FM, Clinton discuss Kovačević case

adriano - what 'Jewish hat' do you think Vuk is wearing? I can't see any relevance to the fact that the victim was Jewish.

"...and stop pointing how bad the US laws are, he knew all that but it was his decision to go to NY, nobody forced him."

The fact that he has lived there means that he has some firsthand knowledge of the US laws. I don't hear him implicitly criticising them, but even if he was, so what?

If the US is free to attack other nations, I am sure that citizens from other nations are most certainly free to speak freely about the US. It is a 'democracy' isn't it?

I see the rights of American citizens to speak out being attacked frequently within their own nation. Their free speech may be protected by their constitution but there is a very conservative and often aggressive attitude shown towards free thinkers or protestors.

Besides which people are free to criticise the systems of any country they choose, even if they live in that country. Unless you live in a dictatorship.

regarding the little hat, adriano: the anti-semitism and "anti-serbism" are siblings, the offsprings of parents called "Nazi" and "Pig". One day maybe our friend from Frisco will understand that (and some others, too).

There is nothing wrong to go to USA for learning. It is a unique experience and who has the chance should not miss it. Kovacevic did it right. There are obviously things he messed up badly in his and other's life later. He should be tried in Belgrade for what he did. I don't think (on the paper!) the Serbian jails are any better than American ones. Now if USA makes a big political circus out of it - that is a different story and here there is no room for any negotiations.

BTW: I don't think anyone was interested at begin about a simple brawl in the pub. But CNN + FOX and the rest jumped and begun to play their game.

Just FYI. I do not know, is it known or not, but in 1993 during my trip from Connecticut to Boston on the train (Amtrak) I had a chance to read some liberal newspaper. Being myself not a "conservative" I was browsing the pages with interest. Until I did not read an article which was (for me) obviously a lie. It was described, that Serbian TV aired LIVE how a Bosnian woman was sexually assaulted by two Serbs, so the entire country could see the process, how the poor woman was raped. According the article, that happened during the prime TV time.

Now - myself being from the (larger) area - I could believe anything, but not that. I know, how conservative was the official TV in all Socialist countries - esp. at the time there was a chance, any minor could see sexually explicit images. That was clearly the point, I begun to question the authenticity of the propaganda.

Now - since it's difficult to report about "rape camps" in 2008, CNN + FOX got that Kovacevic in the middle of the Summer as a god-sent blessing. I wonder, maybe that hole in the QUANTAS airplane was also made by a Serbian terrorist?

nice to see the little jewish hat on mister Vuk.

I hope the Serbian citizens will get "special" treatment next time they are arested outside their own borders, such as, guilty until proven innocent and no bail.
I hope it will clear out criminals breaking more laws that the host state set up to uphold the law.

and stop pointing how bad the US laws are, he knew all that but it was his decision to go to NY, nobody forced him.

The EU should extend Adriano's ideas to all Albanian criminals.

Just yesterday, here is what Adriano stated..

"Pathetic, Serbia is once again showing itself trying to defending criminals. Are we going to wait 13 years for this criminal too, to face justice?"
(adriano, 25 July 2008 17:13)

more of the same today from Adriano..bla bla bla....I hope Kovavovic never returns to the US for trial, or his lynching. Adriano, perhaps you've not heard, he's innocent until proven guilty. So if I put you in a coma for striking my child, I wouldn't care where you ended up.

And now, with Clinton "demanding" his extradition from a county she BOMBED, I'd never give him up.

INAT!

Wow, All these comments really don't have anything to do with the facts. First of all Kovacevic cowardly ran from the US and had the Serbian government not only promise that he would show up for trial but also gave this guy greased paperwork so he could flee. This kid knew the rules and benefited from having a tuition paid education paid by guess who? The US tax payers. How convenient US laws were for him! There is a fine line between having an educated argument and primitive pettiness which some of these comments have shown. A crime is a crime no matter what and two wrongs never make a right. If people disagree with foreign policy or other things about the US that is one thing but to give this punk a free ride beacuse you hate America...I mean really!

