Sadam Husein grub i
neotesan, da je ambiciozan, snazno motivisan i bez skrupula i da
poseduje kriminalnu psihologiju, ali da nije lud".
U stvari, nagomilavanje americkih trupa u Zalivu je kao olovni teg
koji sputava nove poteze Bele kuce. Ne ustukne li Sadam Husein pred
americkim pretnjama, Dzordz Bus ce morati da reaguje onako kako je
zapretio, a tada? Bice to verovatno rat sastavljen od cudnih
kombinacija zastarelih shvatanja, ideja i koncepcija sa modernim
("kosmickim") tehnologijama i ogromnim masama visoko motivisanih
boraca.
Zbog apsolutne neizvesnosti ishoda takvog jednog rata, cene nafte na
svetskom trzistu su dostigle do sada nezamislive visine. I cena zlata
raste. Trenutno je 360,25 dolara po unci. Vrednost dolara pada a
evropske valute raste. Ali nije jasno ko ce na kraju profitirati. Ko u
takvim uslovima ima prava na kapitulaciju i ko ima prava da diktira
uslove ?? Mocvara Hoveiza koja je bila kraj mnogim iranskim snovima o
prodoru u Irak tokom desetogodisnjeg izracko-iranskog rata, moze igrom
slucaja da postane kraj i americkom snu o dominaciji svetom.
26. januar 2003. godine
Americko-iracki sukob
Jedino pravo protivnika - pravo na kapitulaciju
Milan V. Petkovic
Jos je Sun Cu Vu, oko 250.godine PNE, predvideo da protivniku treba
dopustiti da kapitulira, a Dzingis kan je tu privilegiju nudio kao
prvu mogucnost svakom svom buducem protivniku.
Moderni Mongoli tu privilegiju nude u zamenu za nemilosrdno
unistavanje u ime zastite humanih prava i osiguranja bezbednosti
vlastitih vitalnih interesa.
Rat koji SAD, pomognute Velikom Britanijom i grupom lojalnih
saveznika, vode protiv Iraka vec trinaest godina, u pocetku je kao
razlog imao kaznjavanje Iraka zbog okupacije Kuvajta (1990.godine).
Tada je, u to vreme drzavni sekretar SAD, Dzems Bejker, izjavio: "Nase
snage ce vratiti Irak u predindustrijsko doba."
Od 1991.godine, SAD pocinju svoj peti po redu rat. Najpre je to bio
rat protiv Iraka - 1991. Zatim je doslo do rata protiv Republike
Krajine i Republike Srpske 1994/95, pa protiv Jugoslavije 1999,
Avganistana 2000/01, mada Amerikanci tvrde da ne vode ratove nego
operacije (koje mogu da budu vojne i kompleksne). Ako zapocnu ovaj rat
protiv Iraka (2003.godine), to je u proseku jedan rat na svake dve i
po godine. Ali danasnji ciljevi buduceg rata protiv Iraka nisu vise
samo kaznjavanje za okupaciju strane zemlje, vec su dodatno
precizirani - da se zemlja koja raspolaze drugim po velicini rezervama
u tecnim energentima u svetu stavi pod punu kontrolu SAD, potrebno je
da se, bez obzira na cenu i zrtve, njen aktuelni rezim promeni.
Pripreme za realizaciju tog cilja odvijaju se veoma sracunato i
paralelno na obavestajnom, vojnom, politicko-diplomatskom,
psiholosko-propagandnom i ekonomskom planu. Ne treba zaboraviti
cinjenicu da su SAD danas najveci svetski vojno-naucno-tehnoloski
kompleks, drzava sa vojnim troskovima koji visoko premasuju vojne
troskove svih ostalih najvecih vojnih sila sveta zajedno. One
raspolazu najvecim svetskim arsenalom bakteriolosko-hemijskog oruzja a
da se ne govori o nuklearnom naoruzanju. Sve tri pomenute vrste
spadaju u kategoriju oruzja za masovno unistavanje. To je upravo ona
kategorija oruzja za koju SAD tvrde da njima raspolaze Irak te tako
ugrozava bezbednost samog americkog kontinenta. To je odmah istaknuto
kao najozbiljniji povod za zapocinjanje novog rata i trazi se da Irak
pruzi dokaze da ne raspolaze tim ratnim sredstvima ( ! ! !).
Prema recima uglednog americkog vojnog strucnjaka Vilijema Arkina,
koji je u "Los Andjeles Tajmsu" od 25.januara 2003.godine, objavio
svoju analizu situacije oko Iraka, SAD su spremne da upotrebe cak i
nuklearno oruzje protiv Iraka "za unistavanje podzemnih komandnih
polozaja, kao i protiv irackih snaga koje bi pokusale da upotrebe
oruzje za masovno unistenje" bez obzira na to sto optuzbe da Irak
poseduje to oruzje nisu dokazane.
Posto je osnovni cilj u tom ratu promena rezima u Iraku i instaliranje
politicke garniture koja ce sprovoditi planove SAD, za post-sadamovski
Irak su trenutno definisana dva modela posleratne stabilizacije i
razvoja pod americkim patronatom : (a) nemacki model - iza koga stoje
administracija SAD (Stejt department) i CIA ; (b) japanski model - iza
koga stoje tzv. jastrebovi, odnosno konzervativci iz Pentagona i
Kongresa (ovaj model podrazumeva cak i upotrebu nuklearnog oruzja kao
sredstva za "pacifikaciju" Iraka). Spor izmedju pristalica jednog i
drugog modela predstavlja vise-manje doktrinarnu raspravu jer su i
jedni i drugi saglasni da silu svakako treba upotrebiti posto je to
nuzno jer Irak nece da se preda.
Osnovna poruka rasprave je da niko ne sme da se brani od SAD ukoliko
ta odbrana podrazumeva moguce americke gubitke u ljudstvu. Ona u
sustini predstavlja nametanje sopstvene volje drugima primenom
sredstava visoke tehnoloske superiornosti i drzavnim terorizmom a
ukida pravo na odbranu. Jedino pravo koje se dozvoljava protivniku je
da kapitulira pre pomisli na pruzanje otpora. Ako to nece, bice
razoren i doveden u "predindustrijsku eru".
Hoce li vojne operacije SAD protiv Iraka poceti najkasnije za sezdeset
dana (racunajuci od 1.januara 2003.godine), kao sto to smatra direktor
Instituta Stratfor, ili ce se ceo postupak razvuci do jeseni tekuce
godine, kako to pretpostavljaju analiticari nekih drugih institucija,
pozivajuci se na lokalne klimatske uslove i opste uslove vodjenja rata
u pustinji, ili ce pocetak rata biti pomeren da bio se izbegao gnev
muslimanskog sveta ako rat zapocne dok traje hadz (od 15.februara do
4.marta), ostaje da se vidi. Ono sto je vec sada izvesno jeste
cinjenica da su pripreme za predstojecu ratnu operaciju toliko odmakle
da bi eventualno odustajanje od rata bilo prakticno nemoguce a ako bi
do njega doslo, politicke implikacije za sada vladajuu garnituru u SAD
bile bi katastrofalne. Po svemu sudeci, kako to smatra svetski poznati
pisac, nekadasnji obavestajac i vojni analiticki ekspert Dzon Le Kare,
SAD su, zbog jedne pogresne procene, upale u jedan od svojih perioda
ludosti, kakvi su bili makartizam, propali pokusaj invazije Kube u
Zalivu svinja ili rat u Vijetnamu. Posledice, medjutim, mogu da budu
mnogo dublje i mnogo dugorocnije i po SAD nepovoljnije (treba se samo
prisetiti kako su se te epizode americke novije istorije zavrsile). S
druge strane, na Zapadu mediji dosta spekulisu sa konstatacijom "da je
Sadam Husein lud". Kejt Kil iz Kraljevskog instituta za medjunarodne
odnose u Londonu, medjutim, smatra da je "Sadam Husein grub i
neotesan, da je ambiciozan, snazno motivisan i bez skrupula i da
poseduje kriminalnu psihologiju, ali da nije lud".
U stvari, nagomilavanje americkih trupa u Zalivu je kao olovni teg
koji sputava nove poteze Bele kuce. Ne ustukne li Sadam Husein pred
americkim pretnjama, Dzordz Bus ce morati da reaguje onako kako je
zapretio, a tada? Bice to verovatno rat sastavljen od cudnih
kombinacija zastarelih shvatanja, ideja i koncepcija sa modernim
("kosmickim") tehnologijama i ogromnim masama visoko motivisanih
boraca.
Zbog apsolutne neizvesnosti ishoda takvog jednog rata, cene nafte na
svetskom trzistu su dostigle do sada nezamislive visine. I cena zlata
raste. Trenutno je 360,25 dolara po unci. Vrednost dolara pada a
evropske valute raste. Ali nije jasno ko ce na kraju profitirati. Ko u
takvim uslovima ima prava na kapitulaciju i ko ima prava da diktira
uslove ?? Mocvara Hoveiza koja je bila kraj mnogim iranskim snovima o
prodoru u Irak tokom desetogodisnjeg izracko-iranskog rata, moze igrom
slucaja da postane kraj i americkom snu o dominaciji svetom.
26. januar 2003. godine
House Bill in Support of Kosovo Independance introduced
(Source: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/832530/posts )
---
One Hundred Eighth Congress
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
January 27, 2003
Support the Independence of Kosova
Dear Colleague:
Today we introduced a resolution (H. Res. 28, which is at the end
of this email) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that the United States should declare its support for the
independence of Kosova.
Under the Yugoslav constitution of 1974, Kosova was equivalent
in most ways to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
Macedonia . In its position as an ``autonomous province,'' Kosova,
in practice, exercised the same powers as a republic. It had its own
parliament, high courts, central bank, police service, and defense
force. Through its definition in 1968 as a part of the Yugoslav
Federal System, it gained equal representation at the federal level
with Serbia and the other juridical units of the former Yugoslavia.
When Slovenia and Croatia demanded independence, Western
governments made similar arguments against recognizing those
countries. However, eventually the same Western governments did
recognize not only the independence of Slovenia and Croatia, but
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia as well, having discovered
that independence for those nations involved not so much a change
of borders as a change in the status of existing borders. The lines
on the map remained the same, but their status was upgraded from
republican to national. It is fitting that the Kosovars be allowed to
follow the same path towards independence.
Since the cessation of the 1999 conflict with Serbia, during which
the Serbian military and paramilitary forces killed more than ten
thousand Kosovar Albanians and expelled close to a million,
Kosova remains under a United Nations mandate. The Kosovars,
the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union are now
making efforts to rebuild Kosova, revitalize its economy, establish
democratic institutions of self-government, and heal the scars of
war.
It is time for the United States to abide by its recognition that a
right to self-determination exists as a fundamental right of all
people through declaring its support for the independence of
Kosova. To cosponsor H.Res.28, please contact Keith O'Neil at
225-6735 (Lantos) or Greg Galvin (Hyde) at 225-5021.
Sincerely,
TOM LANTOS HENRY HYDE Member of Congress Member of
Congress
H. RES. 28
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the
United States should declare its support for the independence of
Kosova.
Whereas the United States and the international community
recognize that a right to self-determination exists as a
fundamental right of all people;
Whereas Kosova was constitutionally defined as a sovereign
territory in the First National Liberation Conference for Kosova
on January 2, 1944, and this status was confirmed in the
Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
adopted in 1946, and the amended Yugoslav constitution adopted
in 1974 preserved the autonomous status of Kosova as a de facto
republic;
Whereas prior to the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia,
Kosova was a separate political and legal entity with separate and
distinct financial institutions, police force, municipal and national
government, school system, judicial and legal system, hospitals and
other independent organizations;
Whereas Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic rose to power in
1987 on a platform of ultra nationalism and anti-Albanian racism,
advocating violence and hatred against all non-Slavs and
specifically targeting the Albanians of Kosova;
Whereas Slobodan Milosevic subsequently stripped Kosova of its
self-rule, without the consent of the people of Kosova; Whereas
the elected Assembly of Kosova, faced with these intolerable acts,
adopted a Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1990, proclaimed
the Republic of Kosova, and adopted a constitution on September
7, 1990, based on the international legal principles of
self-determination, equality, and sovereignty;
Whereas in recognition of the de facto dissolution of the Yugoslav
federation, the European community established principles for the
recognition of the independence and sovereignty of the republics of
the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Kosova
fully satisfied those principles as a de facto republic within the
federation;
Whereas a popular referendum was held in Kosova from
September 26-30, 1991, in which 87 percent of all eligible voters
cast ballots and 99.87 percent voted in favor of declaring Kosova
independent of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;
Whereas, from the occupation of Kosova in 1989 until the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military action against the
Milosevic regime in 1999, the Albanians of Kosova were subjected
to the most brutal treatment in the heart of Europe since the Nazi
era, forcing approximately 400,000 Albanians to flee to Western
Europe and the United States;
Whereas in the spring of 1999 almost 1,000,000 Kosovar Albanians
were driven out of Kosova and at least 10,000 were murdered by
the Serbian paramilitary and military;
Whereas Slobodan Milosevic was indicted by the International
War Crimes Tribunal and extradited to The Hague in June 2001 to
stand trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide
in Kosova, Bosnia, and Croatia;
Whereas the United Nations established Kosova as a protectorate
under Resolution 1244, ending the decade long Serbian occupation
of Kosova and Milosevic's genocidal war in Kosova;
Whereas Kosovar Albanians, together with representatives of the
Serb, Turkish, Roma, Bosniak, and Ashkali minorities in Kosova,
have held free and fair municipal and general elections in 2000 and
2001 and successfully established a parliament in 2002, which in
turn elected a president and prime minister;
Whereas 50 percent of the population in Kosova is under the age of
25 and the unemployment rate is currently between 60 and 70
percent, increasing the likelihood of young people entering criminal
networks, the source of which lies outside of Kosova, or working
abroad in order to survive unless massive job creation is facilitated
by guaranteeing the security of foreign investments through an
orderly transition to the independence of Kosova;
Whereas the Kosova parliament is committed to developing a
western-style democracy in which all citizens, regardless of
ethnicity, are granted full human and civil rights and are
committed to the return of all noncriminal Serbs who fled Kosova
during and after the war; and
Whereas there is every reason to believe that independence from
Serbia is the only viable option for Kosova, after autonomy has
failed time and time again: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that
the United States should -
(1) publicly support the independence of Kosova and the
establishment of Kosova as a sovereign and democratic state in
which human rights are respected, including the rights of ethnic
and religious minorities, as the only way to lasting peace and
stability in the Balkans;
(2) recognize the danger that delay in the resolution of Kosova's
final status poses for the political and economic viability of Kosova
and the future of Southeast Europe;
(3) work in conjunction with the United Nations, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, and other multilateral organizations
to facilitate an orderly transition to the independence of Kosova;
and
(4) provide its share of assistance, trade, and other programs to
support the government of an independent Kosova and to
encourage the further development of democracy and a free market
economic system.
---
Keith O'Neil 202-225-6735 (Lantos)
Greg Galvin 202-225-5021 (Hyde)
(Source: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/832530/posts )
---
One Hundred Eighth Congress
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
January 27, 2003
Support the Independence of Kosova
Dear Colleague:
Today we introduced a resolution (H. Res. 28, which is at the end
of this email) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that the United States should declare its support for the
independence of Kosova.
Under the Yugoslav constitution of 1974, Kosova was equivalent
in most ways to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
Macedonia . In its position as an ``autonomous province,'' Kosova,
in practice, exercised the same powers as a republic. It had its own
parliament, high courts, central bank, police service, and defense
force. Through its definition in 1968 as a part of the Yugoslav
Federal System, it gained equal representation at the federal level
with Serbia and the other juridical units of the former Yugoslavia.
When Slovenia and Croatia demanded independence, Western
governments made similar arguments against recognizing those
countries. However, eventually the same Western governments did
recognize not only the independence of Slovenia and Croatia, but
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia as well, having discovered
that independence for those nations involved not so much a change
of borders as a change in the status of existing borders. The lines
on the map remained the same, but their status was upgraded from
republican to national. It is fitting that the Kosovars be allowed to
follow the same path towards independence.
Since the cessation of the 1999 conflict with Serbia, during which
the Serbian military and paramilitary forces killed more than ten
thousand Kosovar Albanians and expelled close to a million,
Kosova remains under a United Nations mandate. The Kosovars,
the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union are now
making efforts to rebuild Kosova, revitalize its economy, establish
democratic institutions of self-government, and heal the scars of
war.
It is time for the United States to abide by its recognition that a
right to self-determination exists as a fundamental right of all
people through declaring its support for the independence of
Kosova. To cosponsor H.Res.28, please contact Keith O'Neil at
225-6735 (Lantos) or Greg Galvin (Hyde) at 225-5021.
Sincerely,
TOM LANTOS HENRY HYDE Member of Congress Member of
Congress
H. RES. 28
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the
United States should declare its support for the independence of
Kosova.
Whereas the United States and the international community
recognize that a right to self-determination exists as a
fundamental right of all people;
Whereas Kosova was constitutionally defined as a sovereign
territory in the First National Liberation Conference for Kosova
on January 2, 1944, and this status was confirmed in the
Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
adopted in 1946, and the amended Yugoslav constitution adopted
in 1974 preserved the autonomous status of Kosova as a de facto
republic;
Whereas prior to the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia,
Kosova was a separate political and legal entity with separate and
distinct financial institutions, police force, municipal and national
government, school system, judicial and legal system, hospitals and
other independent organizations;
Whereas Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic rose to power in
1987 on a platform of ultra nationalism and anti-Albanian racism,
advocating violence and hatred against all non-Slavs and
specifically targeting the Albanians of Kosova;
Whereas Slobodan Milosevic subsequently stripped Kosova of its
self-rule, without the consent of the people of Kosova; Whereas
the elected Assembly of Kosova, faced with these intolerable acts,
adopted a Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1990, proclaimed
the Republic of Kosova, and adopted a constitution on September
7, 1990, based on the international legal principles of
self-determination, equality, and sovereignty;
Whereas in recognition of the de facto dissolution of the Yugoslav
federation, the European community established principles for the
recognition of the independence and sovereignty of the republics of
the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Kosova
fully satisfied those principles as a de facto republic within the
federation;
Whereas a popular referendum was held in Kosova from
September 26-30, 1991, in which 87 percent of all eligible voters
cast ballots and 99.87 percent voted in favor of declaring Kosova
independent of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;
Whereas, from the occupation of Kosova in 1989 until the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military action against the
Milosevic regime in 1999, the Albanians of Kosova were subjected
to the most brutal treatment in the heart of Europe since the Nazi
era, forcing approximately 400,000 Albanians to flee to Western
Europe and the United States;
Whereas in the spring of 1999 almost 1,000,000 Kosovar Albanians
were driven out of Kosova and at least 10,000 were murdered by
the Serbian paramilitary and military;
Whereas Slobodan Milosevic was indicted by the International
War Crimes Tribunal and extradited to The Hague in June 2001 to
stand trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide
in Kosova, Bosnia, and Croatia;
Whereas the United Nations established Kosova as a protectorate
under Resolution 1244, ending the decade long Serbian occupation
of Kosova and Milosevic's genocidal war in Kosova;
Whereas Kosovar Albanians, together with representatives of the
Serb, Turkish, Roma, Bosniak, and Ashkali minorities in Kosova,
have held free and fair municipal and general elections in 2000 and
2001 and successfully established a parliament in 2002, which in
turn elected a president and prime minister;
Whereas 50 percent of the population in Kosova is under the age of
25 and the unemployment rate is currently between 60 and 70
percent, increasing the likelihood of young people entering criminal
networks, the source of which lies outside of Kosova, or working
abroad in order to survive unless massive job creation is facilitated
by guaranteeing the security of foreign investments through an
orderly transition to the independence of Kosova;
Whereas the Kosova parliament is committed to developing a
western-style democracy in which all citizens, regardless of
ethnicity, are granted full human and civil rights and are
committed to the return of all noncriminal Serbs who fled Kosova
during and after the war; and
Whereas there is every reason to believe that independence from
Serbia is the only viable option for Kosova, after autonomy has
failed time and time again: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that
the United States should -
(1) publicly support the independence of Kosova and the
establishment of Kosova as a sovereign and democratic state in
which human rights are respected, including the rights of ethnic
and religious minorities, as the only way to lasting peace and
stability in the Balkans;
(2) recognize the danger that delay in the resolution of Kosova's
final status poses for the political and economic viability of Kosova
and the future of Southeast Europe;
(3) work in conjunction with the United Nations, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, and other multilateral organizations
to facilitate an orderly transition to the independence of Kosova;
and
(4) provide its share of assistance, trade, and other programs to
support the government of an independent Kosova and to
encourage the further development of democracy and a free market
economic system.
---
Keith O'Neil 202-225-6735 (Lantos)
Greg Galvin 202-225-5021 (Hyde)
Bosnia-Erzegovina: giovani senza futuro
Il reportage che segue e' stato preparato per il notiziario dell'IWPR,
"agenzia" di informazione sui Balcani sponsorizzata dalle grandi
fondazioni dei paesi occidentali. Le stesse fondazioni, ed altre
analoghe di enorme rilevanza come quelle legate all'immensa lobby di
Soros, attraverso forme di finanziamento precario di vario genere
(borse di studio, stages, eccetera) "arruolano" la gran parte delle
giovani risorse intellettuali dell'Europa centro-orientale, in un
contesto in cui i vari paesi allo sfascio non gestiscono piu' in
nessuna maniera il proprio know-how e potenziale umano.
Nell'articolo che segue, i giovani della Bosnia-Erzegovina mostrano di
avere perso le speranze su di una qualsiasi valorizzazione delle loro
competenze, essendo costretti a scegliere tra l'"arruolamento" coatto
per gli stranieri (di cui sopra) e l'emigrazione. Chi rifiuta questa
scelta va incontro alla disoccupazione o a lavori temporanei e non
qualificati (I.S.)
===
Balkan Crisis Report is supported by the
Department for International
Development, the European Commission,
the Swedish International
Development and Cooperation Agency, The
Netherlands Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, and other funders. IWPR also
acknowledges general support from
the Ford Foundation.
IWPR'S BALKAN CRISIS REPORT, No. 385, November 26, 2002
http://www.iwpr.net
BOSNIA: BRAIN DRAIN GATHERS PACE
The exodus of young and talented people
may seriously undermine the
country's development.
By Nidzara Ahmetasevic and Julie Poucher
Harbin in Sarajevo and Banja Luka
Just like Gerard Depardieu in the
Hollywood movie "Green Card", a 30-year
old Bosnian entered into a marriage of
convenience with his cousin's
girlfriend - an American girl - just to
get legal entry to the United
States. Early this month, he received
his visa and left
Bosnia-Herzegovina - probably for good.
"I just do not know what to do in Bosnia
any more. I tried everything,"
the man told IWPR before he left,
speaking on condition of anonymity. An
economics graduate from Sarajevo
University, he could only find work as a
security guard.
Thousands of school leavers and
university graduates can't find decent
jobs and are rapidly becoming
disillusioned with the failure of their
political leaders to improve their
prospects.
According to research conducted two
years ago by the United Nations
Development Program, UNDP, some 62 per
cent of young Bosnians - who make
up about a quarter of the population -
would leave their country if given
the chance.
The UNDP Human Development Report 2002
estimates that at least 92,000
youngsters left between January 1996 and
the end-March 2001, with tens of
thousands currently waiting for
emigration visas.
"This haemorrhage of the young and
talented poses perhaps the greatest
long-term threat to this country,"
Bosnia's top international mediator,
High Representative Paddy Ashdown
recently warned.
"I can feel that young people are
exhausted and disappointed," said Valida
Repovac, 25, a Liberal Party activist
who works in the ministry for
European integration. But, unlike many
other young Bosnians, she earns
enough to support herself and has no
desire to leave.
Though the brain drain pre-dates the
war, numbers have swollen in the
aftermath of the conflict. A number of
factors have contributed to the
trend.
There's not enough trade and technical
education at secondary school level
for those who are not cut out for
university life. At all of Bosnia's
seven universities, there is still no
system of clinical or
pre-professional education. To make the
situation even worse, none of the
former offer internationally-recognised
degrees.
Once out of the education system, even
well qualified students struggle to
find good jobs. Banja Luka University
law student Dragan Vujanic, 23,
runs a new campus counselling
information centre, funded by city and
international donors. The centre
recently started a job bank to connect
students to jobs and internships in
fields like law, economics, and
information technology. Vujanic told
IWPR the project is to focus on
"brain gain" instead of "brain drain".
Some of those who can't find decent
employment simply choose not to work.
You can find them hanging out all day in
the country's ubiquitous coffee
bars. "The problem with my generation is
that they feel it's better to do
nothing than clean someone's floor, "
said Sasa Madacki, 30, head of
information research at Sarajevo
University library.
Disillusionment with education and the
job market leaves youngsters with a
pretty jaundiced view of politicians and
some feel they're irrelevant
because of the overpowering role of the
international community in Bosnia.
According to the local youth NGO, Youth
Information Agency, OIA, most
eligible youngsters don't vote.
Alexandra Strbac, 28, a psychology
student working with the Banja
Luka-based youth NGO Zdravo Daste and
the Kastel youth house, encourages
Bosnian youth to participate in
elections, though she admits not voting
herself in absence of clear options.
She said that with local political
parties "you still don't know what they
are offering", and prefers
channelling her energy into community
activism.
"The future is depressing, it's true.
But I hope it will get better,"
Dragan Vujanic said. "It's now up to
young people to establish a new
system with their own ideas."
In one hopeful development, a number of
young Bosnians who left over the
past decade are trickling back. Their
job prospects are sometimes better,
especially with international
organisations, as they often speak
foreign
languages and have been educated abroad.
In an attempt to address the brain
drain, the OIA has submitted a
six-point plan to the newly elected
authorities, including a request for
the establishment of government
executive bodies for youth. They have
set
a six-month deadline, after which they
plan to mount street demonstrations
if no action has been taken.
"Young people sometimes do not know or
don't want to know that there are
organisations like us geared to trying
to make their lives better," OIA
spokesperson Merima Zuko said. "The
easiest thing is to go in the front
of some embassy and ask for a visa that
will take you somewhere else!"
Nidzara Ahmetasevic and Julie Poucher
Harbin are freelance journalists
based in Bosnia.
Il reportage che segue e' stato preparato per il notiziario dell'IWPR,
"agenzia" di informazione sui Balcani sponsorizzata dalle grandi
fondazioni dei paesi occidentali. Le stesse fondazioni, ed altre
analoghe di enorme rilevanza come quelle legate all'immensa lobby di
Soros, attraverso forme di finanziamento precario di vario genere
(borse di studio, stages, eccetera) "arruolano" la gran parte delle
giovani risorse intellettuali dell'Europa centro-orientale, in un
contesto in cui i vari paesi allo sfascio non gestiscono piu' in
nessuna maniera il proprio know-how e potenziale umano.
Nell'articolo che segue, i giovani della Bosnia-Erzegovina mostrano di
avere perso le speranze su di una qualsiasi valorizzazione delle loro
competenze, essendo costretti a scegliere tra l'"arruolamento" coatto
per gli stranieri (di cui sopra) e l'emigrazione. Chi rifiuta questa
scelta va incontro alla disoccupazione o a lavori temporanei e non
qualificati (I.S.)
===
Balkan Crisis Report is supported by the
Department for International
Development, the European Commission,
the Swedish International
Development and Cooperation Agency, The
Netherlands Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, and other funders. IWPR also
acknowledges general support from
the Ford Foundation.
IWPR'S BALKAN CRISIS REPORT, No. 385, November 26, 2002
http://www.iwpr.net
BOSNIA: BRAIN DRAIN GATHERS PACE
The exodus of young and talented people
may seriously undermine the
country's development.
By Nidzara Ahmetasevic and Julie Poucher
Harbin in Sarajevo and Banja Luka
Just like Gerard Depardieu in the
Hollywood movie "Green Card", a 30-year
old Bosnian entered into a marriage of
convenience with his cousin's
girlfriend - an American girl - just to
get legal entry to the United
States. Early this month, he received
his visa and left
Bosnia-Herzegovina - probably for good.
"I just do not know what to do in Bosnia
any more. I tried everything,"
the man told IWPR before he left,
speaking on condition of anonymity. An
economics graduate from Sarajevo
University, he could only find work as a
security guard.
Thousands of school leavers and
university graduates can't find decent
jobs and are rapidly becoming
disillusioned with the failure of their
political leaders to improve their
prospects.
According to research conducted two
years ago by the United Nations
Development Program, UNDP, some 62 per
cent of young Bosnians - who make
up about a quarter of the population -
would leave their country if given
the chance.
The UNDP Human Development Report 2002
estimates that at least 92,000
youngsters left between January 1996 and
the end-March 2001, with tens of
thousands currently waiting for
emigration visas.
"This haemorrhage of the young and
talented poses perhaps the greatest
long-term threat to this country,"
Bosnia's top international mediator,
High Representative Paddy Ashdown
recently warned.
"I can feel that young people are
exhausted and disappointed," said Valida
Repovac, 25, a Liberal Party activist
who works in the ministry for
European integration. But, unlike many
other young Bosnians, she earns
enough to support herself and has no
desire to leave.
Though the brain drain pre-dates the
war, numbers have swollen in the
aftermath of the conflict. A number of
factors have contributed to the
trend.
There's not enough trade and technical
education at secondary school level
for those who are not cut out for
university life. At all of Bosnia's
seven universities, there is still no
system of clinical or
pre-professional education. To make the
situation even worse, none of the
former offer internationally-recognised
degrees.
Once out of the education system, even
well qualified students struggle to
find good jobs. Banja Luka University
law student Dragan Vujanic, 23,
runs a new campus counselling
information centre, funded by city and
international donors. The centre
recently started a job bank to connect
students to jobs and internships in
fields like law, economics, and
information technology. Vujanic told
IWPR the project is to focus on
"brain gain" instead of "brain drain".
Some of those who can't find decent
employment simply choose not to work.
You can find them hanging out all day in
the country's ubiquitous coffee
bars. "The problem with my generation is
that they feel it's better to do
nothing than clean someone's floor, "
said Sasa Madacki, 30, head of
information research at Sarajevo
University library.
Disillusionment with education and the
job market leaves youngsters with a
pretty jaundiced view of politicians and
some feel they're irrelevant
because of the overpowering role of the
international community in Bosnia.
According to the local youth NGO, Youth
Information Agency, OIA, most
eligible youngsters don't vote.
Alexandra Strbac, 28, a psychology
student working with the Banja
Luka-based youth NGO Zdravo Daste and
the Kastel youth house, encourages
Bosnian youth to participate in
elections, though she admits not voting
herself in absence of clear options.
She said that with local political
parties "you still don't know what they
are offering", and prefers
channelling her energy into community
activism.
"The future is depressing, it's true.
But I hope it will get better,"
Dragan Vujanic said. "It's now up to
young people to establish a new
system with their own ideas."
In one hopeful development, a number of
young Bosnians who left over the
past decade are trickling back. Their
job prospects are sometimes better,
especially with international
organisations, as they often speak
foreign
languages and have been educated abroad.
In an attempt to address the brain
drain, the OIA has submitted a
six-point plan to the newly elected
authorities, including a request for
the establishment of government
executive bodies for youth. They have
set
a six-month deadline, after which they
plan to mount street demonstrations
if no action has been taken.
"Young people sometimes do not know or
don't want to know that there are
organisations like us geared to trying
to make their lives better," OIA
spokesperson Merima Zuko said. "The
easiest thing is to go in the front
of some embassy and ask for a visa that
will take you somewhere else!"
Nidzara Ahmetasevic and Julie Poucher
Harbin are freelance journalists
based in Bosnia.
Subject: Re:Sull'Iraq
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:22:43 +0100
From: Italo Slavetti
To: "a.polito" <a.polito@...>
CC: "s.cappellini" <s.cappellini@...>,
"m.contini" <m.contini@...>,
"f.desposito" <f.desposito@...>, "r.mania"
<r.mania@...>, "c.puca" <c.puca@...>,
"w.ward" <w.ward@...>, "g.teotino"
<g.teotino@...>
Egregio Dott. Polito,
riprovo ad inviarLe questo messaggio sperando stavolta di avere
indovinato l'indirizzo...
L'"anticipazione" che leggo sul vostro sito di oggi mi conforta e mi
rafforza nell'opinione che siamo nel giusto. Ancora un po' di sforzo e
convinceremo i riluttanti. Vincere bisogna! E vinceremo!
I. Slavetti (Roma)
Iraq: arrivano le prove?
Gli Stati Uniti hanno deciso di rendere
pubbliche alcune delle informazioni in loro
possesso sul mancato disarmo iracheno: ma
più che a facilitare il lavoro degli ispettori,
la mossa è destinata a convincere il fronte
dei riluttanti - sia all'estero che all'interno
- della necessità di attaccare Saddam Hussein
---------------------------------------------
Egregio Dott. Polito, stimatissima Redazione,
(...)
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:22:43 +0100
From: Italo Slavetti
To: "a.polito" <a.polito@...>
CC: "s.cappellini" <s.cappellini@...>,
"m.contini" <m.contini@...>,
"f.desposito" <f.desposito@...>, "r.mania"
<r.mania@...>, "c.puca" <c.puca@...>,
"w.ward" <w.ward@...>, "g.teotino"
<g.teotino@...>
Egregio Dott. Polito,
riprovo ad inviarLe questo messaggio sperando stavolta di avere
indovinato l'indirizzo...
L'"anticipazione" che leggo sul vostro sito di oggi mi conforta e mi
rafforza nell'opinione che siamo nel giusto. Ancora un po' di sforzo e
convinceremo i riluttanti. Vincere bisogna! E vinceremo!
I. Slavetti (Roma)
Iraq: arrivano le prove?
Gli Stati Uniti hanno deciso di rendere
pubbliche alcune delle informazioni in loro
possesso sul mancato disarmo iracheno: ma
più che a facilitare il lavoro degli ispettori,
la mossa è destinata a convincere il fronte
dei riluttanti - sia all'estero che all'interno
- della necessità di attaccare Saddam Hussein
---------------------------------------------
Egregio Dott. Polito, stimatissima Redazione,
(...)
Subject: Fabricating an Enemy
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 02:43:23 -0500
From: Michel Chossudovsky
It is the Bush Administration, rather than Baghdad,
which is supporting Al Qaeda
FABRICATING AN ENEMY
by Michel Chossudovsky
www.globalresearch.ca , 28 January / janvier 2003
The URL of this article is:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO301B.html
* * *
Part II of a two part Series. Part I was entitled: War
Propaganda. See:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO301A.html
One of the main objectives of war propaganda is to
«fabricate an enemy» . As anti-war sentiment grows and
the political legitimacy the Bush Administration falters,
doubts regarding the existence of this "outside enemy"
must be dispelled.
As the date of the planned invasion of Iraq approaches, the
Bush Administration and its indefectible British ally have
multiplied the "warnings" of future Al Qaeda terrorist
attacks. The enemy has to appear genuine: thousands of
news stories and editorials linking Al Qaeda to the
Baghdad government are planted in the news chain. Colin
Powell underscored this relationship in his presentation to
the Davos World Economic Forum in January. Iraq is
casually presented in official statements and in the media
as "a haven for and supplier of the terror network":
"Evidence that is still tightly held is accumulating within
the administration that it is not a matter of chance that
terror groups in the al Qaeda universe have made their
weapons of choice the poisons, gases and chemical devices
that are signature arms of the Iraqi regime."1
In this context, propaganda purports to drown the truth,
and kill the evidence on how Osama bin Laden?s Al Qaeda
was fabricated and transformed into "Enemy Number
One".
Meanwhile, "anti-terrorist operations" directed against
Muslims, including arbitrary mass arrests have been
stepped up. In the US, emergency measures are
contemplated in the case of war. The corporate media is
busy preparing public opinion. A «national emergency» is
said to be justified because «America is under attack»:
« the U.S. and Western interests in the Western world
have to be prepared for retaliatory attacks from sleeper
cells the second we launch an attack in Iraq.» 2
Defence of the Homeland
Emergency procedures are already in place. The Secretary
of Homeland Defence -whose mandate is to «safeguard
the nation from terrorist attacks»-- has already been
granted the authority « to take control of a national
emergency», implying the establishment of de facto
military rule. In turn, the newly established Northern
Command would be put in charge of military operations in
the US «war on terrorism » theatre.
The Smallpox Vaccination Program
In the context of these emergency measures, preparations
for compulsory smallpox vaccination are already under
way in response to a presumed threat of a biological
weapons attack on US soil. The vaccination program
which has been the object of intense media propaganda--
would be launched with the sole purpose of creating an
atmosphere of panic among the population:
«A few infected individuals with a stack of plane
tickets--or bus tickets, for that matter--could spread
smallpox infection across the country, touching off a
plague of large proportions ?. It is not inconceivable that a
North Korea or an Iraq could retain smallpox in a hidden
lab and pass the deadly agent on to terrorists.»3
The hidden agenda is crystal clear. How best to discredit
the anti-war movement and maintain the legitimacy of
the State? Create conditions, which instill fear and hatred,
present the rulers as "guardians of the peace", committed
to weeding out terrorism and preserving democracy. In the
words of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, echoing
almost verbatim the US propaganda dispatches:
"?I believe it is inevitable that they will try in some form or
other,? ?I think we can see evidence from the recent arrests
that the terrorist network is here as it is around the rest of
Europe, around the rest of the world? The most frightening
thing about these people is the possible coming together of
fanaticism and the technology capable of delivering mass
destruction.?"4
Mass Arrests
The mass arrests of individuals of Middle Eastern origin
since September 11 2001 on trumped up charges is not
motivated by security considerations. Their main function
is to provide "credibility" to the fear and propaganda
campaign. Each arrest, amply publicised by the corporate
media, repeated day after day "gives a face" to this
invisible enemy. It also serves to drown the fact that Al
Qaeda is a creature of the CIA. "Enemy Number One" is
not an enemy but an instrument.)
In other words, the Propaganda campaign performs two
important functions.
First it must ensure that the enemy is considered a real
threat.
Second, it must distort the truth, --i.e. it must conceal
"the relationship" between this "fabricated enemy" and its
creators within the military-intelligence apparatus.
In other words, the nature and history of Osama bin
Laden?s Al Qaeda and the Islamic brigades since the
Soviet-Afghan war must be suppressed because if it
trickles down to the broader public, the legitimacy of the
so-called "war on terrorism" collapses like a deck of cards.
And in the process, the legitimacy of the main political and
military actors is threatened.
The "9/11 Foreknowledge" Scandal
On 16 May 2002, the New York tabloids revealed that
"President Bush had been warned of possible high jacking
before the terror attacks" and had failed to act.5
The disinformation campaign was visibly stalling in the
face of mounting evidence of CIA-Osama links. For the
first time since 9/11, the mainstream press had hinted to
the possibility of a cover-up at the highest echelons of the
US State apparatus.
FBI Agent Coleen Rowley, who blew the whistle on the
FBI, played a key role in unleashing the crisis. Her
controversial Memo to FBI Director Robert Mueller
pointed to the existence of "deliberate roadblocks" on the
investigation of the September 11 attacks:
"Minutes after the 9/11 attacks the SSA [David Frasca,
Director of the Radical Fundamentalist unit in the FBI]
said ?this was probably all just a coincidence? and we were
to do nothing until we got their permission, because we
might screw up something else going on elsewhere in the
country" 6
In response to an impending political crisis, the fear and
disinformation campaign went into overdrive. The news
chain was all of a sudden inundated with reports and
warnings of "future terrorist attacks". A carefully worded
statement (visibly intended to instill fear) by Vice
President Dick Cheney contributed to setting the stage:
"I think that the prospects of a future attack on the U.S.
are almost a certainty... It could happen tomorrow, it could
happen next week, it could happen next year, but they will
keep trying. And we have to be prepared."7
What Cheney is really telling us is that our "intelligence
asset", which we created, is going to strike again. Now, if
this "CIA creature" were planning new terrorist attacks,
you would expect that the CIA would be first to know
about it. In all likelihood, the CIA also controls the
so-called ?warnings' emanating from CIA sources on
"future terrorist attacks" in the US and around the World.
Propaganda?s Consistent Pattern
Upon careful examination of news reports on actual,
"possible" or "future" terrorist attacks, the propaganda
campaign exhibits a consistent pattern. Similar concepts
appear simultaneously in hundreds of media reports:
they refer to "reliable sources", a growing body of evidence
--e.g. government or intelligence or FBI.
They invariably indicate that the terrorist groups involved
have "ties to bin Laden" or Al Qaeda, or are "sympathetic
to bin Laden",
The reports often points to the possibility of terrorist
attacks, "sooner or later" or "in the next two months".
The reports often raise the issue of so-called "soft targets",
pointing to the likelihood of civilian casualties.
They indicate that future terrorist attacks could take place
in a number of allied countries (including Britain, France,
Germany) in which public opinion is strongly opposed to
the US-led war on terrorism.
They confirm the need by the US and its allies to initiate
"pre-emptive" actions directed against these various
terrorist organizations and/or the foreign governments
which harbour the terrorists.
They often point to the likelihood that these terrorist
groups possess WMD including biological and chemical
weapons (as well as nuclear weapons). The links to Iraq
and "rogue states" (discussed in Part I) is also mentioned.
The warnings also include warnings regarding "attacks on
US soil", attacks against civilians in Western cities.
They point to efforts undertaken by the police authorities
to apprehend the alleged terrorists.
The arrested individuals are in virtually all cases Muslims
and/or of Middle Eastern origin.
The reports are also used to justify the Homeland Security
legislation as well as the "ethnic profiling" and mass
arrests of presumed terrorists.
This pattern of disinformation in the Western media
applies the usual catch phrases and buzz words. (See press
excerpts below. The relevant catch phrases are indicated in
italics):
"Published reports, along with new information obtained
from U.S. intelligence and military sources, point to a
growing body of evidence that terrorists associated with
and/or sympathetic to Osama bin Laden are planning a
significant attack on U.S. soil.
Also targeted are allied countries that have joined the
worldwide hunt for the radical Muslim cells hell-bent on
unleashing new waves of terrorist strikes. ? The U.S.
government's activation of antiterrorist forces comes as the
FBI issued a warning Nov. 14 that a "spectacular" new
terrorist attack may be forthcoming - sooner rather than
later. ...
Elsewhere, the Australian government issued an
unprecedented warning to its citizens that al-Qaeda
terrorists there might launch attacks within the next two
months. 8
Although CIA Director George Tenet said in recent
congressional testimony that "an attempt to conduct
another attack on U.S. soil is certain," a trio of former
senior CIA officials doubted the chance of any
"spectacular" terror attacks on U.S. soil.9
"Germans have been skittish since the terrorist attacks in
the United States, fearing that their country is a ripe target
for terrorism. Several of the hijackers in the Sept. 11
attacks plotted their moves in Hamburg.10
"On Dec. 18, a senior government official, speaking on
condition of anonymity, briefed journalists about the ?high
probability? of a terrorist attack happening ?sooner or
later.? ? he named hotels and shopping centres as potential
?soft targets?? The official also specifically mentioned: a
possible chemical attack in the London subway, the
unleashing of smallpox, the poisoning of the water supply
and strikes against "postcard targets" such as Big Ben and
Canary Warf.