The truth hurts, doesn't it? Bryan (the victim) didn't have to sexually assuault Kovacevic's friend's girlfriend by grabbing her behind. Anybody who's normal would react the same way if somebody assault's your sister, right?

the guy is just coming out of the comma, the Serbian accused is free in Serbia, the Serbian consulate were involved in a ILLEGAL handling of a passport to a Criminal waiting for a court date.
Who would trust the Serbs in their country to put people in comma and run?

But yes, instead of giving a constructive advice like he will be prosecuted in Serbia, you point the finger outside and blame others for what the Serb guy did.

What does that have to do with the US bombing Iraq and such??

"regarding the little hat, adriano: the anti-semitism and "anti-serbism" are siblings, the offsprings of parents called "Nazi" and "Pig". One day maybe our friend from Frisco will understand that (and some others, too). "

first of all, that little jewish hat is what we call a yarmulka (yiddish) or kippah (hebrew). i don't know the name in balkan languages.

and why is vuk being shown here wearing a yarmulka, in front of, i don't know, yad vashem? i really don't get it. to prove he's not just another anti-semite? nice foto-op?

now, as for anti-semitism and anti-serb feelings being related -- maybe. that is, there certainly were and are people that despise jews and serbs. but in truth, the nazis despised all the slavs, and i'm sure despised albanians to boot (DON'T send me any pix of "skenderbeg" div., etc!)the german nazis just used their allies in the balkans, as they did everywhere else, including jews when it suited their purposes. their racism was never too consistent.

i might also add that anti-semitism and serb-ultra nationalism are no strangers. we have seen many examples of it, and i have been treated to a few here on these pages.

but i totally agree w/lollee -- thank you -- who is most articulate. stick to the facts, and return him to face justice. no more baloney and cheese, even wrapped up with a yarmulka...

robert0-frisco

To that INAT comment: USA gives Serbia some $60 million a year in aid. It takes one letter to stop it. Oh, and deny visas to every Serb. Let's see how fast you cave if you want to go that route.

ZK, so what Alb politicians had a word fight, big deal. Once they start showing up dead, then we have a problem.

Well, this is what politics and nationalism usually brings with them. Cowards and petty criminals hide behind large public causes and sentiments.
Suddenly a punk who deserves to go to jail (not for defending his girlfriend, but for using an excuse to kill a fellow student) is damaging all the efforts of the Serbian diplomacy to improve its relations with US.
I understand the instinct of some Serbs to stand up to US for the Kosovo issue, but to fight over him ridicules the entire thing.
Just hand him over and leave bravery for serious matters.

Normally a consulate or embassy provides support to its citizens in foreign lands in the way of access to lawyers, legal aid, et cetera.

What the consular official did is unprecedented and could lead to further severing of diplomatic ties between the US and Serbia.

And to fall back on the "we have no extradition treaty with the US" is a fallacy; Kovacevic was given travel documents by representatives of Serbia knowing full well that he was accused of heinous crimes.

This is realpolitik. Instead of negotiating quietly with the Serbs, Senator Schumer decided it was more important to placate his constituency who wanted to see action, so he created a giant media circus to show how much effort he was putting in. If the State Department quietly said to the Serbs, "give us this guy, or else Serbs are no longer welcome in the US and Serbian foreign aid will get cut," that would have been the end of the story. This media circus gives the Serbian government quite a bit of leverage. People need to realize there are a lot of hurt feelings in Serbia toward the US. US foreign policy towards Serbia in the past 60 years has been, by any objective measure, unjust. Serbian popular opinion demands that Serbia stand up to unilateral demands of the US. Which is why this should have been handled quietly, and without the media circus. Now that there is so much publicity, Serbia cannot merely capitulate - they need to extract something in return because public opinion demands it. What is going on now behind the scenes is Serbia is negotiating with Senators Schumer and Clinton and their staffs - perhaps for more aid, perhaps for some lucrative contracts for Serbian businesses. Then, after Serbia extracts its fee, Serbia will give this thug back to the United States and both sides will be able to declare victory in this diplomatic war. Serbia will say "we all know this is a bad kid, and he deserves what he will get, but look - we landed US $20M extra in foreign aid to develop small businesses in Belgrade!" Senator Schumer will say "we forced Serbia to give us this thug back, and in exchange for their cooperation we gave them US $20M extra in foreign aid, which will go a long way in helping improve this fledgling democracy." A win-win for both sides. In the interests of disclosure, I am a New York lawyer and under New York's penal code, he'll probably be out in 5-7 years if he behaves.