The "sooner or later" alert followed a Home Office
warning at the end of November that said Islamic radicals
might use dirty bombs or poison gas to inflict huge
casualties on British cities. This also made big headlines
but the warning was quickly retracted in fear that it would
cause public panic. 11
The message yesterday was that these terrorists, however
obscure, are trying - and, sooner or later, may break
through London's defences. It is a city where tens of
thousands of souls,? Experts have repeatedly said that the
UK, with its bullish support for the US and its war on
terror, is a genuine and realistic target for terror groups,
including the al- Qaeda network led by 11 September
mastermind Osama bin Laden.12
Quoting Margaret Thatcher: "Only America has the reach
and means to deal with Osama bin Laden or Saddam
Hussein or the other wicked psychopaths who will sooner
or later step into their shoes."13
According to a recent US State Department alert:
"Increased security at official US facilities has led
terrorists to seek softer targets such as residential areas,
clubs, restaurants, places of worship, hotels, schools,
outdoor recreation events, resorts, beaches and planes."14
Actual Terrorist Attacks
To be "effective" the fear and disinformation campaign
cannot solely rely on unsubstantiated "warnings" of future
attacks, it also requires "real" terrorist occurrences or
"incidents", which provide credibility to the
Administration?s war plans. Propaganda endorses the need
to implement "emergency measures" as well as implement
retaliatory military actions.
The triggering of "war pretext incidents" is part of the
Pentagon?s assumptions. In fact it is an integral part of US
military history.15 In fact in 1962, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
had envisaged a secret plan entitled "Operation
Northwoods, to deliberately trigger civilian casualties to
justify the invasion of Cuba:
"We could blow up a U.S. ship in Guantanamo Bay and
blame Cuba," "We could develop a Communist Cuban
terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities
and even in Washington" "casualty lists in U.S.
newspapers would cause a helpful wave of national
indignation." (See the declassified Top Secret 1962
document titled "Justification for U.S. Military
Intervention in Cuba"16 (See Operation Northwoods at
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/NOR111A.html ).
There is no evidence that the Pentagon or the CIA played
a direct role in recent terrorist attacks. The latter were
undertaken by organisations (or cells of these
organisations), which operate quite independently, with a
certain degree of autonomy. This independence is in the
very nature of a covert intelligence operation. The
«intelligence asset» is not in direct contact with its covert
sponsors. It is not necessarily cognizant of the role it plays
on behalf of its intelligence sponsors.
The fundamental question is who is behind them? Through
what sources are they being financed? What is the
underlying network of ties?
A recent (2002) classified outbrief drafted to guide the
Pentagon «calls for the creation of a so-called « Proactive,
Pre-emptive Operations Group » (P2OG), to launch secret
operations aimed at "stimulating reactions" among
terrorists and states possessing weapons of mass
destruction -- that is, for instance, prodding terrorist cells
into action and exposing themselves to "quick-response"
attacks by U.S. forces.» 17
The P2OG initiative is nothing new. It essentially extends
an existing apparatus of covert operations. Amply
documented, the CIA has supported terrorist groups since
the Cold War era. This « prodding of terrorist cells » under
covert intelligence operations often requires the infiltration
and training of the radical groups linked to Al Qaeda.
Covert support by the US military and intelligence
apparatus has been channelled to various Islamic terrorist
organisations through a complex network of intermediaries
and intelligence proxies. Moreover, numerous official
statements, intelligence reports confirm recent links (in the
post Cold War era) between US military-intelligence units
and Al Qaeda operatives, as occurred in Bosnia (mid
1990s), Kosovo (1998-99) and Macedonia (2001).18 The
Republican Party Committee of the US Congress in a 1997
report points to open collaboration between the US
military and Al Qaeda operatives in the civil war in
Bosnia.19 (See US Congress, 16 January 1997,
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/DCH109A.html )
Ties to Al Qaeda and Pakistan?s Military Intelligence
(ISI)
It is indeed revealing that in virtually all post 9/11 terrorist
occurrences, the terrorist organization is said to have "ties
to Osama bin Laden?s Al Qaeda". This in itself is a crucial
piece of information. Of course, the fact that Al Qaeda is a
creature of the CIA is neither mentioned in the press
reports nor is considered relevant.
The ties of these terrorist organizations (particularly those
in Asia) to Pakistan?s military intelligence (ISI) is
acknowledged in a few cases by official sources and press
dispatches. Confirmed by the Council on Foreign Relations
(CFR), some of these groups are said to have links to
Pakistan?s ISI, without identifying the nature of these
links. Needless to say, this information is crucial in
identifying the sponsors of these terrorist attacks. In other
words, the ISI is said to support these terrorist
organizations, while at same time maintaining close ties to
the CIA.
The Bali Bomb Attack (October 2002)
The Bali attack in the Kuta seaside resort resulted in close
to 200 deaths, mainly Australian tourists. The bomb attack
was allegedly perpetrated by Jemaah Islamiah, a group,
which operates in several countries in South East Asia.
Press reports and official statements point to close ties
between Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and Al Qaeda. The JI?s
"operational leader" is Riduan Isamuddin, alias Hambali, a
veteran of the Soviet-Afghan war, who was trained in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to a report by UPI:
"The [Soviet-Afghan] war provided opportunities for key
figures of these groups, who went to Afghanistan, to
experience firsthand the glory of jihad. Many of the
radicals detained in Singapore and Malaysia derived their
ideological inspiration from the activities of the
Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Pakistan" 20
What the report fails to mention is that the training of the
Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Pakistan was a CIA
sponsored initiative launched under President Jimmy
Carter in 1979, using Pakistan?s ISI as a go-between.
JI?s links to Indonesia?s Military Intelligence
There are indications, that in addition to its alleged links to
Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiah also has links to Indonesia?s
military intelligence, which in turn has links to the CIA
and Australian intelligence.
The links between JI and Indonesia?s Intelligence Agency
(BIN) are acknowledged by the International Crisis Group
(ICG):
"This link [of JI to the BIN] needs to be explored more
fully: it does not necessarily mean that military intelligence
was working with JI, but it does raise a question about the
extent to which it knew or could have found out more
about JI than it has acknowledged." 21 (International
Crisis Group,
http://www.crisisweb.org/projects/showreport.cfm?reportid=845
, 2003)
The ICG, however, fails to mention that Indonesia?s
intelligence apparatus has for more than 30 years been
controlled by the CIA.
In the wake of the October 2002 Bali bombing, a
contradictory report emanating from Indonesia?s top brass,
pointed to the involvement of both the head of Indonesian
intelligence General A. M. Hendropriyono as well as the
CIA:
"The agency and its director, Gen. A. M. Hendropriyono,
are well regarded by the United States and other
governments. But there are still senior intelligence officers
here who believe that the C.I.A. was behind the
bombing."22
In response to these statements, the Bush Administration
demanded that President Megawati Sukarnoputri, publicly
refute the involvement of the U.S in the attacks. No
official retraction was issued. Not only did President.
Megawati remained silent on this matter, she also accused
the US of being:
"a superpower that forced the rest of the world to go along
with it? We see how ambition to conquer other nations has
led to a situation where there is no more peace unless the
whole world is complying with the will of the one with the
power and strength." 23
Meanwhile, the Bush Administration, had used the Bali
attacks to prop up its fear campaign:
"President Bush said Monday that he assumes al-Qaeda
was responsible for the deadly bombing in Indonesia and
that he is worried about fresh attacks on the United
States." 24
The news [regarding the Bali attack] came as US
intelligence officials warned that more attacks like the
Indonesian bombing can be expected in the next few
months, in Europe, the Far East or the US."25
Cover-up
The links of JI to the Indonesian intelligence agency were
never raised in the official Indonesian government
investigation --which was guided behind the scenes by
Australian intelligence and the CIA.
Moreover, shortly after the bombing, Australian Prime
Minister John Howard "admitted that Australian
authorities were warned about possible attacks in Bali but
chose not to issue a warning."26 Also In the wake of the
bombings, the Australian government chose to work with
Indonesia?s Special Forces the Kopassus, in the so-called
"war on terrorism".
Australia: "Useful Wave of Indignation"
Reminiscent of Operation Northwoods, the Bali attack
served to trigger "a useful wave of indignation."27 They
contributed to swaying Australian public opinion in favour
of the US invasion of Iraq, while weakening the anti-war
protest movement. In the wake of the Bali attack, the
Australian government "officially" joined the US-led "war
on terrorism." It has not only used the Bali bombings as a
pretext to fully integrate the US-UK military axis, it has
also adopted drastic police measures including "ethnic
profiling" directed against its own citizens:
Prime Minister John Howard made the extraordinary
declaration recently that he is prepared to make
pre-emptive military strikes against terrorists in
neighbouring Asian countries planning to attack Australia.
Australian intelligence agencies also are very worried
about the likelihood of an al-Qaeda attack using nuclear
weapons.28
The Attacks on the Indian Parliament (December 2001)
The December 2001 terrorist attacks on the Indian
Parliament --which contributed to pushing India and
Pakistan to the brink of war-- were allegedly conducted
by two Pakistan-based rebel groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba
("Army of the Pure") and Jaish-e-Muhammad ("Army of
Mohammed"). The press reports acknowledged the ties of
both groups to Al Qaeda, without however mentioning
that they were directly supported by Pakistan=s ISI. The
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) confirms in this
regard that:
"through its Interservices Intelligence agency (ISI),
Pakistan has provided funding, arms, training facilities,
and aid in crossing borders to Lashkar and Jaish?Many
were given ideological training in the same madrasas, or
Muslim seminaries, that taught the Taliban and foreign
fighters in Afghanistan. They received military training at
camps in Afghanistan or in villages in Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir. Extremist groups [supported by the ISI] have
recently opened several new madrasas in Azad
Kashmir."29 (Council on Foreign Relations at
http://www.terrorismanswers.com/groups/harakat2.html ,
Washington 2002)
What the CFR fails to mention is the crucial relationship
between the ISI and the CIA and the fact that the ISI
continues to support Lashkar, Jaish and the militant
Jammu and Kashmir Hizbul Mujahideen (JKHM), while
also collaborating with the CIA. Ironically, confirmed by
the writings of Zbigniew Brzezinski (who happens to be a
member of the CFR), the training of these "foreign
fighters" was an initiative of US foreign policy, launched
during the Carter Administration in 1979 at the outset of
the Soviet-Afghan war. Coinciding with the 1989 Geneva
Peace Agreement and the Soviet withdrawal from
Afghanistan, the ISI was instrumental in the creation of
the militant Jammu and Kashmir Hizbul Mujahideen
(JKHM).30 The timely attack on the Indian Parliament,
followed by the ethnic riots in Gujarat in early 2002, were
the culmination of a process initiated in the 1980s,
financed by drug money and abetted by Pakistan?s military
intelligence.
Dismantling the Propaganda Campaign, Building an
Anti-War Consensus
We are at the juncture of the most serious crisis in modern
history, requiring an unprecedented degree of solidarity,
courage and commitment. America's war, which includes
the "first strike" use of nuclear weapons, threatens the
future of humanity.
Much of the justification for waging this war without
borders rests on the legitimacy of the Bush
administration?s anti-terrorist programme. The latter
forms part of the propaganda campaign, which in turn is
used to sway the US population into an unconditional
acceptance of the war agenda.
In the US, and around the world, the anti-war movement
has gained in impetus. While millions of people have joined
hands in opposing the war, the Bush Administration's fear
and disinformation campaign, relayed by the corporate
media, has served to uphold the shaky legitimacy of the
Bush administration.
At this critical crossroads, the anti-war/pro-democracy
movement must necessarily move to a higher plane, which
addresses the main functions of the Administration's
propaganda machine. The main purpose of propaganda is
to sustain the legitimacy of the rulers and ensure that the
rulers remain in power.
Undermining the Bush Administration's « Right to Rule»
In other words, the mobilization of antiwar sentiment in
itself will not reverse the tide of war.
What is needed is to consistently challenge the legitimacy
of the main political and military actors, reveal the true
face of the American Empire and the underlying
criminalisation of foreign policy. Ultimately what is
required is to question and eventually undermine the Bush
Administration's «right to rule».
Revealing the lies behind the Bush Administration is the
basis for destroying the legitimacy of the main political and
military actors.
Even if a majority of the population is against the war, this
in itself will not prevent the war from occurring. The
propaganda campaign?s objective is to sustain the lies
which support the legitimacy of the main political and
military actors, including Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld,
Ashcroft, Tenet, Armitage, Rice, et al. As long as the Bush
Cabinet is considered a «legitimate government» in the
eyes of the people and World public opinion, it will carry
out the Iraqi invasion plan, whether it has public support
or not.
In other words, this legitimacy must be challenged.
Similarly in Britain, where a majority of the population is
against the US-led war, actions must be launched which
ultimately result in the downfall of the Blair Cabinet and
the withdrawal of Britain from the US-led military
coalition.
A necessary condition for bringing down the rulers is to
weaken and eventually dismantle their propaganda
campaign. How best to achieve this objective? By fully
uncovering the lies behind the « war on terrorism» and
revealing the complicity of the Bush administration in the
events of 9/11.
This is a big hoax, it?s the biggest lie in US history. The
war pretext does not stick and the rulers should be
removed.
Moreover, it is important to show that « Enemy Number
One » is fabricated. The terrorist attacks are indeed real,
but who is behind them? The covert operations in support
of terrorist organisations, including the history of Al
Qaeda?s links to the CIA since the Soviet Afghan war,
must be fully revealed because they relate directly to the
wave of terrorist attacks which have occurred since
September 11, all of which are said to have links to Al
Qaeda.
To reverse the tide, the spreading of information at all
levels, which counteracts the propaganda campaign is
required.
The truth undermines and overshadows the lie.
And the truth is that the Bush administration is in fact
supporting international terrorism as a pretext to wage
war on Iraq.
Once this truth becomes fully understood, the legitimacy of
the rulers will collapse like a deck of cards. This is what
has to be achieved. But we can only achieve it, by
effectively counteracting the official propaganda campaign.
The momentum and success of the large anti-war rallies
in the US, the European Union and around the world,
should lay the foundations of a permanent network
composed of tens of thousands of local level anti-war
committees in neighbourhoods, work places, parishes,
schools, universities, etc. It is ultimately through this
network that the legitimacy of those who "rule in our
name will be challenged.
To shunt the Bush Administration's war plans and disable
its propaganda machine, we must, in the months ahead
reach out to our fellow citizens across the land, in the US,
Canada and around the world, to the millions of ordinary
people who have been misled on the causes and
consequences of this war, not to mention the implications
of the Bush Administration's Homeland Security
legislation, which essentially sets in place the building
blocks of a police state.
This initiative requires the spreading of information in an
extensive grassroots network, with a view to weakening
and ultimately disabling the Bush Administration?s
propaganda machine.
When the lies including those concerning September 11
are fully revealed and understood by everybody, the
legitimacy of the Bush Administration will be broken Big
Brother will have no leg to stand on, that is, no more wars
to feed on. While this will not necessarily result in a
fundamental and significant "regime change" in the US, a
new "anti-war consensus" will have emerged, which will
eventually pave the way for a broader struggle against the
New World Order and the American Empire's quest for
global domination.
_______________
NOTES
1. Washington Post, 25 January 2003.
2. Ibid
3 Chicago Sun, 31 December 2002.
4 Reuters, 21 February 2003
5. See Ian Woods, Conspiracy of Silence, McKinney
Vindicated, Global Outlook, No. 2, 2002.
6. Coleen Rowley, Memo To FBI Director Robert Mueller,
quoted in Global Outlook, No. 3, 2003, p. 28.
7. The Boston Globe, 5 June 2002.
8. Insight on the News, 3 February 2003.
9. UPI, 19 December 2002.
10. New York Times, 6 January 2003.
11. Toronto Star, 5 January 2003.
12. The Scotsman, 8 January 2003.
13. UPI, 10 December 2002.
14. AFP, 3 January 2003.
15. See Richard Sanders, War Pretext Incidents, How to
Start a War, Global Outlook, published in two parts, Issues
2 and 3, 2002-2003.
16.Operation Northwoods, declassified top secret document
sent by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defence
Robert McNamara on March 13, 1962,
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/NOR111A.html .
17. William Arkin, The Secret War, The Los Angeles
Times, 27 October 2002.
18. See Michel Chossudovsky, War and Globalisation, The
Truth behind September 11, Global Outlook, 2003, Chapter
3, http://globalresearch.ca/globaloutlook/truth911.html
19. See Clinton-Approved Iranian Arms Transfers Help
Turn Bosnia into Militant Islamic Base, Congressional
Press Release, US Congress, 16 January 1997,
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/DCH109A.html
20. UPI, 6 January 2002.
21. International Crisis Group, Indonesia Backgrounder:
How The Jemaah Islamiyah Terrorist Network Operates,
http://www.crisisweb.org/projects/showreport.cfm?reportid=845
, 2003
22, Raymond Bonner and Jane Perlez, More Attacks on
Westerners Are Expected in Indonesia, New York Times,
25 November 2002
23. Quoted in Raymond Bonner and Jane Perlez, op cit.
24. USA Today, 15 October 2002.
25. Business AM, 15 October 2002.
26. Christchurch Press, 22 November 2002), (Similar
warnings were made by the CIA).
27. Operation Northwoods, op cit.
28. Insight on the News, 3 February 2003.
29. Council on Foreign Relations at:
http://www.terrorismanswers.com/groups/harakat2.html ,
Washington 2002.
30. See K. Subrahmanyam, Pakistan is Pursuing Asian
Goals, India Abroad, 3 November 1995.
-------------------------
ANNEX
Supporting evidence that successive US administrations
have supported Al Qaeda is summarized below (references
are provided to a selected bibliography):
The "Islamic Brigades" are a creation of US foreign policy.
In the post-Cold War era, the CIA continues to support
and use Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda in its covert
operations. In standard CIA jargon, Al Qaeda is
categorized as an "intelligence asset".
The U.S. Congress has documented in detail, the links of
Al Qaeda to agencies of the U.S. government during the
civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as in Kosovo and
Macedonia.
The evidence confirms that Al Qaeda is supported by
Pakistan's military intelligence, the Inter-services
Intelligence (ISI). Amply documented, the ISI, allegedly
played an undercover role in financing the 9/11 attacks.
The ISI has a close working relationship with the CIA.
Pakistan?s ISI has consistently supported various Islamic
terrorist organizations, while also collaborating with the
CIA.
These various terrorist groups supported by Pakistan?s ISI
operate with some degree of autonomy in relation to their
covert sponsors, but ultimately they act in the way which
serves US interests.
The CIA keeps track of its "intelligence assets". Amply
documented, Osama bin Laden's whereabouts are known.
Al Qaeda is infiltrated by the CIA. In other words, there
were no "intelligence failures"! The 9-11 terrorists did not
act on their own volition. The suicide hijackers were
instruments in a carefully planned intelligence operation.
For further details consult: Centre for Research on
Globalization, 9/11 Reader, which constitutes and
extensive bibliography at
http://globalresearch.ca//by-topic/sept11/
See also Michel Chossudovsky, War and Globalisation,
The Truth behind September 11, Global Outlook, 2002
http://globalresearch.ca/globaloutlook/truth911.html
Centre for Research on Globalization, Foreknowledge of
9/11 A Compilation of CRG articles and documents in
support of a 9-11 Investigation,
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CRG204A.html
---
Michel Chossudovsky is author of War and Globalisation,
the Truth behind September 11, for details see
http://globalresearch.ca/globaloutlook/truth911.html
Copyright Michel Chossudovsky, CRG 2002. All rights
reserved. Permission is granted to post this text on
non-commercial community internet sites, provided the
source and the URL are indicated, the essay remains intact
and the copyright note is displayed. To publish this text in
printed and/or other forms, including commercial internet
sites and excerpts, contact the CRG at
editor@...
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 02:43:23 -0500
From: Michel Chossudovsky
It is the Bush Administration, rather than Baghdad,
which is supporting Al Qaeda
FABRICATING AN ENEMY
by Michel Chossudovsky
www.globalresearch.ca , 28 January / janvier 2003
The URL of this article is:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO301B.html
* * *
Part II of a two part Series. Part I was entitled: War
Propaganda. See:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO301A.html
One of the main objectives of war propaganda is to
«fabricate an enemy» . As anti-war sentiment grows and
the political legitimacy the Bush Administration falters,
doubts regarding the existence of this "outside enemy"
must be dispelled.
As the date of the planned invasion of Iraq approaches, the
Bush Administration and its indefectible British ally have
multiplied the "warnings" of future Al Qaeda terrorist
attacks. The enemy has to appear genuine: thousands of
news stories and editorials linking Al Qaeda to the
Baghdad government are planted in the news chain. Colin
Powell underscored this relationship in his presentation to
the Davos World Economic Forum in January. Iraq is
casually presented in official statements and in the media
as "a haven for and supplier of the terror network":
"Evidence that is still tightly held is accumulating within
the administration that it is not a matter of chance that
terror groups in the al Qaeda universe have made their
weapons of choice the poisons, gases and chemical devices
that are signature arms of the Iraqi regime."1
In this context, propaganda purports to drown the truth,
and kill the evidence on how Osama bin Laden?s Al Qaeda
was fabricated and transformed into "Enemy Number
One".
Meanwhile, "anti-terrorist operations" directed against
Muslims, including arbitrary mass arrests have been
stepped up. In the US, emergency measures are
contemplated in the case of war. The corporate media is
busy preparing public opinion. A «national emergency» is
said to be justified because «America is under attack»:
« the U.S. and Western interests in the Western world
have to be prepared for retaliatory attacks from sleeper
cells the second we launch an attack in Iraq.» 2
Defence of the Homeland
Emergency procedures are already in place. The Secretary
of Homeland Defence -whose mandate is to «safeguard
the nation from terrorist attacks»-- has already been
granted the authority « to take control of a national
emergency», implying the establishment of de facto
military rule. In turn, the newly established Northern
Command would be put in charge of military operations in
the US «war on terrorism » theatre.
The Smallpox Vaccination Program
In the context of these emergency measures, preparations
for compulsory smallpox vaccination are already under
way in response to a presumed threat of a biological
weapons attack on US soil. The vaccination program
which has been the object of intense media propaganda--
would be launched with the sole purpose of creating an
atmosphere of panic among the population:
«A few infected individuals with a stack of plane
tickets--or bus tickets, for that matter--could spread
smallpox infection across the country, touching off a
plague of large proportions ?. It is not inconceivable that a
North Korea or an Iraq could retain smallpox in a hidden
lab and pass the deadly agent on to terrorists.»3
The hidden agenda is crystal clear. How best to discredit
the anti-war movement and maintain the legitimacy of
the State? Create conditions, which instill fear and hatred,
present the rulers as "guardians of the peace", committed
to weeding out terrorism and preserving democracy. In the
words of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, echoing
almost verbatim the US propaganda dispatches:
"?I believe it is inevitable that they will try in some form or
other,? ?I think we can see evidence from the recent arrests
that the terrorist network is here as it is around the rest of
Europe, around the rest of the world? The most frightening
thing about these people is the possible coming together of
fanaticism and the technology capable of delivering mass
destruction.?"4
Mass Arrests
The mass arrests of individuals of Middle Eastern origin
since September 11 2001 on trumped up charges is not
motivated by security considerations. Their main function
is to provide "credibility" to the fear and propaganda
campaign. Each arrest, amply publicised by the corporate
media, repeated day after day "gives a face" to this
invisible enemy. It also serves to drown the fact that Al
Qaeda is a creature of the CIA. "Enemy Number One" is
not an enemy but an instrument.)
In other words, the Propaganda campaign performs two
important functions.
First it must ensure that the enemy is considered a real
threat.
Second, it must distort the truth, --i.e. it must conceal
"the relationship" between this "fabricated enemy" and its
creators within the military-intelligence apparatus.
In other words, the nature and history of Osama bin
Laden?s Al Qaeda and the Islamic brigades since the
Soviet-Afghan war must be suppressed because if it
trickles down to the broader public, the legitimacy of the
so-called "war on terrorism" collapses like a deck of cards.
And in the process, the legitimacy of the main political and
military actors is threatened.
The "9/11 Foreknowledge" Scandal
On 16 May 2002, the New York tabloids revealed that
"President Bush had been warned of possible high jacking
before the terror attacks" and had failed to act.5
The disinformation campaign was visibly stalling in the
face of mounting evidence of CIA-Osama links. For the
first time since 9/11, the mainstream press had hinted to
the possibility of a cover-up at the highest echelons of the
US State apparatus.
FBI Agent Coleen Rowley, who blew the whistle on the
FBI, played a key role in unleashing the crisis. Her
controversial Memo to FBI Director Robert Mueller
pointed to the existence of "deliberate roadblocks" on the
investigation of the September 11 attacks:
"Minutes after the 9/11 attacks the SSA [David Frasca,
Director of the Radical Fundamentalist unit in the FBI]
said ?this was probably all just a coincidence? and we were
to do nothing until we got their permission, because we
might screw up something else going on elsewhere in the
country" 6
In response to an impending political crisis, the fear and
disinformation campaign went into overdrive. The news
chain was all of a sudden inundated with reports and
warnings of "future terrorist attacks". A carefully worded
statement (visibly intended to instill fear) by Vice
President Dick Cheney contributed to setting the stage:
"I think that the prospects of a future attack on the U.S.
are almost a certainty... It could happen tomorrow, it could
happen next week, it could happen next year, but they will
keep trying. And we have to be prepared."7
What Cheney is really telling us is that our "intelligence
asset", which we created, is going to strike again. Now, if
this "CIA creature" were planning new terrorist attacks,
you would expect that the CIA would be first to know
about it. In all likelihood, the CIA also controls the
so-called ?warnings' emanating from CIA sources on
"future terrorist attacks" in the US and around the World.
Propaganda?s Consistent Pattern
Upon careful examination of news reports on actual,
"possible" or "future" terrorist attacks, the propaganda
campaign exhibits a consistent pattern. Similar concepts
appear simultaneously in hundreds of media reports:
they refer to "reliable sources", a growing body of evidence
--e.g. government or intelligence or FBI.
They invariably indicate that the terrorist groups involved
have "ties to bin Laden" or Al Qaeda, or are "sympathetic
to bin Laden",
The reports often points to the possibility of terrorist
attacks, "sooner or later" or "in the next two months".
The reports often raise the issue of so-called "soft targets",
pointing to the likelihood of civilian casualties.
They indicate that future terrorist attacks could take place
in a number of allied countries (including Britain, France,
Germany) in which public opinion is strongly opposed to
the US-led war on terrorism.
They confirm the need by the US and its allies to initiate
"pre-emptive" actions directed against these various
terrorist organizations and/or the foreign governments
which harbour the terrorists.
They often point to the likelihood that these terrorist
groups possess WMD including biological and chemical
weapons (as well as nuclear weapons). The links to Iraq
and "rogue states" (discussed in Part I) is also mentioned.
The warnings also include warnings regarding "attacks on
US soil", attacks against civilians in Western cities.
They point to efforts undertaken by the police authorities
to apprehend the alleged terrorists.
The arrested individuals are in virtually all cases Muslims
and/or of Middle Eastern origin.
The reports are also used to justify the Homeland Security
legislation as well as the "ethnic profiling" and mass
arrests of presumed terrorists.
This pattern of disinformation in the Western media
applies the usual catch phrases and buzz words. (See press
excerpts below. The relevant catch phrases are indicated in
italics):
"Published reports, along with new information obtained
from U.S. intelligence and military sources, point to a
growing body of evidence that terrorists associated with
and/or sympathetic to Osama bin Laden are planning a
significant attack on U.S. soil.
Also targeted are allied countries that have joined the
worldwide hunt for the radical Muslim cells hell-bent on
unleashing new waves of terrorist strikes. ? The U.S.
government's activation of antiterrorist forces comes as the
FBI issued a warning Nov. 14 that a "spectacular" new
terrorist attack may be forthcoming - sooner rather than
later. ...
Elsewhere, the Australian government issued an
unprecedented warning to its citizens that al-Qaeda
terrorists there might launch attacks within the next two
months. 8
Although CIA Director George Tenet said in recent
congressional testimony that "an attempt to conduct
another attack on U.S. soil is certain," a trio of former
senior CIA officials doubted the chance of any
"spectacular" terror attacks on U.S. soil.9
"Germans have been skittish since the terrorist attacks in
the United States, fearing that their country is a ripe target
for terrorism. Several of the hijackers in the Sept. 11
attacks plotted their moves in Hamburg.10
"On Dec. 18, a senior government official, speaking on
condition of anonymity, briefed journalists about the ?high
probability? of a terrorist attack happening ?sooner or
later.? ? he named hotels and shopping centres as potential
?soft targets?? The official also specifically mentioned: a
possible chemical attack in the London subway, the
unleashing of smallpox, the poisoning of the water supply
and strikes against "postcard targets" such as Big Ben and
Canary Warf.
The "sooner or later" alert followed a Home Office
warning at the end of November that said Islamic radicals
might use dirty bombs or poison gas to inflict huge
casualties on British cities. This also made big headlines
but the warning was quickly retracted in fear that it would
cause public panic. 11
The message yesterday was that these terrorists, however
obscure, are trying - and, sooner or later, may break
through London's defences. It is a city where tens of
thousands of souls,? Experts have repeatedly said that the
UK, with its bullish support for the US and its war on
terror, is a genuine and realistic target for terror groups,
including the al- Qaeda network led by 11 September
mastermind Osama bin Laden.12
Quoting Margaret Thatcher: "Only America has the reach
and means to deal with Osama bin Laden or Saddam
Hussein or the other wicked psychopaths who will sooner
or later step into their shoes."13
According to a recent US State Department alert:
"Increased security at official US facilities has led
terrorists to seek softer targets such as residential areas,
clubs, restaurants, places of worship, hotels, schools,
outdoor recreation events, resorts, beaches and planes."14
Actual Terrorist Attacks
To be "effective" the fear and disinformation campaign
cannot solely rely on unsubstantiated "warnings" of future
attacks, it also requires "real" terrorist occurrences or
"incidents", which provide credibility to the
Administration?s war plans. Propaganda endorses the need
to implement "emergency measures" as well as implement
retaliatory military actions.
The triggering of "war pretext incidents" is part of the
Pentagon?s assumptions. In fact it is an integral part of US
military history.15 In fact in 1962, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
had envisaged a secret plan entitled "Operation
Northwoods, to deliberately trigger civilian casualties to
justify the invasion of Cuba:
"We could blow up a U.S. ship in Guantanamo Bay and
blame Cuba," "We could develop a Communist Cuban
terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities
and even in Washington" "casualty lists in U.S.
newspapers would cause a helpful wave of national
indignation." (See the declassified Top Secret 1962
document titled "Justification for U.S. Military
Intervention in Cuba"16 (See Operation Northwoods at
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/NOR111A.html ).
There is no evidence that the Pentagon or the CIA played
a direct role in recent terrorist attacks. The latter were
undertaken by organisations (or cells of these
organisations), which operate quite independently, with a
certain degree of autonomy. This independence is in the
very nature of a covert intelligence operation. The
«intelligence asset» is not in direct contact with its covert
sponsors. It is not necessarily cognizant of the role it plays
on behalf of its intelligence sponsors.
The fundamental question is who is behind them? Through
what sources are they being financed? What is the
underlying network of ties?
A recent (2002) classified outbrief drafted to guide the
Pentagon «calls for the creation of a so-called « Proactive,
Pre-emptive Operations Group » (P2OG), to launch secret
operations aimed at "stimulating reactions" among
terrorists and states possessing weapons of mass
destruction -- that is, for instance, prodding terrorist cells
into action and exposing themselves to "quick-response"
attacks by U.S. forces.» 17
The P2OG initiative is nothing new. It essentially extends
an existing apparatus of covert operations. Amply
documented, the CIA has supported terrorist groups since
the Cold War era. This « prodding of terrorist cells » under
covert intelligence operations often requires the infiltration
and training of the radical groups linked to Al Qaeda.
Covert support by the US military and intelligence
apparatus has been channelled to various Islamic terrorist
organisations through a complex network of intermediaries
and intelligence proxies. Moreover, numerous official
statements, intelligence reports confirm recent links (in the
post Cold War era) between US military-intelligence units
and Al Qaeda operatives, as occurred in Bosnia (mid
1990s), Kosovo (1998-99) and Macedonia (2001).18 The
Republican Party Committee of the US Congress in a 1997
report points to open collaboration between the US
military and Al Qaeda operatives in the civil war in
Bosnia.19 (See US Congress, 16 January 1997,
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/DCH109A.html )
Ties to Al Qaeda and Pakistan?s Military Intelligence
(ISI)
It is indeed revealing that in virtually all post 9/11 terrorist
occurrences, the terrorist organization is said to have "ties
to Osama bin Laden?s Al Qaeda". This in itself is a crucial
piece of information. Of course, the fact that Al Qaeda is a
creature of the CIA is neither mentioned in the press
reports nor is considered relevant.
The ties of these terrorist organizations (particularly those
in Asia) to Pakistan?s military intelligence (ISI) is
acknowledged in a few cases by official sources and press
dispatches. Confirmed by the Council on Foreign Relations
(CFR), some of these groups are said to have links to
Pakistan?s ISI, without identifying the nature of these
links. Needless to say, this information is crucial in
identifying the sponsors of these terrorist attacks. In other
words, the ISI is said to support these terrorist
organizations, while at same time maintaining close ties to
the CIA.
The Bali Bomb Attack (October 2002)
The Bali attack in the Kuta seaside resort resulted in close
to 200 deaths, mainly Australian tourists. The bomb attack
was allegedly perpetrated by Jemaah Islamiah, a group,
which operates in several countries in South East Asia.
Press reports and official statements point to close ties
between Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and Al Qaeda. The JI?s
"operational leader" is Riduan Isamuddin, alias Hambali, a
veteran of the Soviet-Afghan war, who was trained in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to a report by UPI:
"The [Soviet-Afghan] war provided opportunities for key
figures of these groups, who went to Afghanistan, to
experience firsthand the glory of jihad. Many of the
radicals detained in Singapore and Malaysia derived their
ideological inspiration from the activities of the
Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Pakistan" 20
What the report fails to mention is that the training of the
Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Pakistan was a CIA
sponsored initiative launched under President Jimmy
Carter in 1979, using Pakistan?s ISI as a go-between.
JI?s links to Indonesia?s Military Intelligence
There are indications, that in addition to its alleged links to
Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiah also has links to Indonesia?s
military intelligence, which in turn has links to the CIA
and Australian intelligence.
The links between JI and Indonesia?s Intelligence Agency
(BIN) are acknowledged by the International Crisis Group
(ICG):
"This link [of JI to the BIN] needs to be explored more
fully: it does not necessarily mean that military intelligence
was working with JI, but it does raise a question about the
extent to which it knew or could have found out more
about JI than it has acknowledged." 21 (International
Crisis Group,
http://www.crisisweb.org/projects/showreport.cfm?reportid=845
, 2003)
The ICG, however, fails to mention that Indonesia?s
intelligence apparatus has for more than 30 years been
controlled by the CIA.
In the wake of the October 2002 Bali bombing, a
contradictory report emanating from Indonesia?s top brass,
pointed to the involvement of both the head of Indonesian
intelligence General A. M. Hendropriyono as well as the
CIA:
"The agency and its director, Gen. A. M. Hendropriyono,
are well regarded by the United States and other
governments. But there are still senior intelligence officers
here who believe that the C.I.A. was behind the
bombing."22
In response to these statements, the Bush Administration
demanded that President Megawati Sukarnoputri, publicly
refute the involvement of the U.S in the attacks. No
official retraction was issued. Not only did President.
Megawati remained silent on this matter, she also accused
the US of being:
"a superpower that forced the rest of the world to go along
with it? We see how ambition to conquer other nations has
led to a situation where there is no more peace unless the
whole world is complying with the will of the one with the
power and strength." 23
Meanwhile, the Bush Administration, had used the Bali
attacks to prop up its fear campaign:
"President Bush said Monday that he assumes al-Qaeda
was responsible for the deadly bombing in Indonesia and
that he is worried about fresh attacks on the United
States." 24
The news [regarding the Bali attack] came as US
intelligence officials warned that more attacks like the
Indonesian bombing can be expected in the next few
months, in Europe, the Far East or the US."25
Cover-up
The links of JI to the Indonesian intelligence agency were
never raised in the official Indonesian government
investigation --which was guided behind the scenes by
Australian intelligence and the CIA.
Moreover, shortly after the bombing, Australian Prime
Minister John Howard "admitted that Australian
authorities were warned about possible attacks in Bali but
chose not to issue a warning."26 Also In the wake of the
bombings, the Australian government chose to work with
Indonesia?s Special Forces the Kopassus, in the so-called
"war on terrorism".
Australia: "Useful Wave of Indignation"
Reminiscent of Operation Northwoods, the Bali attack
served to trigger "a useful wave of indignation."27 They
contributed to swaying Australian public opinion in favour
of the US invasion of Iraq, while weakening the anti-war
protest movement. In the wake of the Bali attack, the
Australian government "officially" joined the US-led "war
on terrorism." It has not only used the Bali bombings as a
pretext to fully integrate the US-UK military axis, it has
also adopted drastic police measures including "ethnic
profiling" directed against its own citizens:
Prime Minister John Howard made the extraordinary
declaration recently that he is prepared to make
pre-emptive military strikes against terrorists in
neighbouring Asian countries planning to attack Australia.
Australian intelligence agencies also are very worried
about the likelihood of an al-Qaeda attack using nuclear
weapons.28
The Attacks on the Indian Parliament (December 2001)
The December 2001 terrorist attacks on the Indian
Parliament --which contributed to pushing India and
Pakistan to the brink of war-- were allegedly conducted
by two Pakistan-based rebel groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba
("Army of the Pure") and Jaish-e-Muhammad ("Army of
Mohammed"). The press reports acknowledged the ties of
both groups to Al Qaeda, without however mentioning
that they were directly supported by Pakistan=s ISI. The
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) confirms in this
regard that:
"through its Interservices Intelligence agency (ISI),
Pakistan has provided funding, arms, training facilities,
and aid in crossing borders to Lashkar and Jaish?Many
were given ideological training in the same madrasas, or
Muslim seminaries, that taught the Taliban and foreign
fighters in Afghanistan. They received military training at
camps in Afghanistan or in villages in Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir. Extremist groups [supported by the ISI] have
recently opened several new madrasas in Azad
Kashmir."29 (Council on Foreign Relations at
http://www.terrorismanswers.com/groups/harakat2.html ,
Washington 2002)
What the CFR fails to mention is the crucial relationship
between the ISI and the CIA and the fact that the ISI
continues to support Lashkar, Jaish and the militant
Jammu and Kashmir Hizbul Mujahideen (JKHM), while
also collaborating with the CIA. Ironically, confirmed by
the writings of Zbigniew Brzezinski (who happens to be a
member of the CFR), the training of these "foreign
fighters" was an initiative of US foreign policy, launched
during the Carter Administration in 1979 at the outset of
the Soviet-Afghan war. Coinciding with the 1989 Geneva
Peace Agreement and the Soviet withdrawal from
Afghanistan, the ISI was instrumental in the creation of
the militant Jammu and Kashmir Hizbul Mujahideen
(JKHM).30 The timely attack on the Indian Parliament,
followed by the ethnic riots in Gujarat in early 2002, were
the culmination of a process initiated in the 1980s,
financed by drug money and abetted by Pakistan?s military
intelligence.
Dismantling the Propaganda Campaign, Building an
Anti-War Consensus
We are at the juncture of the most serious crisis in modern
history, requiring an unprecedented degree of solidarity,
courage and commitment. America's war, which includes
the "first strike" use of nuclear weapons, threatens the
future of humanity.
Much of the justification for waging this war without
borders rests on the legitimacy of the Bush
administration?s anti-terrorist programme. The latter
forms part of the propaganda campaign, which in turn is
used to sway the US population into an unconditional
acceptance of the war agenda.
In the US, and around the world, the anti-war movement
has gained in impetus. While millions of people have joined
hands in opposing the war, the Bush Administration's fear
and disinformation campaign, relayed by the corporate
media, has served to uphold the shaky legitimacy of the
Bush administration.
At this critical crossroads, the anti-war/pro-democracy
movement must necessarily move to a higher plane, which
addresses the main functions of the Administration's
propaganda machine. The main purpose of propaganda is
to sustain the legitimacy of the rulers and ensure that the
rulers remain in power.
Undermining the Bush Administration's « Right to Rule»
In other words, the mobilization of antiwar sentiment in
itself will not reverse the tide of war.
What is needed is to consistently challenge the legitimacy
of the main political and military actors, reveal the true
face of the American Empire and the underlying
criminalisation of foreign policy. Ultimately what is
required is to question and eventually undermine the Bush
Administration's «right to rule».
Revealing the lies behind the Bush Administration is the
basis for destroying the legitimacy of the main political and
military actors.
Even if a majority of the population is against the war, this
in itself will not prevent the war from occurring. The
propaganda campaign?s objective is to sustain the lies
which support the legitimacy of the main political and
military actors, including Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld,
Ashcroft, Tenet, Armitage, Rice, et al. As long as the Bush
Cabinet is considered a «legitimate government» in the
eyes of the people and World public opinion, it will carry
out the Iraqi invasion plan, whether it has public support
or not.
In other words, this legitimacy must be challenged.
Similarly in Britain, where a majority of the population is
against the US-led war, actions must be launched which
ultimately result in the downfall of the Blair Cabinet and
the withdrawal of Britain from the US-led military
coalition.
A necessary condition for bringing down the rulers is to
weaken and eventually dismantle their propaganda
campaign. How best to achieve this objective? By fully
uncovering the lies behind the « war on terrorism» and
revealing the complicity of the Bush administration in the
events of 9/11.
This is a big hoax, it?s the biggest lie in US history. The
war pretext does not stick and the rulers should be
removed.
Moreover, it is important to show that « Enemy Number
One » is fabricated. The terrorist attacks are indeed real,
but who is behind them? The covert operations in support
of terrorist organisations, including the history of Al
Qaeda?s links to the CIA since the Soviet Afghan war,
must be fully revealed because they relate directly to the
wave of terrorist attacks which have occurred since
September 11, all of which are said to have links to Al
Qaeda.
To reverse the tide, the spreading of information at all
levels, which counteracts the propaganda campaign is
required.
The truth undermines and overshadows the lie.
And the truth is that the Bush administration is in fact
supporting international terrorism as a pretext to wage
war on Iraq.
Once this truth becomes fully understood, the legitimacy of
the rulers will collapse like a deck of cards. This is what
has to be achieved. But we can only achieve it, by
effectively counteracting the official propaganda campaign.
The momentum and success of the large anti-war rallies
in the US, the European Union and around the world,
should lay the foundations of a permanent network
composed of tens of thousands of local level anti-war
committees in neighbourhoods, work places, parishes,
schools, universities, etc. It is ultimately through this
network that the legitimacy of those who "rule in our
name will be challenged.