Lollee, first:
The Student's tuition was NOT PAID BY THE TAX PAYERS. The school paid for it. They were willing to pay for his education in return he was to make them more money playing basket ball. GET OFF YOU IVORY TOWER PLEASE.
Second. He did infact break a law. Yes, but now the NY Senators are requesting that another law be broken to repair the first one. IT IS AGAINST SERBIAN LAW (AND AMERICAN TOO) TO EXTRADITE ITS CITIZENS FOR SUCH SMALL CRIMES. This was a small crime in the grander picture.

Kyle:
This is not an unprecidented case. Foriegn embasies are their to protect the foriegn nationals at all costs.
There was a case (not identical, but similar in flavour) where 2 US AirForce pilots were "screwing" around in the mountain ranges of Italy (can't recall the year/date -- but within the last 5-10 years) and these two pilots severed a gondola cabel, which in turn cased the gondola to plummet to the ground killing 20+ civilians. These two soldiers, who in any other case, would have been chared with 20 counts on manslaughter were taken by the American officials back to the "good-ole-US-of-A" where they were to face charges, instead of Italy, where they commited these acts of wanten disregard.
American governments just get furious when other countries play the "American Game"

This whole ordeal is just a pompous posturing exercise by the NY Senators.

Next, I do not condone the final outcome of the bar-brawl, but at some point people (Westerners) need to get their heads out of their rears and learn to take consequences of their actions as well. We are only pointing a finger in one direction, but it has been stated in all the sorce documentation I have read that the poor fellow in coma was the instigator. Beyond that, I must recall my very short term as bar bouncer when I was younger. If there was enough time for this poor fellow to get "inhumanly" beaten, then where was the security staff? I have never in all my time as a bouncer seen a fight/scuffle/brawl last long enough for such a thing to happen. If however he was knocked out because of an early/lucky blow then the picture that is being painted is very wrong.

Which leads me to my last point. The American (infact most Western) justice systems assume innocense before guilt. All that I have seen from the so-called impartial reporters has condemed the accused already. It would be a task of epic proportions to find a jury of peers that are impartial to this case (a forienger -- Serb to be exact -- gravely injured (possibly killed) an American). On the flip side, he would likely recieve an inversely biased trial in Serbia. Possibly, if the two countries want a solution, they should consider the trial be held in a 3rd party neutral country. If found guily he goes to a Serbian prision (this way the extradition law isn't broken), if found not guilty he does as he wishes. This way everybodies wishes can be fairly and equally met.

I truely feel bad for the family of the injured, but I feel bad for the assused also. Nevermind where he's from, he's a 20 something year old that got in a fight while under the influence of alcohol. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and quite likely in this case bad things have happened to two good people. You have a boy that was being a little too sexually agressive and got severly injured, and you have a boy who was being a little too overprotective and is now being hunted.

All of this political mumbo-jumbo over 2 people in an isolated incident that does not involve governments or anything. Hmm... it seems to me that some politicians want to be seen again ever since losing.

Too bad for all involved.

jazzy

Lollee, first:
The Student's tuition was NOT PAID BY THE TAX PAYERS. The school paid for it. They were willing to pay for his education in return he was to make them more money playing basket ball. GET OFF YOU IVORY TOWER PLEASE.
Second. He did infact break a law. Yes, but now the NY Senators are requesting that another law be broken to repair the first one. IT IS AGAINST SERBIAN LAW (AND AMERICAN TOO) TO EXTRADITE ITS CITIZENS FOR SUCH SMALL CRIMES. This was a small crime in the grander picture.

Kyle:
This is not an unprecidented case. Foriegn embasies are their to protect the foriegn nationals at all costs.
There was a case (not identical, but similar in flavour) where 2 US AirForce pilots were "screwing" around in the mountain ranges of Italy (can't recall the year/date -- but within the last 5-10 years) and these two pilots severed a gondola cabel, which in turn cased the gondola to plummet to the ground killing 20+ civilians. These two soldiers, who in any other case, would have been chared with 20 counts on manslaughter were taken by the American officials back to the "good-ole-US-of-A" where they were to face charges, instead of Italy, where they commited these acts of wanten disregard.
American governments just get furious when other countries play the "American Game"

This whole ordeal is just a pompous posturing exercise by the NY Senators.