To shunt the Bush Administration's war plans and disable
its propaganda machine, we must, in the months ahead
reach out to our fellow citizens across the land, in the US,
Canada and around the world, to the millions of ordinary
people who have been misled on the causes and
consequences of this war, not to mention the implications
of the Bush Administration's Homeland Security
legislation, which essentially sets in place the building
blocks of a police state.
This initiative requires the spreading of information in an
extensive grassroots network, with a view to weakening
and ultimately disabling the Bush Administration?s
propaganda machine.
When the lies including those concerning September 11
are fully revealed and understood by everybody, the
legitimacy of the Bush Administration will be broken Big
Brother will have no leg to stand on, that is, no more wars
to feed on. While this will not necessarily result in a
fundamental and significant "regime change" in the US, a
new "anti-war consensus" will have emerged, which will
eventually pave the way for a broader struggle against the
New World Order and the American Empire's quest for
global domination.
_______________
NOTES
1. Washington Post, 25 January 2003.
2. Ibid
3 Chicago Sun, 31 December 2002.
4 Reuters, 21 February 2003
5. See Ian Woods, Conspiracy of Silence, McKinney
Vindicated, Global Outlook, No. 2, 2002.
6. Coleen Rowley, Memo To FBI Director Robert Mueller,
quoted in Global Outlook, No. 3, 2003, p. 28.
7. The Boston Globe, 5 June 2002.
8. Insight on the News, 3 February 2003.
9. UPI, 19 December 2002.
10. New York Times, 6 January 2003.
11. Toronto Star, 5 January 2003.
12. The Scotsman, 8 January 2003.
13. UPI, 10 December 2002.
14. AFP, 3 January 2003.
15. See Richard Sanders, War Pretext Incidents, How to
Start a War, Global Outlook, published in two parts, Issues
2 and 3, 2002-2003.
16.Operation Northwoods, declassified top secret document
sent by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defence
Robert McNamara on March 13, 1962,
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/NOR111A.html .
17. William Arkin, The Secret War, The Los Angeles
Times, 27 October 2002.
18. See Michel Chossudovsky, War and Globalisation, The
Truth behind September 11, Global Outlook, 2003, Chapter
3, http://globalresearch.ca/globaloutlook/truth911.html
19. See Clinton-Approved Iranian Arms Transfers Help
Turn Bosnia into Militant Islamic Base, Congressional
Press Release, US Congress, 16 January 1997,
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/DCH109A.html
20. UPI, 6 January 2002.
21. International Crisis Group, Indonesia Backgrounder:
How The Jemaah Islamiyah Terrorist Network Operates,
http://www.crisisweb.org/projects/showreport.cfm?reportid=845
, 2003
22, Raymond Bonner and Jane Perlez, More Attacks on
Westerners Are Expected in Indonesia, New York Times,
25 November 2002
23. Quoted in Raymond Bonner and Jane Perlez, op cit.
24. USA Today, 15 October 2002.
25. Business AM, 15 October 2002.
26. Christchurch Press, 22 November 2002), (Similar
warnings were made by the CIA).
27. Operation Northwoods, op cit.
28. Insight on the News, 3 February 2003.
29. Council on Foreign Relations at:
http://www.terrorismanswers.com/groups/harakat2.html ,
Washington 2002.
30. See K. Subrahmanyam, Pakistan is Pursuing Asian
Goals, India Abroad, 3 November 1995.
-------------------------
ANNEX
Supporting evidence that successive US administrations
have supported Al Qaeda is summarized below (references
are provided to a selected bibliography):
The "Islamic Brigades" are a creation of US foreign policy.
In the post-Cold War era, the CIA continues to support
and use Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda in its covert
operations. In standard CIA jargon, Al Qaeda is
categorized as an "intelligence asset".
The U.S. Congress has documented in detail, the links of
Al Qaeda to agencies of the U.S. government during the
civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as in Kosovo and
Macedonia.
The evidence confirms that Al Qaeda is supported by
Pakistan's military intelligence, the Inter-services
Intelligence (ISI). Amply documented, the ISI, allegedly
played an undercover role in financing the 9/11 attacks.
The ISI has a close working relationship with the CIA.
Pakistan?s ISI has consistently supported various Islamic
terrorist organizations, while also collaborating with the
CIA.
These various terrorist groups supported by Pakistan?s ISI
operate with some degree of autonomy in relation to their
covert sponsors, but ultimately they act in the way which
serves US interests.
The CIA keeps track of its "intelligence assets". Amply
documented, Osama bin Laden's whereabouts are known.
Al Qaeda is infiltrated by the CIA. In other words, there
were no "intelligence failures"! The 9-11 terrorists did not
act on their own volition. The suicide hijackers were
instruments in a carefully planned intelligence operation.
For further details consult: Centre for Research on
Globalization, 9/11 Reader, which constitutes and
extensive bibliography at
http://globalresearch.ca//by-topic/sept11/
See also Michel Chossudovsky, War and Globalisation,
The Truth behind September 11, Global Outlook, 2002
http://globalresearch.ca/globaloutlook/truth911.html
Centre for Research on Globalization, Foreknowledge of
9/11 A Compilation of CRG articles and documents in
support of a 9-11 Investigation,
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CRG204A.html
---
Michel Chossudovsky is author of War and Globalisation,
the Truth behind September 11, for details see
http://globalresearch.ca/globaloutlook/truth911.html
Copyright Michel Chossudovsky, CRG 2002. All rights
reserved. Permission is granted to post this text on
non-commercial community internet sites, provided the
source and the URL are indicated, the essay remains intact
and the copyright note is displayed. To publish this text in
printed and/or other forms, including commercial internet
sites and excerpts, contact the CRG at
editor@...
ventiquattromarzonovantanove (1):
IL PERICOLO-BOMBE A NOVI SAD NON E' FINITO
===
BOMBE DELLA NATO ANCORA IN FONDO AL FIUME
BELGRADO. Secondo un portavoce del governo di Belgrado, ancora
moltissime bombe inesplose della NATO si trovano nel Danubio. La
situazione e' particolarmente difficile a Bogojevo, Backa Palanka,
Novi Sad, Beska, Pancevo, Ivanovo, Smederevo, Kovin e Prahovo.
Nel corso della aggressione alla Serbia, la NATO ha bombardato in
maniera particolarmente dura zone a grande distanza dai territori del
Kosovo-Metohija oggetto del conflitto. Le citta' e localita' sopra
elencate si trovano a piu' di 500 chilometri dai confini tra Serbia ed
Albania e non avevano alcun significato militare nel corso della
guerra. STIMME KOSOVOS
+++NATO-BOMBEN IN DONAU
BELGRAD. Wie ein Sprecher der Regierung in Belgrad
erklärte, befinden sich noch sehr viele
Nichtexplodierte NATO-Bomben in der Donau.
Besonders schwierig ist die Lage in Bogojevo, Backa
Palanka, Novi Sad, Beska, Pancevo, Ivanovo,
Smederevo, Kovin und Prahovo.
Die NATO hat während der Aggression gegen Serbien
besonders schwer die weit von dem tatsächlich
umkämpften Gebieten in der serbischen Provinz
Kosovo und Metochien bombardiert. Die oben
genannten Städte und Ortschaften sind mehr als 500
Kilometer von der serbisch albanischen Grenze
entfernt und hatten keine militärische Rolle
während des Krieges. STIMME KOSOVOS+++
(Aus: Balkan-Telegramm, 29/1/2003 -
http://www.amselfeld.com/ )
===
JUGOSLAVIA: RAID NATO FANNO ANCORA VITTIME DOPO TRE ANNI
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 21 NOV - A oltre tre anni dalla loro conclusione, i
raid della Nato contro la Jugoslavia hanno fatto tre vittime nelle
ultime due settimane: una persona e' morta e due sono rimaste
gravemente ferite dopo essere precipitate in automobile da due
dei ponti distrutti dalle bombe alleate.
Gli incidenti sono avvenuti il 3 novembre a Ostruznica, sul fiume
Sava, e ieri sera a Novi Sad, sul Danubio. Nel primo
caso, un'automobile con a bordo due giovani che non avevano visto la
segnaletica all'ingresso del ponte e' precipitata per trenta metri
schiantandosi sulla sponda. Miracolosamente, i due ragazzi sono
sopravvissuti, e i medici sono riusciti a salvarli. Piu' sfortunata la
terza vittima, Milomir Markovic, che ieri sera ha imboccato l'unico
ponte ancora non ricostruito rimasto a Novi Sad. La sua automobile e'
precipitata su una spiaggia sottostante, e l'uomo e' morto sul colpo.
(ANSA). OT 21/11/2002 18:19
(Fonte: http://www.ansa.it/balcani/ )
IL PERICOLO-BOMBE A NOVI SAD NON E' FINITO
===
BOMBE DELLA NATO ANCORA IN FONDO AL FIUME
BELGRADO. Secondo un portavoce del governo di Belgrado, ancora
moltissime bombe inesplose della NATO si trovano nel Danubio. La
situazione e' particolarmente difficile a Bogojevo, Backa Palanka,
Novi Sad, Beska, Pancevo, Ivanovo, Smederevo, Kovin e Prahovo.
Nel corso della aggressione alla Serbia, la NATO ha bombardato in
maniera particolarmente dura zone a grande distanza dai territori del
Kosovo-Metohija oggetto del conflitto. Le citta' e localita' sopra
elencate si trovano a piu' di 500 chilometri dai confini tra Serbia ed
Albania e non avevano alcun significato militare nel corso della
guerra. STIMME KOSOVOS
+++NATO-BOMBEN IN DONAU
BELGRAD. Wie ein Sprecher der Regierung in Belgrad
erklärte, befinden sich noch sehr viele
Nichtexplodierte NATO-Bomben in der Donau.
Besonders schwierig ist die Lage in Bogojevo, Backa
Palanka, Novi Sad, Beska, Pancevo, Ivanovo,
Smederevo, Kovin und Prahovo.
Die NATO hat während der Aggression gegen Serbien
besonders schwer die weit von dem tatsächlich
umkämpften Gebieten in der serbischen Provinz
Kosovo und Metochien bombardiert. Die oben
genannten Städte und Ortschaften sind mehr als 500
Kilometer von der serbisch albanischen Grenze
entfernt und hatten keine militärische Rolle
während des Krieges. STIMME KOSOVOS+++
(Aus: Balkan-Telegramm, 29/1/2003 -
http://www.amselfeld.com/ )
===
JUGOSLAVIA: RAID NATO FANNO ANCORA VITTIME DOPO TRE ANNI
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 21 NOV - A oltre tre anni dalla loro conclusione, i
raid della Nato contro la Jugoslavia hanno fatto tre vittime nelle
ultime due settimane: una persona e' morta e due sono rimaste
gravemente ferite dopo essere precipitate in automobile da due
dei ponti distrutti dalle bombe alleate.
Gli incidenti sono avvenuti il 3 novembre a Ostruznica, sul fiume
Sava, e ieri sera a Novi Sad, sul Danubio. Nel primo
caso, un'automobile con a bordo due giovani che non avevano visto la
segnaletica all'ingresso del ponte e' precipitata per trenta metri
schiantandosi sulla sponda. Miracolosamente, i due ragazzi sono
sopravvissuti, e i medici sono riusciti a salvarli. Piu' sfortunata la
terza vittima, Milomir Markovic, che ieri sera ha imboccato l'unico
ponte ancora non ricostruito rimasto a Novi Sad. La sua automobile e'
precipitata su una spiaggia sottostante, e l'uomo e' morto sul colpo.
(ANSA). OT 21/11/2002 18:19
(Fonte: http://www.ansa.it/balcani/ )
1. Serbia Approves Deal to Bury Yugoslavia (People's Daily, China)
2. Yugoslavia: New Year, Old Problems (I. Baskakov, PRAVDA.Ru)
=== 1 ===
http://fpeng.peopledaily.com.cn/200301/28/print20030128_110878.html
Serbia Approves Deal to Bury Yugoslavia
Serbia's parliament adopted a Western-backed accord on Monday to ditch
the bloodied Yugoslav federation in favor of a loose union with the
coastal republic of Montenegro.
Serbia and Montenegro -- which would also be the name of the new union
-- are the only two republics remaining in Yugoslavia after the old
six-member socialist federation collapsed in bloodshed during the rule
of Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s.
If the Montenegrin and the federal parliaments follow suit and approve
the agreement, the name Yugoslavia will be consigned to history after
almost 75 years' existence in various forms.
The 250-seat assembly voted with 166 deputies for and 47 against the
deal reshaping the federation into a union of Serbia and Montenegro.
After also backing implementing legislation, the assembly hall erupted
in loud applause.
Montenegro is expected to pass the new union's constitutional charter
when its parliament meets on Tuesday. It will formally become a
reality once it is approved by the federal parliament at a session
which has yet to be called.
Serbian and Montenegrin leaders agreed under European Union pressure
last year to stay together for now in a union leaving most powers in
the hands of the republics, but it took them almost a year of
wrangling to finalize the deal.
Montenegro reluctantly bowed to Western pressure and shelved plans for
breaking away from dominant Serbia for at least three years, when both
sides have the right to go it alone.
Serbia and Montenegro would have a president, to be elected by a
126-strong parliament, as well as a council of ministers including
ministers for the defense and foreign affairs.
Source: Agencies
=== 2 ===
http://english.pravda.ru/main/2003/01/14/42009.html
Read the original in Russian:
http://world.pravda.ru/world/2003/5/14/37/5482_Kosovo.html
2003.01.14/17:36
Ilya Baskakov
Special for PRAVDA.Ru
Translated by Maria Gousseva
Yugoslavia: New Year, Old Problems
Newspaper Glas Janvosti informs, participants of a
conference dedicated to ?a new stage of the Kosovo
retreat? that was held in Belgrade?s media-center,
reached a not comforting conclusion: ?The government has
no strategy for solution of the Kosovo problem.?
Vice-president of the Coordinating Center for Kosovo and
Metohija, the author of the project ?Kosovo Facing
Judgement of History?,
Branislav Krstic said that Albanians had a plan of
actions of their own. They have their plan, like the USA
and the EU countries wishing to reform the Balkans and
to give independence to Kosovo and Metohija on the sly.
Jovan Teokarevic, an analyst from the Institute for
European Studies, mentions that solution of the Kosovo
problem ?is directly connected with reforming of
Yugoslavia and the Balkans on the whole?; he also
emphasized at that there was no immediate solution of
the problem and it couldn?t be expected in the nearest
future either. The analyst is sure that only general
westernization of the region may do away with the
controversy there.
Teokarevic says that while Yugoslav politicians are
beating about the bush, only 60 Serb families got back
to Kosovo and Metohija in 2001 and 72 families in 2002.
If we take the total number of Serb families wishing to
get back home (6 thousand families) and the present-day
rate of the Serbs? return home, we may suppose that the
process will drag on for 60 years at best.
Besides Kosovo, Yugoslavia still has enough pressing
problems in the domestic policy. Belgrade?s radio B-92
recently held an interesting poll on its official
website. Guests of the site were offered to pick out the
most lying promise made by politicians last year. Tanjug
informs that main supporters of westernization, Zoran
Djindjic and Voislav Kostunica were mentioned oftener
than other politicians.
The Serbia prime minister with the hit statement of
March 15 is the leader of the poll: ?by the end of the
year, we will have an effective federal state;
authorities of the state will cost cheap enough and
powers of the leading departments will be clearly
defined.?
How is it possible to save on the governmental spending?
One of the ways out is to sell out former Serb President
Milutinovic, the same way it was done with Slobodan
Milosevic. But in fact no money is asked for the former
Serb president; there is only once condition that the
man must stay free until a trial in the Hague. (By the
way, Americans promise to make next payments to Serbia
for the selling out in March already). The authorities
are being distributed between Serbia and Montenegro so
actively, that the newly appointed foreign minister of
Montenegro declares: within the next three years he will
train diplomats of the republic for ?work under
conditions of an independent state? (he also reported
that this independent state would be undoubtedly
founded).
Yugoslavia President Voislav Kostunica with his
statement of June 15 was rated second: ?running for the
post of Serbian president is essential for me first of
all for the sake of adoption of the Constitutional
Charter.? But the things are right where they started.
So, Yugoslavia entered the new year with the following
results: with Kostunica at head, who may share the fate
of USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, the president
without his state; with Zoran Djindjic kow-towing to
Europe; still without Kosovo and without any promising
prospects at all. No new president of Serbia was
elected. According to the recent information, the former
Serb president may be delivered to the Hague on
Wednesday already.
2. Yugoslavia: New Year, Old Problems (I. Baskakov, PRAVDA.Ru)
=== 1 ===
http://fpeng.peopledaily.com.cn/200301/28/print20030128_110878.html
Serbia Approves Deal to Bury Yugoslavia
Serbia's parliament adopted a Western-backed accord on Monday to ditch
the bloodied Yugoslav federation in favor of a loose union with the
coastal republic of Montenegro.
Serbia and Montenegro -- which would also be the name of the new union
-- are the only two republics remaining in Yugoslavia after the old
six-member socialist federation collapsed in bloodshed during the rule
of Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s.
If the Montenegrin and the federal parliaments follow suit and approve
the agreement, the name Yugoslavia will be consigned to history after
almost 75 years' existence in various forms.
The 250-seat assembly voted with 166 deputies for and 47 against the
deal reshaping the federation into a union of Serbia and Montenegro.
After also backing implementing legislation, the assembly hall erupted
in loud applause.
Montenegro is expected to pass the new union's constitutional charter
when its parliament meets on Tuesday. It will formally become a
reality once it is approved by the federal parliament at a session
which has yet to be called.
Serbian and Montenegrin leaders agreed under European Union pressure
last year to stay together for now in a union leaving most powers in
the hands of the republics, but it took them almost a year of
wrangling to finalize the deal.
Montenegro reluctantly bowed to Western pressure and shelved plans for
breaking away from dominant Serbia for at least three years, when both
sides have the right to go it alone.
Serbia and Montenegro would have a president, to be elected by a
126-strong parliament, as well as a council of ministers including
ministers for the defense and foreign affairs.
Source: Agencies
=== 2 ===
http://english.pravda.ru/main/2003/01/14/42009.html
Read the original in Russian:
http://world.pravda.ru/world/2003/5/14/37/5482_Kosovo.html
2003.01.14/17:36
Ilya Baskakov
Special for PRAVDA.Ru
Translated by Maria Gousseva
Yugoslavia: New Year, Old Problems
Newspaper Glas Janvosti informs, participants of a
conference dedicated to ?a new stage of the Kosovo
retreat? that was held in Belgrade?s media-center,
reached a not comforting conclusion: ?The government has
no strategy for solution of the Kosovo problem.?
Vice-president of the Coordinating Center for Kosovo and
Metohija, the author of the project ?Kosovo Facing
Judgement of History?,
Branislav Krstic said that Albanians had a plan of
actions of their own. They have their plan, like the USA
and the EU countries wishing to reform the Balkans and
to give independence to Kosovo and Metohija on the sly.
Jovan Teokarevic, an analyst from the Institute for
European Studies, mentions that solution of the Kosovo
problem ?is directly connected with reforming of
Yugoslavia and the Balkans on the whole?; he also
emphasized at that there was no immediate solution of
the problem and it couldn?t be expected in the nearest
future either. The analyst is sure that only general
westernization of the region may do away with the
controversy there.
Teokarevic says that while Yugoslav politicians are
beating about the bush, only 60 Serb families got back
to Kosovo and Metohija in 2001 and 72 families in 2002.
If we take the total number of Serb families wishing to
get back home (6 thousand families) and the present-day
rate of the Serbs? return home, we may suppose that the
process will drag on for 60 years at best.
Besides Kosovo, Yugoslavia still has enough pressing
problems in the domestic policy. Belgrade?s radio B-92
recently held an interesting poll on its official
website. Guests of the site were offered to pick out the
most lying promise made by politicians last year. Tanjug
informs that main supporters of westernization, Zoran
Djindjic and Voislav Kostunica were mentioned oftener
than other politicians.
The Serbia prime minister with the hit statement of
March 15 is the leader of the poll: ?by the end of the
year, we will have an effective federal state;
authorities of the state will cost cheap enough and
powers of the leading departments will be clearly
defined.?
How is it possible to save on the governmental spending?
One of the ways out is to sell out former Serb President
Milutinovic, the same way it was done with Slobodan
Milosevic. But in fact no money is asked for the former
Serb president; there is only once condition that the
man must stay free until a trial in the Hague. (By the
way, Americans promise to make next payments to Serbia
for the selling out in March already). The authorities
are being distributed between Serbia and Montenegro so
actively, that the newly appointed foreign minister of
Montenegro declares: within the next three years he will
train diplomats of the republic for ?work under
conditions of an independent state? (he also reported
that this independent state would be undoubtedly
founded).
Yugoslavia President Voislav Kostunica with his
statement of June 15 was rated second: ?running for the
post of Serbian president is essential for me first of
all for the sake of adoption of the Constitutional
Charter.? But the things are right where they started.
So, Yugoslavia entered the new year with the following
results: with Kostunica at head, who may share the fate
of USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, the president
without his state; with Zoran Djindjic kow-towing to
Europe; still without Kosovo and without any promising
prospects at all. No new president of Serbia was
elected. According to the recent information, the former
Serb president may be delivered to the Hague on
Wednesday already.
FUNZIONA ALLO STESSO MODO
"Naturalmente la gente non vuole la guerra. Perché un
povero diavolo di una fattoria dovrebbe voler rischiare la
propria vita in una guerra quando al massimo ne può
guadagnare di tornare alla sua fattoria tutto intero?
Naturalmente la gente comune non vuole la guerra: né in
Russia, né in Inghilterra, né in Germania. Questo è
comprensibile. Ma, dopotutto, sono i governanti del
paese che determinano la politica, ed è sempre facile
trascinare con sé il popolo, sia che si tratti di una
democrazia, o di una dittatura fascista, o di un
parlamento, o di una dittatura comunista. Che abbia
voce o no, il popolo può essere sempre portato al volere
dei capi. È facile. Tutto quello che dovete fare è dir loro
che sono attaccati, e denunciare i pacifisti per mancanza
di patriottismo e in quanto espongono il paese al
pericolo. Funziona allo stesso modo in tutti i paesi."
(Hermann Goering al Processo di Norimberga;
segnalato da C. Scarinzi)
"Naturalmente la gente non vuole la guerra. Perché un
povero diavolo di una fattoria dovrebbe voler rischiare la
propria vita in una guerra quando al massimo ne può
guadagnare di tornare alla sua fattoria tutto intero?
Naturalmente la gente comune non vuole la guerra: né in
Russia, né in Inghilterra, né in Germania. Questo è
comprensibile. Ma, dopotutto, sono i governanti del
paese che determinano la politica, ed è sempre facile
trascinare con sé il popolo, sia che si tratti di una
democrazia, o di una dittatura fascista, o di un
parlamento, o di una dittatura comunista. Che abbia
voce o no, il popolo può essere sempre portato al volere
dei capi. È facile. Tutto quello che dovete fare è dir loro
che sono attaccati, e denunciare i pacifisti per mancanza
di patriottismo e in quanto espongono il paese al
pericolo. Funziona allo stesso modo in tutti i paesi."
(Hermann Goering al Processo di Norimberga;
segnalato da C. Scarinzi)
Ecco il caso ecologico della settimana... E' in arrivo a Kraljevo
un'ondata di fenolo e di altro, dal Kosovo, presumibilmente dalle
miniere del Kosovo.
Ecco il resoconto dettagliato della vicenda tra conferme e smentite
dell'autorita', nella rassegna stampa di Zivkica Nedanovska.... Se lo
volete gustare in pieno seguite con attenzione la sequenza delle date.
Alberto Tarozzi
(Nota: in appendice una serie di dispacci ANSA ed in lingua inglese -
IN ENGLISH AT BOTTOM)
1.FONTE: "Danas", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Minaccia di catastrofe ecologica di dimensioni enormi.
3.INDICE: Andjelka Mihajlov, ministro serbo per l'ecologia, sulla
situazione drammatica a Kraljevo.
4.AUTORE: Zlatija Vukovic.
5.SITO INTERNET: http://www.danas.co.yu/20030121/terazije.htm
6.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
7.DATA: 21.01.2003.
"L'inchiesta più recente ha dimostrato che nelle acque del fiume
Sitnica (affluente del fiume Ibar) la concentrazione di fenolo è 300
volte superiore a quella permessa, mentre nel fiume Ibar è 50 volte
superiore", ha dichiarato il ministro serbo per l'ambiente a proposito
della catastrofe ecologica provocata dallo straripamento di fenolo
dalla centrale termoelettrica "Obilic", nel Kosmet.
Il Governo serbo ha protestato severamente, avvertendo l'UNMIK che la
catastrofe ecologica si deve fermare. Questo grave problema non lo può
risolvere lo stesso Governo perchè i rappresentati dell'UNMIK non
permettono agli esperti gli esami, visto che "tutto è sfuggito dal
controllo".
La Mihajlov ha sottolineato che il Governo avrebbe rifornito ancora i
cittadini di Kraljevo con l'acqua potabile e che la situazione sarà
seguita minuziosamente.
1.FONTE: "Danas", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Non ci sono segni visibili da dove provenga l'inquinamento.
3.INDICE: Bety Doson, responsabile per lo sviluppo economico
dell'UNMIK in Kosovo: in corso un'inchiesta dettagliata sulle cause
possibili dell'inquinamento delle acque a Kraljevo.
4.AUTORE: Agenzia Beta.
5.SITO INTERNET: http://www.danas.co.yu/20030121/terazije.htm
6.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
7.DATA: 21.01.2003.
Nel Kosovo è in corso un'inchiesta dettagliata sulle possibili cause
dell'inquinamento del fiume Ibar. "Nella inchiesta preliminare non ci
sono indicazioni che potrebbero individuare la fonte dell'aumento
della concentrazione di fenolo e piombo nelle acque del fiume Ibar",
ha detto la responsabile presso l'UNMIK, Bety Doson. Secondo lei,
tutto quello che riguarda l'ambiente nel Kosovo viene osservato,
seguito e controllato da parte dall'Istituto per la protezione della
salute del Kosovo, e le acque potabili, nonchè quelle di scarico, sono
esaminate regolarmente.
Il responsabile del Ministero serbo per l'ambiente, Dragoljub
Bjelovic, suppone che gli inquinatori possibili dell'affluente del
fiume Ibar, Sitnica, possano essere gli impianti chimici e le miniere
a Rudnica, Trepca, Leposavic e Obilic (tutte le località che si
trovano nel Kosovo). Il fiume Ibar è straripato nella regione di Zicko
Polje l'11 gennaio, dopodichè sono stati preventivamente esclusi dalle
loro funzioni nove dei venti pozzi che forniscono l'acqua potabile ai
cittadini di Kraljevo. L'analisi dell'acqua dell'acquedotto di
Kraljevo ha dimostrato che la concentrazione di fenolo e piombo è
superiore di oltre due volte - cioè 2,8 volte - al consentito. In
conseguenza di cio' il capo distrettuale di Raski Okrug ne ha vietato
l'uso.
1.FONTE: "Danas", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Covic: a Obilic una quantità di fenolo tre volte
superiore...
3.INDICE: ////
4.SITO INTERNET: http://www.danas.co.yu/20030121/terazije.htm
5.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
6.DATA: 21.01.2003.
Alla riunione del Ministero serbo per l'ambiente e per l'energia,
dell'UNMIK e di "Habitat" è stato detto che la misura della
concentrazione del fenolo nelle acque di Obilic è risultata tre volte
superiore a quella permessa. Secondo Nebojsa Covic, la causa possibile
potrebbe essere l'essiccatoio e la gasificazione, spenta a Obilic
dieci anni fa.
"Però, nei serbatoi sono rimaste circa 800 tonnellate di fenolo e 15
milioni di litri di acqua al fenolo. Qualora le cose non vengano
gestite in modo adeguato, possono verificarsi avarie, la perforazione
degli sbarramenti e l'ingresso di tale materiale nel fiume Sitnica
che sbocca nel fiume Ibar e da lì si diffonde oltre", dice Nebojsa
Covic - aggiungendo che le equipe serbe di esperti sarebbero pronte a
partire per il Kosovo ma, purtroppo, non hanno avuto ancora il
permesso dall'UNMIK.
1.FONTE: Glas Javnosti.
2.TITOLO: Il fenolo non minaccia più gli abitanti di Kraljevo.
3.INDICE: Accertato finalmente che il fenolo proviene dal Kosmet.
4.SITO INTERNET:
http://www.glas-javnosti.co.yu/danas/srpski/D03012302.shtml
5.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
6.DATA: 24.01.2003.
"Le analisi più recenti dell'acqua potabile a Kraljevo dimostrano che
la presenza di fenolo è sotto i valori massimi permessi e che la
salute della popolazione di Kraljevo non è minacciata": sono le parole
del sostituto del ministro serbo per la salute, riferite all'agenzia
Tanjug. Egli ha sottolineato che i servizi competenti avrebbero
continuato a controllare l'acqua potabile a Kraljevo, visto che c'è
ancora una concentrazione alta di fenolo nel Kosmet.
"Dobbiamo risolvere il problema del rifornimento dell'acqua potabile
nel modo più sicuro e duraturo non solo per Kraljevo, ma per tutte le
altre città nelle quali l'acqua fluviale viene destinata all'uso della
popolazione, visto che l'ambiente è cambiato e i fiumi non sono più
puliti come una volta. La popolazione di 12 comuni lungo il fiume
Velika Morava non dovrebbe avere paura dell'inquinamento di questo
fiume perchè il fenolo non c'è nella Velika Morava e non ci sarà", ha
detto ieri all'agenzia Tanjug il capo dell'Istituto per la protezione
della salute del Pomoravski Okrug (il distretto di Pomoravlje - le
città lungo il fiume Velika Morava), Vesna Randjelovic.
1.FONTE: "Politika", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Sta arrivando la nuova ondata di fenolo.
3.INDICE: I risultati dell'analisi dell'acqua del Kosmet.
4.SITO INTERNET: http://www.politika.co.yu/2003/0126/01_13.htm
5.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
6.DATA: 26.01.2003.
Secondo informazioni arrivate stamattina a Kraljevo dal team degli
esperti serbi e kosovari sulla qualità dell'acqua, i cittadini di
Kraljevo non possono essere tranquilli perchè [la situazione] non è
incoraggiante. Secondo la relazione, i risultati dei campioni
dell'acqua, presi ieri nel pomeriggio, dicono chiaramente che la
concentrazione di fenolo nel fiume Sitnica arriva a 880 mgr, mentre
nel fiume Ibar, vicino a Kosovska Mitrovica, è di 320mgr al litro.
Se questo influirà sulla qualità dell'acqua vicino a Kraljevo, dove
oggi la concentrazione del fenolo si trova nei limiti massimi
permessi, lo si vedrà quando l'ondata arrivera', nell'arco di 24 ore,
vicino a Kraljevo.
D'altronde, i risultati delle analisi dell'acqua dei fiumi Sitnica e
Ibar nel Kosmet, ad opera degli esperti serbi, ancora non sono
arrivati. Saranno particolarmente interessanti, secondo il ministro
serbo per l'economia idrica, perchè sono stati presi i campioni
d'acqua dove il fiume Gracanka sbocca nel fiume Sitnica. Il fiume
Gracanka passa attraverso le scorie delle miniere Ajvalija e Kisnica,
e ad occhio nudo si può vedere il sedimento delle scorie di queste
miniere di piombo e zinco.
Dunque, l'analisi dimostrerà se quell'acqua contiene anche metalli
pesanti. Percio' è possibile che il pericolo che minaccia Kraljevo e
il fiume Ibar non venga solo dal fenolo. Perciò, sulle strade di
Kraljevo sono presenti anche oggi le cisterne con l'acqua potabile per
i cittadini che non credono molto alle affermazioni degli esperti
secondo i quali l'acqua dell'acquedotto si potrebbe usare.
---
KOSOVO: SERBIA PROTESTA PER FUGA FENOLO DA IMPIANTO
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 21 GEN - Una grande quantita' di fenolo (o acido
fenico, un composto chimico molto tossico) si e' riversata dagli
impianti della centrale elettrica di Obilic, nel Kosovo, finendo nel
fiume Ibar e da questi nelle falde acquifere della regione di Kraljevo
(Serbia centro-meridionale). Il ministro serbo per l'ambiente Andjelka
Mihajlov ha duramente criticato l'amministrazione Onu per la provincia
(Unmik) per non aver avvertito dell'incidente, e ha sottolineato che
nella zona di Kraljevo circa 100.000 persone sono da alcuni giorni
senza acqua potabile a causa dell'inquinamento. Stando ai dati del
ministero, la concentrazione di fenolo nelle acque della regione e' di
300 milligrammi per litro, circa 300 volte i livelli ammessi dalla
legge. La Serbia ha protestato anche per gli ostacoli a suo dire posti
dall'Unmik a un'ispezione di esperti serbi che avrebbero dovuto
determinare se la perdita di fenolo e' stata incidentale o causata da
un sabotaggio, o il risultato di una prassi per la quale sostanze
pericolose vengono impunemente scaricate nei fiumi kosovari. Secondo
Mihajlov, il capo dell'ufficio Unmik a Belgrado Paul McKlenburg ha
parlato di una fuoriuscita accidentale della sostanza. Alti livelli di
acido fenico si registrano anche in molte zone del Kosovo, stando
all'agenzia Tanjug: a Kosovska Mitrovica, nel nord del paese, la
concentrazione nei pozzi e' salita a 540 milligrammi per litro.
(ANSA). OT 21/01/2003 19:17
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/kosovo/20030121191732448940.html
---
SERBIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER CALLS ON UNMIK TO ALLOW SERBIAN EXPERTS
TO EXPLORE CAUSES OF POLLUTION
BELGRADE, Jan. 20 (Beta) - On Jan. 20, Serbian Environment Minister
Andjelka Mihajlov urged the UN Mission in Kosovo to allow a group of
Serbian experts entry in order to examine the causes of water
pollution in Kraljevo that had originated from Kosovo. Mihajlov
told a press conference that she had asked the UNMIK environment
administrator to regularly inform the Serbian environment ministry on
the quantities of phenol dumped into the Ibar and Sitnica rivers and
to establish who is responsible for not informing the Serbian
authorities on time. Mihajlov, Serbian vicepremier Nebojsa Covic and
Serbian Energy Minister Kori Udovicki met UNMIK's Belgrade office
chief Paul Maclenburg, who told them that a concentration of phenol
300 times higher than that allowed by Serbian regulations had been
measured in Kosovo on Jan. 19. Asked about the reasons for not
informing the Serbian authorities about the issue, Macklenburg
apologized and referred them to the environment administrator in
Kosovo, said Mihajlov. On Jan. 16, the Kraljevo water supply was
declared contaminated and unfit for use, after an analysis had shown
that the concentration of phenol and lead in the water was two and 2.8
times higher than allowed. After the Ibar river flooded its banks, an
emergency situation was declared in the municipality, while citizens
are now being supplied with water from mobile water tanks. According
to the first results of the Serbian environment ministry, the reasons
for pollution are most probably the industrial systems in Kosovo and
Metohija. Ministry official Dragoljub Bejlovic said that the water is
being polluted by the Kosovo river Sitnica, which flows into the Ibar
river. Although the ministry has not established the cause of
pollution yet, Bjelovic mentioned the chemical plants in Rudnica,
Trepca, Leposavic and Obilic as possible sources of pollution.
Environmental demonstrations in Kraljevo were first held in 1986
due to a high concentration of phenol and ferrous metals in the city's
water supplies.
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cd/Qyugo-kosovo-pollution.ROT7_DJL.html
Kosovo power plant is polluting river, says Yugoslavia
BELGRADE, Jan 21 (AFP) - A power plant in the
UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo is dumping
a corrosive and toxic hydrocarbon by-product into a
river, causing major water supply problems further
downstream, the Serbian government said on Monday,
announcing a "strong" protest over the alleged
pollution.
The Serbian statement said a conventional generating
plant at Obilic, near the main Kosovo town of
Pristina, had been dumping phenol into the River Ibar,
which rises in Kosovo.
The Belgrade government said it had delivered a
protest over the incident to the UN's chief
administrator for Kosovo, Michael Steiner.
"The Serbian government protests strongly over the
serious environmental situation created by the dumping
of phenol into the Sitnica and Ibar rivers," the
statement said.
The Sitnica is a tributary of the Ibar, which flows
northwards across Serbia into the Morava River, which
in turn feeds into the Danube.
The Serbian statement said the pollution had caused
serious water supply problems in the region of
Kraljevo, a town 150 kilometers (90 miles) south of
the Serbian capital Belgrade. Some 100,000 local
residents there were without water supplies due to the
pollution, it said.
It said phenol levels in river water at Kraljevo were
currently some 60 times higher than the maximum
permitted.
It called on the UN authorities to immediately
determine the cause of the pollution, and also to
allow Serbian experts to visit the power plant and
assess the situation.
Phenol is a poisonous and corrosive acidic compound
that is present in coaltar.
---
un'ondata di fenolo e di altro, dal Kosovo, presumibilmente dalle
miniere del Kosovo.
Ecco il resoconto dettagliato della vicenda tra conferme e smentite
dell'autorita', nella rassegna stampa di Zivkica Nedanovska.... Se lo
volete gustare in pieno seguite con attenzione la sequenza delle date.
Alberto Tarozzi
(Nota: in appendice una serie di dispacci ANSA ed in lingua inglese -
IN ENGLISH AT BOTTOM)
1.FONTE: "Danas", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Minaccia di catastrofe ecologica di dimensioni enormi.
3.INDICE: Andjelka Mihajlov, ministro serbo per l'ecologia, sulla
situazione drammatica a Kraljevo.
4.AUTORE: Zlatija Vukovic.
5.SITO INTERNET: http://www.danas.co.yu/20030121/terazije.htm
6.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
7.DATA: 21.01.2003.
"L'inchiesta più recente ha dimostrato che nelle acque del fiume
Sitnica (affluente del fiume Ibar) la concentrazione di fenolo è 300
volte superiore a quella permessa, mentre nel fiume Ibar è 50 volte
superiore", ha dichiarato il ministro serbo per l'ambiente a proposito
della catastrofe ecologica provocata dallo straripamento di fenolo
dalla centrale termoelettrica "Obilic", nel Kosmet.
Il Governo serbo ha protestato severamente, avvertendo l'UNMIK che la
catastrofe ecologica si deve fermare. Questo grave problema non lo può
risolvere lo stesso Governo perchè i rappresentati dell'UNMIK non
permettono agli esperti gli esami, visto che "tutto è sfuggito dal
controllo".
La Mihajlov ha sottolineato che il Governo avrebbe rifornito ancora i
cittadini di Kraljevo con l'acqua potabile e che la situazione sarà
seguita minuziosamente.
1.FONTE: "Danas", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Non ci sono segni visibili da dove provenga l'inquinamento.
3.INDICE: Bety Doson, responsabile per lo sviluppo economico
dell'UNMIK in Kosovo: in corso un'inchiesta dettagliata sulle cause
possibili dell'inquinamento delle acque a Kraljevo.
4.AUTORE: Agenzia Beta.
5.SITO INTERNET: http://www.danas.co.yu/20030121/terazije.htm
6.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
7.DATA: 21.01.2003.
Nel Kosovo è in corso un'inchiesta dettagliata sulle possibili cause
dell'inquinamento del fiume Ibar. "Nella inchiesta preliminare non ci
sono indicazioni che potrebbero individuare la fonte dell'aumento
della concentrazione di fenolo e piombo nelle acque del fiume Ibar",
ha detto la responsabile presso l'UNMIK, Bety Doson. Secondo lei,
tutto quello che riguarda l'ambiente nel Kosovo viene osservato,
seguito e controllato da parte dall'Istituto per la protezione della
salute del Kosovo, e le acque potabili, nonchè quelle di scarico, sono
esaminate regolarmente.
Il responsabile del Ministero serbo per l'ambiente, Dragoljub
Bjelovic, suppone che gli inquinatori possibili dell'affluente del
fiume Ibar, Sitnica, possano essere gli impianti chimici e le miniere
a Rudnica, Trepca, Leposavic e Obilic (tutte le località che si
trovano nel Kosovo). Il fiume Ibar è straripato nella regione di Zicko
Polje l'11 gennaio, dopodichè sono stati preventivamente esclusi dalle
loro funzioni nove dei venti pozzi che forniscono l'acqua potabile ai
cittadini di Kraljevo. L'analisi dell'acqua dell'acquedotto di
Kraljevo ha dimostrato che la concentrazione di fenolo e piombo è
superiore di oltre due volte - cioè 2,8 volte - al consentito. In
conseguenza di cio' il capo distrettuale di Raski Okrug ne ha vietato
l'uso.
1.FONTE: "Danas", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Covic: a Obilic una quantità di fenolo tre volte
superiore...
3.INDICE: ////
4.SITO INTERNET: http://www.danas.co.yu/20030121/terazije.htm
5.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
6.DATA: 21.01.2003.
Alla riunione del Ministero serbo per l'ambiente e per l'energia,
dell'UNMIK e di "Habitat" è stato detto che la misura della
concentrazione del fenolo nelle acque di Obilic è risultata tre volte
superiore a quella permessa. Secondo Nebojsa Covic, la causa possibile
potrebbe essere l'essiccatoio e la gasificazione, spenta a Obilic
dieci anni fa.
"Però, nei serbatoi sono rimaste circa 800 tonnellate di fenolo e 15
milioni di litri di acqua al fenolo. Qualora le cose non vengano
gestite in modo adeguato, possono verificarsi avarie, la perforazione
degli sbarramenti e l'ingresso di tale materiale nel fiume Sitnica
che sbocca nel fiume Ibar e da lì si diffonde oltre", dice Nebojsa
Covic - aggiungendo che le equipe serbe di esperti sarebbero pronte a
partire per il Kosovo ma, purtroppo, non hanno avuto ancora il
permesso dall'UNMIK.
1.FONTE: Glas Javnosti.
2.TITOLO: Il fenolo non minaccia più gli abitanti di Kraljevo.
3.INDICE: Accertato finalmente che il fenolo proviene dal Kosmet.
4.SITO INTERNET:
http://www.glas-javnosti.co.yu/danas/srpski/D03012302.shtml
5.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
6.DATA: 24.01.2003.
"Le analisi più recenti dell'acqua potabile a Kraljevo dimostrano che
la presenza di fenolo è sotto i valori massimi permessi e che la
salute della popolazione di Kraljevo non è minacciata": sono le parole
del sostituto del ministro serbo per la salute, riferite all'agenzia
Tanjug. Egli ha sottolineato che i servizi competenti avrebbero
continuato a controllare l'acqua potabile a Kraljevo, visto che c'è
ancora una concentrazione alta di fenolo nel Kosmet.