Next, I do not condone the final outcome of the bar-brawl, but at some point people (Westerners) need to get their heads out of their rears and learn to take consequences of their actions as well. We are only pointing a finger in one direction, but it has been stated in all the sorce documentation I have read that the poor fellow in coma was the instigator. Beyond that, I must recall my very short term as bar bouncer when I was younger. If there was enough time for this poor fellow to get "inhumanly" beaten, then where was the security staff? I have never in all my time as a bouncer seen a fight/scuffle/brawl last long enough for such a thing to happen. If however he was knocked out because of an early/lucky blow then the picture that is being painted is very wrong.

Which leads me to my last point. The American (infact most Western) justice systems assume innocense before guilt. All that I have seen from the so-called impartial reporters has condemed the accused already. It would be a task of epic proportions to find a jury of peers that are impartial to this case (a forienger -- Serb to be exact -- gravely injured (possibly killed) an American). On the flip side, he would likely recieve an inversely biased trial in Serbia. Possibly, if the two countries want a solution, they should consider the trial be held in a 3rd party neutral country. If found guily he goes to a Serbian prision (this way the extradition law isn't broken), if found not guilty he does as he wishes. This way everybodies wishes can be fairly and equally met.

I truely feel bad for the family of the injured, but I feel bad for the assused also. Nevermind where he's from, he's a 20 something year old that got in a fight while under the influence of alcohol. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and quite likely in this case bad things have happened to two good people. You have a boy that was being a little too sexually agressive and got severly injured, and you have a boy who was being a little too overprotective and is now being hunted.

All of this political mumbo-jumbo over 2 people in an isolated incident that does not involve governments or anything. Hmm... it seems to me that some politicians want to be seen again ever since losing.

Too bad for all involved.

jazzy

nice to see the little jewish hat on mister Vuk.

I hope the Serbian citizens will get "special" treatment next time they are arested outside their own borders, such as, guilty until proven innocent and no bail.
I hope it will clear out criminals breaking more laws that the host state set up to uphold the law.

and stop pointing how bad the US laws are, he knew all that but it was his decision to go to NY, nobody forced him.

the guy is just coming out of the comma, the Serbian accused is free in Serbia, the Serbian consulate were involved in a ILLEGAL handling of a passport to a Criminal waiting for a court date.
Who would trust the Serbs in their country to put people in comma and run?

But yes, instead of giving a constructive advice like he will be prosecuted in Serbia, you point the finger outside and blame others for what the Serb guy did.

What does that have to do with the US bombing Iraq and such??

The EU should extend Adriano's ideas to all Albanian criminals.

Wow, All these comments really don't have anything to do with the facts. First of all Kovacevic cowardly ran from the US and had the Serbian government not only promise that he would show up for trial but also gave this guy greased paperwork so he could flee. This kid knew the rules and benefited from having a tuition paid education paid by guess who? The US tax payers. How convenient US laws were for him! There is a fine line between having an educated argument and primitive pettiness which some of these comments have shown. A crime is a crime no matter what and two wrongs never make a right. If people disagree with foreign policy or other things about the US that is one thing but to give this punk a free ride beacuse you hate America...I mean really!

adriano - what 'Jewish hat' do you think Vuk is wearing? I can't see any relevance to the fact that the victim was Jewish.

"...and stop pointing how bad the US laws are, he knew all that but it was his decision to go to NY, nobody forced him."

The fact that he has lived there means that he has some firsthand knowledge of the US laws. I don't hear him implicitly criticising them, but even if he was, so what?

If the US is free to attack other nations, I am sure that citizens from other nations are most certainly free to speak freely about the US. It is a 'democracy' isn't it?

I see the rights of American citizens to speak out being attacked frequently within their own nation. Their free speech may be protected by their constitution but there is a very conservative and often aggressive attitude shown towards free thinkers or protestors.