"Dobbiamo risolvere il problema del rifornimento dell'acqua potabile
nel modo più sicuro e duraturo non solo per Kraljevo, ma per tutte le
altre città nelle quali l'acqua fluviale viene destinata all'uso della
popolazione, visto che l'ambiente è cambiato e i fiumi non sono più
puliti come una volta. La popolazione di 12 comuni lungo il fiume
Velika Morava non dovrebbe avere paura dell'inquinamento di questo
fiume perchè il fenolo non c'è nella Velika Morava e non ci sarà", ha
detto ieri all'agenzia Tanjug il capo dell'Istituto per la protezione
della salute del Pomoravski Okrug (il distretto di Pomoravlje - le
città lungo il fiume Velika Morava), Vesna Randjelovic.
1.FONTE: "Politika", Belgrado.
2.TITOLO: Sta arrivando la nuova ondata di fenolo.
3.INDICE: I risultati dell'analisi dell'acqua del Kosmet.
4.SITO INTERNET: http://www.politika.co.yu/2003/0126/01_13.htm
5.NUMERO DI PAGINE: 1.
6.DATA: 26.01.2003.
Secondo informazioni arrivate stamattina a Kraljevo dal team degli
esperti serbi e kosovari sulla qualità dell'acqua, i cittadini di
Kraljevo non possono essere tranquilli perchè [la situazione] non è
incoraggiante. Secondo la relazione, i risultati dei campioni
dell'acqua, presi ieri nel pomeriggio, dicono chiaramente che la
concentrazione di fenolo nel fiume Sitnica arriva a 880 mgr, mentre
nel fiume Ibar, vicino a Kosovska Mitrovica, è di 320mgr al litro.
Se questo influirà sulla qualità dell'acqua vicino a Kraljevo, dove
oggi la concentrazione del fenolo si trova nei limiti massimi
permessi, lo si vedrà quando l'ondata arrivera', nell'arco di 24 ore,
vicino a Kraljevo.
D'altronde, i risultati delle analisi dell'acqua dei fiumi Sitnica e
Ibar nel Kosmet, ad opera degli esperti serbi, ancora non sono
arrivati. Saranno particolarmente interessanti, secondo il ministro
serbo per l'economia idrica, perchè sono stati presi i campioni
d'acqua dove il fiume Gracanka sbocca nel fiume Sitnica. Il fiume
Gracanka passa attraverso le scorie delle miniere Ajvalija e Kisnica,
e ad occhio nudo si può vedere il sedimento delle scorie di queste
miniere di piombo e zinco.
Dunque, l'analisi dimostrerà se quell'acqua contiene anche metalli
pesanti. Percio' è possibile che il pericolo che minaccia Kraljevo e
il fiume Ibar non venga solo dal fenolo. Perciò, sulle strade di
Kraljevo sono presenti anche oggi le cisterne con l'acqua potabile per
i cittadini che non credono molto alle affermazioni degli esperti
secondo i quali l'acqua dell'acquedotto si potrebbe usare.
---
KOSOVO: SERBIA PROTESTA PER FUGA FENOLO DA IMPIANTO
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 21 GEN - Una grande quantita' di fenolo (o acido
fenico, un composto chimico molto tossico) si e' riversata dagli
impianti della centrale elettrica di Obilic, nel Kosovo, finendo nel
fiume Ibar e da questi nelle falde acquifere della regione di Kraljevo
(Serbia centro-meridionale). Il ministro serbo per l'ambiente Andjelka
Mihajlov ha duramente criticato l'amministrazione Onu per la provincia
(Unmik) per non aver avvertito dell'incidente, e ha sottolineato che
nella zona di Kraljevo circa 100.000 persone sono da alcuni giorni
senza acqua potabile a causa dell'inquinamento. Stando ai dati del
ministero, la concentrazione di fenolo nelle acque della regione e' di
300 milligrammi per litro, circa 300 volte i livelli ammessi dalla
legge. La Serbia ha protestato anche per gli ostacoli a suo dire posti
dall'Unmik a un'ispezione di esperti serbi che avrebbero dovuto
determinare se la perdita di fenolo e' stata incidentale o causata da
un sabotaggio, o il risultato di una prassi per la quale sostanze
pericolose vengono impunemente scaricate nei fiumi kosovari. Secondo
Mihajlov, il capo dell'ufficio Unmik a Belgrado Paul McKlenburg ha
parlato di una fuoriuscita accidentale della sostanza. Alti livelli di
acido fenico si registrano anche in molte zone del Kosovo, stando
all'agenzia Tanjug: a Kosovska Mitrovica, nel nord del paese, la
concentrazione nei pozzi e' salita a 540 milligrammi per litro.
(ANSA). OT 21/01/2003 19:17
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/kosovo/20030121191732448940.html
---
SERBIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER CALLS ON UNMIK TO ALLOW SERBIAN EXPERTS
TO EXPLORE CAUSES OF POLLUTION
BELGRADE, Jan. 20 (Beta) - On Jan. 20, Serbian Environment Minister
Andjelka Mihajlov urged the UN Mission in Kosovo to allow a group of
Serbian experts entry in order to examine the causes of water
pollution in Kraljevo that had originated from Kosovo. Mihajlov
told a press conference that she had asked the UNMIK environment
administrator to regularly inform the Serbian environment ministry on
the quantities of phenol dumped into the Ibar and Sitnica rivers and
to establish who is responsible for not informing the Serbian
authorities on time. Mihajlov, Serbian vicepremier Nebojsa Covic and
Serbian Energy Minister Kori Udovicki met UNMIK's Belgrade office
chief Paul Maclenburg, who told them that a concentration of phenol
300 times higher than that allowed by Serbian regulations had been
measured in Kosovo on Jan. 19. Asked about the reasons for not
informing the Serbian authorities about the issue, Macklenburg
apologized and referred them to the environment administrator in
Kosovo, said Mihajlov. On Jan. 16, the Kraljevo water supply was
declared contaminated and unfit for use, after an analysis had shown
that the concentration of phenol and lead in the water was two and 2.8
times higher than allowed. After the Ibar river flooded its banks, an
emergency situation was declared in the municipality, while citizens
are now being supplied with water from mobile water tanks. According
to the first results of the Serbian environment ministry, the reasons
for pollution are most probably the industrial systems in Kosovo and
Metohija. Ministry official Dragoljub Bejlovic said that the water is
being polluted by the Kosovo river Sitnica, which flows into the Ibar
river. Although the ministry has not established the cause of
pollution yet, Bjelovic mentioned the chemical plants in Rudnica,
Trepca, Leposavic and Obilic as possible sources of pollution.
Environmental demonstrations in Kraljevo were first held in 1986
due to a high concentration of phenol and ferrous metals in the city's
water supplies.
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cd/Qyugo-kosovo-pollution.ROT7_DJL.html
Kosovo power plant is polluting river, says Yugoslavia
BELGRADE, Jan 21 (AFP) - A power plant in the
UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo is dumping
a corrosive and toxic hydrocarbon by-product into a
river, causing major water supply problems further
downstream, the Serbian government said on Monday,
announcing a "strong" protest over the alleged
pollution.
The Serbian statement said a conventional generating
plant at Obilic, near the main Kosovo town of
Pristina, had been dumping phenol into the River Ibar,
which rises in Kosovo.
The Belgrade government said it had delivered a
protest over the incident to the UN's chief
administrator for Kosovo, Michael Steiner.
"The Serbian government protests strongly over the
serious environmental situation created by the dumping
of phenol into the Sitnica and Ibar rivers," the
statement said.
The Sitnica is a tributary of the Ibar, which flows
northwards across Serbia into the Morava River, which
in turn feeds into the Danube.
The Serbian statement said the pollution had caused
serious water supply problems in the region of
Kraljevo, a town 150 kilometers (90 miles) south of
the Serbian capital Belgrade. Some 100,000 local
residents there were without water supplies due to the
pollution, it said.
It said phenol levels in river water at Kraljevo were
currently some 60 times higher than the maximum
permitted.
It called on the UN authorities to immediately
determine the cause of the pollution, and also to
allow Serbian experts to visit the power plant and
assess the situation.
Phenol is a poisonous and corrosive acidic compound
that is present in coaltar.
---
Kusturica Opposes Bombardment in the Name of Humanity
by Kyodo News and Emir Kusturica
WorldNow
July 08, 2002
Zlatibor, Yugoslavia, May 17, 2002 (Kyodo) - Emir Kusturica, the
Sarajevo-born filmmaker, has won two Palme d'Or awards at Cannes
since starting out as a film director in 1981. During his 20-year
career he has produced only seven films, all of which have won
praise. Asked what he thinks of events in Afghanistan, Kusturica said
the United States is "bombarding (the country) in the name of
humanity" to achieve "its own strategic and economic interests." He
was speaking to Kyodo News in an interview held at a hotel in the
mountainous district of Zlatibor in Yugoslavia, where the director
and his colleagues are working on a new film called "Gladno Srce"
(Hungry Heart). The district is near Bosnia. "The international
community has never intervened properly in" the former Yugoslavia,
he says. "The international community was supposed 10 years ago to
bring the whole of former Yugoslavia into the European Union, to
give credits, to give money and to help it keep going as a normal
country," said Kusturica, wearing a T-shirt with the face of Ernesto
"Che" Guevara printed on it.
The following are excerpts from Kyodo's interview with Kusturica.
His quotes below are edited for the sake of readability.
Q. What is the main theme of your new film "Gladno Srce"
(Hungry Heart)?
It is a love story. The central motive, the central place of the movie
is a Serbian guy...whose son went to the war, was captured by the
Muslim side. And he gets in touch with one Muslim woman whom
he was supposed to exchange for his son, but he falls in love with
her.
So basically the idea is to create a movie about the war in Bosnia,
but not from the ideological, not from this kind of new way of
thinking, in which no roots, no real causes are exposed to the
audience. This movie does not want to be ideological, this movie wants
to ... create the context from which the war started and how the war
was projected through the love story of 45-year-old man.
Q. Can people understand your film as a message that love is a
winner over nationalism?
Certainly, although the theme of my movie is not nationalism, but
just the social and historical context from which the love story is
being created by the absurd human position, not the position in which
love comes naturally.
Q. You told me that somebody is creating good and bad, or yes
and no.
Now the United States is also creating something like that -- right
and wrong, or black and white. It does not exist. It is just a genre
like in a cinema in which they create this kind of impression about
life... I am not trying to define what is good, what is bad. This is
more a question of ideology, a political idea, than an artistic idea.
Q.The name of Yugoslavia will disappear from the maps. Former
Yugoslavia has already disappeared. This Yugoslavia will
disappear, too. What kind of emotional feelings does that create
for you?
To me it creates a certain emotional turbulence, because I was born
here. I believed Yugoslavia was supposed to stay and I think like
many other things in the history of this region the big powers create
countries. This country (former Yugoslavia) was created after World
War I and after about 200 years our predecessors were trying to be
(joined) together in order to preserve our culture, our history. The
problem with this disappearance is that it was, I think, mostly
created from outside the country, and is unfortunately not making
nowadays people as happy as I was. So, I think this is clear: this
time Yugoslavia was dismantled because the entire region is under the
capitalist way of imposing a new history. And it was done much too
aggressively, against what this country used to be. So, I cannot say
that I am very sentimental, because people were killing each other
very much in the name of one or the other. But, on the other hand, I
must say that what has been defined as the international community
very heavily participates in this crime. Because, as much as at one
time it was OK to create it (Yugoslavia), at another time it was
not... it was not good for it (Yugoslavia) to exist on this scale.
Q. as it maybe nationalism, religion, that destroyed Yugoslavia?
If there was a nationalism, and it was nationalism, it was fueled from
outside. I think the Western world was creating it, if not creating
than at least putting oil into the fire... I was very suspicious about
just nationalism being what created this tragedy. Because if you
wanted to stop the war in Macedonia, they did it within two months,
that much they could have done in Yugoslavia. But they did not want
to, because they wanted to break it up, to make these small regions
without any power.
Q. What is your definition of nationalism?
At the end of Word War I nationalism used to be of a kind that is
today called patriotism.
Q. Is there any boundary between nationalism and patriotism?
My problem is I do not have strong national feelings. But, I think
nationalism, which can be very dangerous, is at the same time taken
as an instrument in the destruction of the Eastern world. Because
what can you be if you do not have any goods and if you are poor?
Unfortunately you are determined to be at least nationalist... I am
not nationalist, but I am not globalist, either, because I think
globalism is a kind of new form of imperialism... If you look at the
statistics, and if you look from 1989 until today, from the fall of
the Berlin wall, which was the change from what used to be called the
Old World Order, not many people live better. So, the new conception
of the world in one in which there is no nation. But then what? What
is the belief, what is the idea, what is the utopia of the world? To
believe that the market is the one that regulates our relationships?
That is not enough.
Q. You told us that somebody from outside had put oil on the fire
to cause the collapse of former Yugoslavia. Why did they need to
do that?
Because in the projection of serious economists and historians
today... for the period of transition from a communist regime to a
market economy you need 20 years. They never allowed anybody to go on
so long.
They, the big companies, as well as some Western countries, want to
destroy the national infrastructure as soon as possible, so they can
come and buy everything very cheap.
Q. You have made films about the Roma, Gypsies so many times
and recently you have been appointed goodwill ambassador of
UNICEF.
As a hope... and I think humanity's biggest capacity is to hope. And
when you hope, you have some chances. So, therefore I wanted to
help the kids as much as I can.
Q. In what way are you going to help, especially Roma children?
Not just the Roma, all children. I think about what I can do as a film
director. I could do my best to make short movies to participate in
the campaigns.
Q. One very important question. How did you feel about your
film "Underground" on the destruction of Yugoslavia. Who was
attacking you, who was defending you at that time. Why did you
leave Yugoslavia and came back?
The point is that the entire story about Yugoslavia is the opposite of
what we have read and what we know. If you look at the end the
ethnic cleansing, the worst thing that could happen to some
territories, if you look how the Western politicians were treating the
issue, you can find out that some territories that are ethnically
cleansed are very much sponsored by the West, because the idea of
the Western politicians is not humanitarian. That is just a cover
story for something that is much deeper. As I said they need the
region, or small regions in which they can penetrate much more easily
than if it was a serious country. So, since I see this and I know
this, I must say I am standing in the center of this problem, because
this problem is familiar to me from watching all over the world. The
Eastern world economically is a huge one in which there are 1.5
billion people who want to come to the West to share the goods with
them. And they (the West) have put the border through our country, as
they were doing always in history... I will give you one statistic,
look into it. Croatia is almost ethnically purified. They (the Croats)
can now travel all over Western Europe, no problems. Slovenia, too.
The only one that is still a mixture of various nations is Serbia and
this is the worst case for them. I mean the Western world is very
simple: profit above all.
Q. How do you see military operations under the pretext of
humanitarian intervention, such as in Afghanistan?
Certainly the opinion of any human being will be against it. Because
they are bombarding in the name of humanity, but in fact they have
their own strategic and economic interests. They know that this
vicious cycle of war, capital, profit is something that functions for
200 years. We know that the biggest scientific achievements have
been reached in the field of the military. So, the military is a part
of these operations... The change from the past is just the way, the
form... They always find somebody who is very vicious to destroy
him. They call it evil. But it is not because of this evil. I am very
much against any type of bombardment, including American
bombardment of anyone.
Q. Also in Afghanistan?
Everywhere... They bomb Afghanistan as a retaliation to the terrorist
attack, but they do it the same way.
Q. The American logic is that if they did not intervene in
Yugoslavia, (former President Slobodan) Milosevic could have
continued to massacre the Kosovo Albanians. How, in that case,
could the international community have intervened, or helped?
The international community has never intervened properly (in
former Yugoslavia). The international community was supposed 10
years ago to bring the whole of former Yugoslavia into the European
Union, to give credits, to give money and to help it keep going as a
healthy normal country. I would not talk about massacres, because I
do not believe what the propaganda is saying. I want to see the proof.
I still did not see the proof of the massacres. That was the trigger
aimed to bring the international community to the level it needed (for
intervention).
Q. Do you believe children can be nationalist?
I do not think that is possible.
Q. What did you feel about the tragedy of Sept. 11?
I was very much moved, because any human tragedy, whoever did it,
produces in my heart a kind of turbulence. So, I was really sorry for
these people.
Q. What is your opinion about U.S. unilateralism?
That is a Medieval way of drawing history, in which they do not
respect the law and want the rest of the world to respect the law.
That not possible.
Q. Why did UNICEF selected you for good-will ambassador?
Because I am a funny guy.
Biographical note: Emir Kusturica, born in Sarajevo in 1954, began
his career as TV-film director in the capital of former Yugoslavia's
Bosnia-Herzegovina after having studied film-making technologies
at FAMU School in Prague. In 1981, his first film "Do You
Remember Dolly Bell?" won the Golden Lion Award in Venice. His
other films include "Time of the Gipsies," which earned the Best
Director Award at Cannes, "When Father Was Away On Business,"
winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1985, and "Underground,"
winner of the Palme d'Or in 1995.
Fonte:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2086
Ringraziamo Patti per la segnalazione.
by Kyodo News and Emir Kusturica
WorldNow
July 08, 2002
Zlatibor, Yugoslavia, May 17, 2002 (Kyodo) - Emir Kusturica, the
Sarajevo-born filmmaker, has won two Palme d'Or awards at Cannes
since starting out as a film director in 1981. During his 20-year
career he has produced only seven films, all of which have won
praise. Asked what he thinks of events in Afghanistan, Kusturica said
the United States is "bombarding (the country) in the name of
humanity" to achieve "its own strategic and economic interests." He
was speaking to Kyodo News in an interview held at a hotel in the
mountainous district of Zlatibor in Yugoslavia, where the director
and his colleagues are working on a new film called "Gladno Srce"
(Hungry Heart). The district is near Bosnia. "The international
community has never intervened properly in" the former Yugoslavia,
he says. "The international community was supposed 10 years ago to
bring the whole of former Yugoslavia into the European Union, to
give credits, to give money and to help it keep going as a normal
country," said Kusturica, wearing a T-shirt with the face of Ernesto
"Che" Guevara printed on it.
The following are excerpts from Kyodo's interview with Kusturica.
His quotes below are edited for the sake of readability.
Q. What is the main theme of your new film "Gladno Srce"
(Hungry Heart)?
It is a love story. The central motive, the central place of the movie
is a Serbian guy...whose son went to the war, was captured by the
Muslim side. And he gets in touch with one Muslim woman whom
he was supposed to exchange for his son, but he falls in love with
her.
So basically the idea is to create a movie about the war in Bosnia,
but not from the ideological, not from this kind of new way of
thinking, in which no roots, no real causes are exposed to the
audience. This movie does not want to be ideological, this movie wants
to ... create the context from which the war started and how the war
was projected through the love story of 45-year-old man.
Q. Can people understand your film as a message that love is a
winner over nationalism?
Certainly, although the theme of my movie is not nationalism, but
just the social and historical context from which the love story is
being created by the absurd human position, not the position in which
love comes naturally.
Q. You told me that somebody is creating good and bad, or yes
and no.
Now the United States is also creating something like that -- right
and wrong, or black and white. It does not exist. It is just a genre
like in a cinema in which they create this kind of impression about
life... I am not trying to define what is good, what is bad. This is
more a question of ideology, a political idea, than an artistic idea.
Q.The name of Yugoslavia will disappear from the maps. Former
Yugoslavia has already disappeared. This Yugoslavia will
disappear, too. What kind of emotional feelings does that create
for you?
To me it creates a certain emotional turbulence, because I was born
here. I believed Yugoslavia was supposed to stay and I think like
many other things in the history of this region the big powers create
countries. This country (former Yugoslavia) was created after World
War I and after about 200 years our predecessors were trying to be
(joined) together in order to preserve our culture, our history. The
problem with this disappearance is that it was, I think, mostly
created from outside the country, and is unfortunately not making
nowadays people as happy as I was. So, I think this is clear: this
time Yugoslavia was dismantled because the entire region is under the
capitalist way of imposing a new history. And it was done much too
aggressively, against what this country used to be. So, I cannot say
that I am very sentimental, because people were killing each other
very much in the name of one or the other. But, on the other hand, I
must say that what has been defined as the international community
very heavily participates in this crime. Because, as much as at one
time it was OK to create it (Yugoslavia), at another time it was
not... it was not good for it (Yugoslavia) to exist on this scale.
Q. as it maybe nationalism, religion, that destroyed Yugoslavia?
If there was a nationalism, and it was nationalism, it was fueled from
outside. I think the Western world was creating it, if not creating
than at least putting oil into the fire... I was very suspicious about
just nationalism being what created this tragedy. Because if you
wanted to stop the war in Macedonia, they did it within two months,
that much they could have done in Yugoslavia. But they did not want
to, because they wanted to break it up, to make these small regions
without any power.
Q. What is your definition of nationalism?
At the end of Word War I nationalism used to be of a kind that is
today called patriotism.
Q. Is there any boundary between nationalism and patriotism?
My problem is I do not have strong national feelings. But, I think
nationalism, which can be very dangerous, is at the same time taken
as an instrument in the destruction of the Eastern world. Because
what can you be if you do not have any goods and if you are poor?
Unfortunately you are determined to be at least nationalist... I am
not nationalist, but I am not globalist, either, because I think
globalism is a kind of new form of imperialism... If you look at the
statistics, and if you look from 1989 until today, from the fall of
the Berlin wall, which was the change from what used to be called the
Old World Order, not many people live better. So, the new conception
of the world in one in which there is no nation. But then what? What
is the belief, what is the idea, what is the utopia of the world? To
believe that the market is the one that regulates our relationships?
That is not enough.
Q. You told us that somebody from outside had put oil on the fire
to cause the collapse of former Yugoslavia. Why did they need to
do that?
Because in the projection of serious economists and historians
today... for the period of transition from a communist regime to a
market economy you need 20 years. They never allowed anybody to go on
so long.
They, the big companies, as well as some Western countries, want to
destroy the national infrastructure as soon as possible, so they can
come and buy everything very cheap.
Q. You have made films about the Roma, Gypsies so many times
and recently you have been appointed goodwill ambassador of
UNICEF.
As a hope... and I think humanity's biggest capacity is to hope. And
when you hope, you have some chances. So, therefore I wanted to
help the kids as much as I can.
Q. In what way are you going to help, especially Roma children?
Not just the Roma, all children. I think about what I can do as a film
director. I could do my best to make short movies to participate in
the campaigns.
Q. One very important question. How did you feel about your
film "Underground" on the destruction of Yugoslavia. Who was
attacking you, who was defending you at that time. Why did you
leave Yugoslavia and came back?
The point is that the entire story about Yugoslavia is the opposite of
what we have read and what we know. If you look at the end the
ethnic cleansing, the worst thing that could happen to some
territories, if you look how the Western politicians were treating the
issue, you can find out that some territories that are ethnically
cleansed are very much sponsored by the West, because the idea of
the Western politicians is not humanitarian. That is just a cover
story for something that is much deeper. As I said they need the
region, or small regions in which they can penetrate much more easily
than if it was a serious country. So, since I see this and I know
this, I must say I am standing in the center of this problem, because
this problem is familiar to me from watching all over the world. The
Eastern world economically is a huge one in which there are 1.5
billion people who want to come to the West to share the goods with
them. And they (the West) have put the border through our country, as
they were doing always in history... I will give you one statistic,
look into it. Croatia is almost ethnically purified. They (the Croats)
can now travel all over Western Europe, no problems. Slovenia, too.
The only one that is still a mixture of various nations is Serbia and
this is the worst case for them. I mean the Western world is very
simple: profit above all.
Q. How do you see military operations under the pretext of
humanitarian intervention, such as in Afghanistan?
Certainly the opinion of any human being will be against it. Because
they are bombarding in the name of humanity, but in fact they have
their own strategic and economic interests. They know that this
vicious cycle of war, capital, profit is something that functions for
200 years. We know that the biggest scientific achievements have
been reached in the field of the military. So, the military is a part
of these operations... The change from the past is just the way, the
form... They always find somebody who is very vicious to destroy
him. They call it evil. But it is not because of this evil. I am very
much against any type of bombardment, including American
bombardment of anyone.
Q. Also in Afghanistan?
Everywhere... They bomb Afghanistan as a retaliation to the terrorist
attack, but they do it the same way.
Q. The American logic is that if they did not intervene in
Yugoslavia, (former President Slobodan) Milosevic could have
continued to massacre the Kosovo Albanians. How, in that case,
could the international community have intervened, or helped?
The international community has never intervened properly (in
former Yugoslavia). The international community was supposed 10
years ago to bring the whole of former Yugoslavia into the European
Union, to give credits, to give money and to help it keep going as a
healthy normal country. I would not talk about massacres, because I
do not believe what the propaganda is saying. I want to see the proof.
I still did not see the proof of the massacres. That was the trigger
aimed to bring the international community to the level it needed (for
intervention).
Q. Do you believe children can be nationalist?
I do not think that is possible.
Q. What did you feel about the tragedy of Sept. 11?
I was very much moved, because any human tragedy, whoever did it,
produces in my heart a kind of turbulence. So, I was really sorry for
these people.
Q. What is your opinion about U.S. unilateralism?
That is a Medieval way of drawing history, in which they do not
respect the law and want the rest of the world to respect the law.
That not possible.
Q. Why did UNICEF selected you for good-will ambassador?
Because I am a funny guy.
Biographical note: Emir Kusturica, born in Sarajevo in 1954, began
his career as TV-film director in the capital of former Yugoslavia's
Bosnia-Herzegovina after having studied film-making technologies
at FAMU School in Prague. In 1981, his first film "Do You
Remember Dolly Bell?" won the Golden Lion Award in Venice. His
other films include "Time of the Gipsies," which earned the Best
Director Award at Cannes, "When Father Was Away On Business,"
winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1985, and "Underground,"
winner of the Palme d'Or in 1995.
Fonte:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2086
Ringraziamo Patti per la segnalazione.
Stavolta il nostro personaggio si e' entusiasmato nel leggere
l'editoriale de "Il Riformista", quotidiano dell'ultradestra del
centrosinistra (riportato integralmente in fondo).
E fu cosi' che...
Subject: Sull'Iraq
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 17:11:45 +0100
From: Italo Slavetti
To: "direttore" <direttore@...>
CC: "s.cappellini" <s.cappellini@...>,
"m.contini" <m.contini@...>, "f.desposito"
<f.desposito@...>, "r.mania" <r.mania@...>,
"c.puca" <c.puca@...>, "w.ward"
<w.ward@...>, "g.teotino"
<g.teotino@...>
Egregio Dott. Polito, stimatissima Redazione,
concordo pienamente con quanto si legge nel Vs. Editoriale di oggi 27
Gennaio 2003 (IRAQ. LA SPACCATURA DELL'OCCIDENTE È IL VERO RISCHIO DI
QUESTA CRISI - Ma che altro può fare Berlusconi?
http://www.ilriformista.it/documenti/editoriale.asp?id_doc=3391 ).
In particolare:
<<Il casus belli non c'è, non diciamo l'affondamento del Lusitania ma
neanche un piccolo incidente di frontiera, neanche una ripresa della
Cnn dei profughi kossovari in fuga o dei bambini che muoiono di fame
in Somalia. Le opinioni pubbliche hanno bisogno di immagini per essere
mobilitate, e da Baghdad non ne arrivano.>>
Avevo gia' scritto ai vostri colleghi di Panorama, molte settimane fa,
per dire che non e' solamente opportuno, ma e' anche banale trovare
tale "casus belli". Eppure: i mesi passano ed ancora siamo in alto
mare. Francamente, mi cadono le braccia: dov'e' tutta questa
difficolta'? Anche i bambini saprebbero trovare sul mercato una di
quelle ottime agenzie specializzate, come la Ruder&Finn e la
Hill&Knowlton - quest'ultima gia' attiva nel contesto iracheno con la
storia degli incubatori.
In alternativa, basta un po' di creativita': potremmo ad esempio
attaccare con armi chimiche qualche grande citta' irachena per poi
dare la colpa a Saddam. Si puo' ad esempio colpire una citta' nella
zona curda oppure una a maggioranza sciita, e dire che e' stato Saddam
in un gesto di repressione. E' solo un esempio, ma non credo sia
eccessivo, visto quello che abbiamo gia' fatto a Pancevo e sulle
montagne dell'Afghanistan.
<<Gli ispettori chiedono più tempo e va loro accordato, se davvero
l'obiettivo è il disarmo di quel gran bugiardo di Saddam.>>
In effetti, non posso che essere d'accordo. E' proprio per dare a chi
di dovere la possibilita' di inscenare un "casus belli" che dobbiamo
avere pazienza. Ad esempio, in Kosovo nel 1998 eravamo gia' tutti
pronti a bombardare, ma abbiamo dovuto aspettare il gennaio 1999 per
la messinscena della strage di Racak, sapientemente organizzata
dall'ispettore OSCE William Walker con l'aiuto di tutti i nostri
media: un esempio lampante del fatto che gli ispettori servono,
bisogna dar loro tempo.
Infine, sulla questione dell'ONU: e' chiaro che si tratta solamente di
un appiglio retorico di Berlusconi per prendere tempo. Noi - lo
abbiamo dimostrato gia' nel 1999! - con la Carta dell'ONU cosi' come
con l'articolo 11 della nostra Costituzione ci possiamo pulire il
nostro culo! Mica siamo nazifascisti e bugiardi come Saddam, noi!
In solidarieta'
Italo Slavetti
===
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http://www.ilriformista.it/documenti/editoriale.asp?id_doc=3391
----------------------
EDITORIALE del 27 Gennaio 2003
IRAQ. LA SPACCATURA DELL'OCCIDENTE È IL VERO RISCHIO
DI QUESTA CRISI
Ma che altro può fare Berlusconi?
Non chiedetevi che cosa fareste voi. Qui non si tratta
di scegliere la formazione della Nazionale. Chiedetevi
che cosa dovrebbe fare l'Italia, di fronte alla crisi
irachena. Qual è il suo interesse nazionale. Per un
riformista, sarebbe difficile esprimere un giudizio
migliore di questo: «Una spaccatura atlantica è il
peggiore di tutti gli scenari possibili in questo
momento. Più grave del caos mediorientale che alcuni
temono come conseguenza della guerra. Più grave della
guerra in sé, e lo dice uno come me fortemente
contrario all'intervento militare in Iraq». Il Foglio
dice che l'ha detto Rutelli, Rutelli dice che non l'ha
detto. Chiunque l'abbia detto, è ben detto. Diciamo
che lo diciamo noi.
Il problema è che non basta affermare, come fa
D'Alema, che gli italiani vogliono la pace. Governanti
e potenziali governanti devono anche dire come. Come
si fa in modo che alla fine di questa crisi il mondo
sia più stabile e più sicuro. Non c'è bisogno di
essere abbonati a Foreign Affairs per capire che un
mondo diviso tra un'America Pacifica da un lato e
un'Eurasia a guida franco-russa dall'altro, non è il
più rassicurante degli sviluppi. Bush passerà,
l'America resterà: cardine di ogni ordine mondiale
possibile, almeno per i prossimi cinquant'anni. Dove
starà l'Europa? Dove starà l'Italia?
Per restare in quell'Occidente al quale tutti giurammo
fedeltà all'indomani dell'11 settembre, un paese come
il nostro, di scarso peso militare e di incerto
passato diplomatico, può fare solo una cosa, che è
esattamente quella che si imputa al governo
Berlusconi: restare europeo e atlantico allo stesso
tempo. Non farsi abbagliare dall'asse franco-tedesco,
che potrebbe andare fuori asse tra una settimana se
Schroeder collasserà in Assia e Bassa Sassonia; e se
Chirac, appena riconquistata un po' di grandeur,
spedirà il suo battaglione di bersaglieri nella Crimea
irachena, per partecipare a una vittoria dalla quale
nessuna potenza può autoescludersi.
D'altra parte non si può neanche lasciare che i nostri
bersaglieri vengano arruolati dal portavoce della Casa
Bianca. E non solo per motivi di orgoglio nazionale.
Alla vigilia del rapporto degli ispettori all'Onu, e
in attesa di leggerlo, tre cose sono chiare. 1) Il
casus belli non c'è, non diciamo l'affondamento del
Lusitania ma neanche un piccolo incidente di
frontiera, neanche una ripresa della Cnn dei profughi
kossovari in fuga o dei bambini che muoiono di fame in
Somalia. Le opinioni pubbliche hanno bisogno di
immagini per essere mobilitate, e da Baghdad non ne
arrivano. 2) Gli ispettori chiedono più tempo e va
loro accordato, se davvero l'obiettivo è il disarmo di
quel gran bugiardo di Saddam. 3) La guerra deve essere
quanto meno consentita dall'Onu, perché «ci sono due
modi di usare la forza: l'uno in difesa della
stabilità internazionale, l'altro a suo detrimento»
(Filippo Andreatta sul Mulino).
Queste tre cose le ha dette Berlusconi. Sta giocando a
guadagnare tempo? E' vero, ma che altro può fare? Chi
lo sfotteva solo un anno fa perché veniva escluso
dalla lista della Casa Bianca per l'intervento in
Afghanistan oggi lo sfotte per essere stato inserito
nella lista dell'Iraq. Ricordiamo, per incidens, che
il governo D'Alema partecipò alla guerra del Kosovo in
assenza di un mandato Onu, e giustamente, perché
altrimenti il veto russo avrebbe bloccato l'azione
della comunità internazionale, e ci sono due modi di
uccidere un governo mondiale: uno è scavalcare l'Onu,
l'altro è paralizzarla col potere di veto, come nel
lungo inverno della Guerra Fredda.
Bush è un cow boy un po' arrogante, ma non un pazzo.
Non più di quell'altro cow boy un po' arrogante,
Ronald Reagan, che si mise in testa che si poteva
sconfiggere il comunismo tra le irrisioni degli
europei, e piazzò in una Germania allora anche più
pacifista i missili che fecero cadere il muro di
Berlino (con grande gioia dei pacifisti tedeschi).
Bush si muove sulla base di un calcolo. Sa che se la
guerra sarà breve e vittoriosa, dopo saranno tutti con
lui, Francia e Russia comprese, a spartirsi onori,
commesse e influenza. Su che cosa dovrebbe scommettere
l'Italia? Su Saddam o sulla profezia di Timothy Garton
Ash, che immagina nel 2023 l'Europa impegnata in un
acceso dibattito sulla richiesta di adesione dell'Iraq
e del suo petrolio all'Unione?
l'editoriale de "Il Riformista", quotidiano dell'ultradestra del
centrosinistra (riportato integralmente in fondo).
E fu cosi' che...
Subject: Sull'Iraq
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 17:11:45 +0100
From: Italo Slavetti
To: "direttore" <direttore@...>
CC: "s.cappellini" <s.cappellini@...>,
"m.contini" <m.contini@...>, "f.desposito"
<f.desposito@...>, "r.mania" <r.mania@...>,
"c.puca" <c.puca@...>, "w.ward"
<w.ward@...>, "g.teotino"
<g.teotino@...>
Egregio Dott. Polito, stimatissima Redazione,
concordo pienamente con quanto si legge nel Vs. Editoriale di oggi 27
Gennaio 2003 (IRAQ. LA SPACCATURA DELL'OCCIDENTE È IL VERO RISCHIO DI
QUESTA CRISI - Ma che altro può fare Berlusconi?
http://www.ilriformista.it/documenti/editoriale.asp?id_doc=3391 ).
In particolare:
<<Il casus belli non c'è, non diciamo l'affondamento del Lusitania ma
neanche un piccolo incidente di frontiera, neanche una ripresa della
Cnn dei profughi kossovari in fuga o dei bambini che muoiono di fame
in Somalia. Le opinioni pubbliche hanno bisogno di immagini per essere
mobilitate, e da Baghdad non ne arrivano.>>
Avevo gia' scritto ai vostri colleghi di Panorama, molte settimane fa,
per dire che non e' solamente opportuno, ma e' anche banale trovare
tale "casus belli". Eppure: i mesi passano ed ancora siamo in alto
mare. Francamente, mi cadono le braccia: dov'e' tutta questa
difficolta'? Anche i bambini saprebbero trovare sul mercato una di
quelle ottime agenzie specializzate, come la Ruder&Finn e la
Hill&Knowlton - quest'ultima gia' attiva nel contesto iracheno con la
storia degli incubatori.
In alternativa, basta un po' di creativita': potremmo ad esempio
attaccare con armi chimiche qualche grande citta' irachena per poi
dare la colpa a Saddam. Si puo' ad esempio colpire una citta' nella
zona curda oppure una a maggioranza sciita, e dire che e' stato Saddam
in un gesto di repressione. E' solo un esempio, ma non credo sia
eccessivo, visto quello che abbiamo gia' fatto a Pancevo e sulle
montagne dell'Afghanistan.
<<Gli ispettori chiedono più tempo e va loro accordato, se davvero
l'obiettivo è il disarmo di quel gran bugiardo di Saddam.>>
In effetti, non posso che essere d'accordo. E' proprio per dare a chi
di dovere la possibilita' di inscenare un "casus belli" che dobbiamo
avere pazienza. Ad esempio, in Kosovo nel 1998 eravamo gia' tutti
pronti a bombardare, ma abbiamo dovuto aspettare il gennaio 1999 per
la messinscena della strage di Racak, sapientemente organizzata
dall'ispettore OSCE William Walker con l'aiuto di tutti i nostri
media: un esempio lampante del fatto che gli ispettori servono,
bisogna dar loro tempo.
Infine, sulla questione dell'ONU: e' chiaro che si tratta solamente di
un appiglio retorico di Berlusconi per prendere tempo. Noi - lo
abbiamo dimostrato gia' nel 1999! - con la Carta dell'ONU cosi' come
con l'articolo 11 della nostra Costituzione ci possiamo pulire il
nostro culo! Mica siamo nazifascisti e bugiardi come Saddam, noi!
In solidarieta'
Italo Slavetti
===
MA, CHISSA' PERCHE', A SLAVETTI I MAIL RITORNANO INDIETRO...
- These recipients of your message have been processed by the mail
server:
direttore@...; Failed; 5.1.1 (bad destination mailbox
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http://www.ilriformista.it/documenti/editoriale.asp?id_doc=3391
----------------------
EDITORIALE del 27 Gennaio 2003
IRAQ. LA SPACCATURA DELL'OCCIDENTE È IL VERO RISCHIO
DI QUESTA CRISI
Ma che altro può fare Berlusconi?
Non chiedetevi che cosa fareste voi. Qui non si tratta
di scegliere la formazione della Nazionale. Chiedetevi
che cosa dovrebbe fare l'Italia, di fronte alla crisi
irachena. Qual è il suo interesse nazionale. Per un
riformista, sarebbe difficile esprimere un giudizio
migliore di questo: «Una spaccatura atlantica è il
peggiore di tutti gli scenari possibili in questo
momento. Più grave del caos mediorientale che alcuni
temono come conseguenza della guerra. Più grave della
guerra in sé, e lo dice uno come me fortemente
contrario all'intervento militare in Iraq». Il Foglio
dice che l'ha detto Rutelli, Rutelli dice che non l'ha
detto. Chiunque l'abbia detto, è ben detto. Diciamo
che lo diciamo noi.
Il problema è che non basta affermare, come fa
D'Alema, che gli italiani vogliono la pace. Governanti
e potenziali governanti devono anche dire come. Come
si fa in modo che alla fine di questa crisi il mondo
sia più stabile e più sicuro. Non c'è bisogno di
essere abbonati a Foreign Affairs per capire che un
mondo diviso tra un'America Pacifica da un lato e
un'Eurasia a guida franco-russa dall'altro, non è il
più rassicurante degli sviluppi. Bush passerà,
l'America resterà: cardine di ogni ordine mondiale
possibile, almeno per i prossimi cinquant'anni. Dove
starà l'Europa? Dove starà l'Italia?
Per restare in quell'Occidente al quale tutti giurammo
fedeltà all'indomani dell'11 settembre, un paese come
il nostro, di scarso peso militare e di incerto
passato diplomatico, può fare solo una cosa, che è
esattamente quella che si imputa al governo
Berlusconi: restare europeo e atlantico allo stesso
tempo. Non farsi abbagliare dall'asse franco-tedesco,
che potrebbe andare fuori asse tra una settimana se
Schroeder collasserà in Assia e Bassa Sassonia; e se
Chirac, appena riconquistata un po' di grandeur,
spedirà il suo battaglione di bersaglieri nella Crimea
irachena, per partecipare a una vittoria dalla quale
nessuna potenza può autoescludersi.
D'altra parte non si può neanche lasciare che i nostri
bersaglieri vengano arruolati dal portavoce della Casa
Bianca. E non solo per motivi di orgoglio nazionale.
Alla vigilia del rapporto degli ispettori all'Onu, e
in attesa di leggerlo, tre cose sono chiare. 1) Il
casus belli non c'è, non diciamo l'affondamento del
Lusitania ma neanche un piccolo incidente di
frontiera, neanche una ripresa della Cnn dei profughi
kossovari in fuga o dei bambini che muoiono di fame in
Somalia. Le opinioni pubbliche hanno bisogno di
immagini per essere mobilitate, e da Baghdad non ne
arrivano. 2) Gli ispettori chiedono più tempo e va
loro accordato, se davvero l'obiettivo è il disarmo di
quel gran bugiardo di Saddam. 3) La guerra deve essere
quanto meno consentita dall'Onu, perché «ci sono due
modi di usare la forza: l'uno in difesa della
stabilità internazionale, l'altro a suo detrimento»
(Filippo Andreatta sul Mulino).
Queste tre cose le ha dette Berlusconi. Sta giocando a
guadagnare tempo? E' vero, ma che altro può fare? Chi
lo sfotteva solo un anno fa perché veniva escluso
dalla lista della Casa Bianca per l'intervento in
Afghanistan oggi lo sfotte per essere stato inserito
nella lista dell'Iraq. Ricordiamo, per incidens, che
il governo D'Alema partecipò alla guerra del Kosovo in
assenza di un mandato Onu, e giustamente, perché
altrimenti il veto russo avrebbe bloccato l'azione
della comunità internazionale, e ci sono due modi di
uccidere un governo mondiale: uno è scavalcare l'Onu,
l'altro è paralizzarla col potere di veto, come nel
lungo inverno della Guerra Fredda.
Bush è un cow boy un po' arrogante, ma non un pazzo.
Non più di quell'altro cow boy un po' arrogante,
Ronald Reagan, che si mise in testa che si poteva
sconfiggere il comunismo tra le irrisioni degli
europei, e piazzò in una Germania allora anche più
pacifista i missili che fecero cadere il muro di
Berlino (con grande gioia dei pacifisti tedeschi).
Bush si muove sulla base di un calcolo. Sa che se la
guerra sarà breve e vittoriosa, dopo saranno tutti con
lui, Francia e Russia comprese, a spartirsi onori,
commesse e influenza. Su che cosa dovrebbe scommettere
l'Italia? Su Saddam o sulla profezia di Timothy Garton
Ash, che immagina nel 2023 l'Europa impegnata in un
acceso dibattito sulla richiesta di adesione dell'Iraq
e del suo petrolio all'Unione?
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