Besides which people are free to criticise the systems of any country they choose, even if they live in that country. Unless you live in a dictatorship.

regarding the little hat, adriano: the anti-semitism and "anti-serbism" are siblings, the offsprings of parents called "Nazi" and "Pig". One day maybe our friend from Frisco will understand that (and some others, too).

There is nothing wrong to go to USA for learning. It is a unique experience and who has the chance should not miss it. Kovacevic did it right. There are obviously things he messed up badly in his and other's life later. He should be tried in Belgrade for what he did. I don't think (on the paper!) the Serbian jails are any better than American ones. Now if USA makes a big political circus out of it - that is a different story and here there is no room for any negotiations.

BTW: I don't think anyone was interested at begin about a simple brawl in the pub. But CNN + FOX and the rest jumped and begun to play their game.

Just FYI. I do not know, is it known or not, but in 1993 during my trip from Connecticut to Boston on the train (Amtrak) I had a chance to read some liberal newspaper. Being myself not a "conservative" I was browsing the pages with interest. Until I did not read an article which was (for me) obviously a lie. It was described, that Serbian TV aired LIVE how a Bosnian woman was sexually assaulted by two Serbs, so the entire country could see the process, how the poor woman was raped. According the article, that happened during the prime TV time.

Now - myself being from the (larger) area - I could believe anything, but not that. I know, how conservative was the official TV in all Socialist countries - esp. at the time there was a chance, any minor could see sexually explicit images. That was clearly the point, I begun to question the authenticity of the propaganda.

Now - since it's difficult to report about "rape camps" in 2008, CNN + FOX got that Kovacevic in the middle of the Summer as a god-sent blessing. I wonder, maybe that hole in the QUANTAS airplane was also made by a Serbian terrorist?

To that INAT comment: USA gives Serbia some $60 million a year in aid. It takes one letter to stop it. Oh, and deny visas to every Serb. Let's see how fast you cave if you want to go that route.

ZK, so what Alb politicians had a word fight, big deal. Once they start showing up dead, then we have a problem.

Just yesterday, here is what Adriano stated..

"Pathetic, Serbia is once again showing itself trying to defending criminals. Are we going to wait 13 years for this criminal too, to face justice?"
(adriano, 25 July 2008 17:13)

more of the same today from Adriano..bla bla bla....I hope Kovavovic never returns to the US for trial, or his lynching. Adriano, perhaps you've not heard, he's innocent until proven guilty. So if I put you in a coma for striking my child, I wouldn't care where you ended up.

And now, with Clinton "demanding" his extradition from a county she BOMBED, I'd never give him up.

INAT!

The truth hurts, doesn't it? Bryan (the victim) didn't have to sexually assuault Kovacevic's friend's girlfriend by grabbing her behind. Anybody who's normal would react the same way if somebody assault's your sister, right?

"regarding the little hat, adriano: the anti-semitism and "anti-serbism" are siblings, the offsprings of parents called "Nazi" and "Pig". One day maybe our friend from Frisco will understand that (and some others, too). "

first of all, that little jewish hat is what we call a yarmulka (yiddish) or kippah (hebrew). i don't know the name in balkan languages.

and why is vuk being shown here wearing a yarmulka, in front of, i don't know, yad vashem? i really don't get it. to prove he's not just another anti-semite? nice foto-op?

now, as for anti-semitism and anti-serb feelings being related -- maybe. that is, there certainly were and are people that despise jews and serbs. but in truth, the nazis despised all the slavs, and i'm sure despised albanians to boot (DON'T send me any pix of "skenderbeg" div., etc!)the german nazis just used their allies in the balkans, as they did everywhere else, including jews when it suited their purposes. their racism was never too consistent.

i might also add that anti-semitism and serb-ultra nationalism are no strangers. we have seen many examples of it, and i have been treated to a few here on these pages.

but i totally agree w/lollee -- thank you -- who is most articulate. stick to the facts, and return him to face justice. no more baloney and cheese, even wrapped up with a yarmulka...

robert0-frisco

Well, this is what politics and nationalism usually brings with them. Cowards and petty criminals hide behind large public causes and sentiments.
Suddenly a punk who deserves to go to jail (not for defending his girlfriend, but for using an excuse to kill a fellow student) is damaging all the efforts of the Serbian diplomacy to improve its relations with US.
I understand the instinct of some Serbs to stand up to US for the Kosovo issue, but to fight over him ridicules the entire thing.
Just hand him over and leave bravery for serious matters.

Normally a consulate or embassy provides support to its citizens in foreign lands in the way of access to lawyers, legal aid, et cetera.

What the consular official did is unprecedented and could lead to further severing of diplomatic ties between the US and Serbia.

And to fall back on the "we have no extradition treaty with the US" is a fallacy; Kovacevic was given travel documents by representatives of Serbia knowing full well that he was accused of heinous crimes.

This is realpolitik. Instead of negotiating quietly with the Serbs, Senator Schumer decided it was more important to placate his constituency who wanted to see action, so he created a giant media circus to show how much effort he was putting in. If the State Department quietly said to the Serbs, "give us this guy, or else Serbs are no longer welcome in the US and Serbian foreign aid will get cut," that would have been the end of the story. This media circus gives the Serbian government quite a bit of leverage. People need to realize there are a lot of hurt feelings in Serbia toward the US. US foreign policy towards Serbia in the past 60 years has been, by any objective measure, unjust. Serbian popular opinion demands that Serbia stand up to unilateral demands of the US. Which is why this should have been handled quietly, and without the media circus. Now that there is so much publicity, Serbia cannot merely capitulate - they need to extract something in return because public opinion demands it. What is going on now behind the scenes is Serbia is negotiating with Senators Schumer and Clinton and their staffs - perhaps for more aid, perhaps for some lucrative contracts for Serbian businesses. Then, after Serbia extracts its fee, Serbia will give this thug back to the United States and both sides will be able to declare victory in this diplomatic war. Serbia will say "we all know this is a bad kid, and he deserves what he will get, but look - we landed US $20M extra in foreign aid to develop small businesses in Belgrade!" Senator Schumer will say "we forced Serbia to give us this thug back, and in exchange for their cooperation we gave them US $20M extra in foreign aid, which will go a long way in helping improve this fledgling democracy." A win-win for both sides. In the interests of disclosure, I am a New York lawyer and under New York's penal code, he'll probably be out in 5-7 years if he behaves.

Lollee, first:
The Student's tuition was NOT PAID BY THE TAX PAYERS. The school paid for it. They were willing to pay for his education in return he was to make them more money playing basket ball. GET OFF YOU IVORY TOWER PLEASE.
Second. He did infact break a law. Yes, but now the NY Senators are requesting that another law be broken to repair the first one. IT IS AGAINST SERBIAN LAW (AND AMERICAN TOO) TO EXTRADITE ITS CITIZENS FOR SUCH SMALL CRIMES. This was a small crime in the grander picture.

Kyle:
This is not an unprecidented case. Foriegn embasies are their to protect the foriegn nationals at all costs.
There was a case (not identical, but similar in flavour) where 2 US AirForce pilots were "screwing" around in the mountain ranges of Italy (can't recall the year/date -- but within the last 5-10 years) and these two pilots severed a gondola cabel, which in turn cased the gondola to plummet to the ground killing 20+ civilians. These two soldiers, who in any other case, would have been chared with 20 counts on manslaughter were taken by the American officials back to the "good-ole-US-of-A" where they were to face charges, instead of Italy, where they commited these acts of wanten disregard.
American governments just get furious when other countries play the "American Game"

This whole ordeal is just a pompous posturing exercise by the NY Senators.

Next, I do not condone the final outcome of the bar-brawl, but at some point people (Westerners) need to get their heads out of their rears and learn to take consequences of their actions as well. We are only pointing a finger in one direction, but it has been stated in all the sorce documentation I have read that the poor fellow in coma was the instigator. Beyond that, I must recall my very short term as bar bouncer when I was younger. If there was enough time for this poor fellow to get "inhumanly" beaten, then where was the security staff? I have never in all my time as a bouncer seen a fight/scuffle/brawl last long enough for such a thing to happen. If however he was knocked out because of an early/lucky blow then the picture that is being painted is very wrong.

Which leads me to my last point. The American (infact most Western) justice systems assume innocense before guilt. All that I have seen from the so-called impartial reporters has condemed the accused already. It would be a task of epic proportions to find a jury of peers that are impartial to this case (a forienger -- Serb to be exact -- gravely injured (possibly killed) an American). On the flip side, he would likely recieve an inversely biased trial in Serbia. Possibly, if the two countries want a solution, they should consider the trial be held in a 3rd party neutral country. If found guily he goes to a Serbian prision (this way the extradition law isn't broken), if found not guilty he does as he wishes. This way everybodies wishes can be fairly and equally met.

I truely feel bad for the family of the injured, but I feel bad for the assused also. Nevermind where he's from, he's a 20 something year old that got in a fight while under the influence of alcohol. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and quite likely in this case bad things have happened to two good people. You have a boy that was being a little too sexually agressive and got severly injured, and you have a boy who was being a little too overprotective and is now being hunted.

All of this political mumbo-jumbo over 2 people in an isolated incident that does not involve governments or anything. Hmm... it seems to me that some politicians want to be seen again ever since losing.

Too bad for all involved.

jazzy

Lollee, first:
The Student's tuition was NOT PAID BY THE TAX PAYERS. The school paid for it. They were willing to pay for his education in return he was to make them more money playing basket ball. GET OFF YOU IVORY TOWER PLEASE.
Second. He did infact break a law. Yes, but now the NY Senators are requesting that another law be broken to repair the first one. IT IS AGAINST SERBIAN LAW (AND AMERICAN TOO) TO EXTRADITE ITS CITIZENS FOR SUCH SMALL CRIMES. This was a small crime in the grander picture.

Kyle:
This is not an unprecidented case. Foriegn embasies are their to protect the foriegn nationals at all costs.
There was a case (not identical, but similar in flavour) where 2 US AirForce pilots were "screwing" around in the mountain ranges of Italy (can't recall the year/date -- but within the last 5-10 years) and these two pilots severed a gondola cabel, which in turn cased the gondola to plummet to the ground killing 20+ civilians. These two soldiers, who in any other case, would have been chared with 20 counts on manslaughter were taken by the American officials back to the "good-ole-US-of-A" where they were to face charges, instead of Italy, where they commited these acts of wanten disregard.
American governments just get furious when other countries play the "American Game"

This whole ordeal is just a pompous posturing exercise by the NY Senators.

Next, I do not condone the final outcome of the bar-brawl, but at some point people (Westerners) need to get their heads out of their rears and learn to take consequences of their actions as well. We are only pointing a finger in one direction, but it has been stated in all the sorce documentation I have read that the poor fellow in coma was the instigator. Beyond that, I must recall my very short term as bar bouncer when I was younger. If there was enough time for this poor fellow to get "inhumanly" beaten, then where was the security staff? I have never in all my time as a bouncer seen a fight/scuffle/brawl last long enough for such a thing to happen. If however he was knocked out because of an early/lucky blow then the picture that is being painted is very wrong.

Which leads me to my last point. The American (infact most Western) justice systems assume innocense before guilt. All that I have seen from the so-called impartial reporters has condemed the accused already. It would be a task of epic proportions to find a jury of peers that are impartial to this case (a forienger -- Serb to be exact -- gravely injured (possibly killed) an American). On the flip side, he would likely recieve an inversely biased trial in Serbia. Possibly, if the two countries want a solution, they should consider the trial be held in a 3rd party neutral country. If found guily he goes to a Serbian prision (this way the extradition law isn't broken), if found not guilty he does as he wishes. This way everybodies wishes can be fairly and equally met.

I truely feel bad for the family of the injured, but I feel bad for the assused also. Nevermind where he's from, he's a 20 something year old that got in a fight while under the influence of alcohol. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and quite likely in this case bad things have happened to two good people. You have a boy that was being a little too sexually agressive and got severly injured, and you have a boy who was being a little too overprotective and is now being hunted.

All of this political mumbo-jumbo over 2 people in an isolated incident that does not involve governments or anything. Hmm... it seems to me that some politicians want to be seen again ever since losing.

Too bad for all involved.

jazzy