"Balkan politics infected by crime"

Kosovo ecomony completely gripped by crime says BBC Balkan analyst Misha Glenny.

What a surprise! Kosovo has been independent for almost 10 years and still crime is dominating. Great work America and the EU. It's great that these super powers have had such a positive impact on Kosovo economy.
And you want Kosovo serbs to work with a Kosovo albanian government leader who reminds you more of Tony Montana than a real politician. Good luck!
Just proves that America is involved in Kosovo only for it's own gain of building one of its largest military bases in the world.

The 22 EU countries which have recognized the Albanian UDI did so for their own personal interests in order to have a country to deport the thousands and thousands of criminals and illegal aliens seeking political asylum in their prisons and respective societies before they do even greater damage than what they have already done.One look at the Interpol most wanted list tells you who the criminals in Europe are.That list is obviously not complete since it omits many of the KLA killers like the snake.On the contrary Mike i can easily hear the snake saying "I want the world chico and everything in it"even more convincing than Antonio Montana."I no come over on no banana boat.I am a political refugee"Tony Montana

Though I agree almost completely with the first Mike's comment, it's not the normal Mike who writes here.

However, somehow I can't really see Thaci doing the whole "say hello to my little friend" Tony Montana bit. Unless his "little friend" is Richard Holbrook.

"What a surprise! Kosovo has been independent for almost 10 years and still crime is dominating."

What a surprise! Serbia has been independent since 1878 and still crime is dominating

Mike (#2),

Good comments. However, Kosovo is also gripped by something else even though ethnic Albanians are trying all to deny that constantly.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_re_us/fort_dix_plot

It is quite interesting that the article mentions "The men, all foreign-born (read Kosovo) Muslims in their 20s, are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses". It would be quite embarrassing is the article had to mention Kosovo as the true location. I understand that, like everywhere, they comprise a minority, but the way the US, the EU and of course NATO have been in denial about this is beyond comprehension. In addition, I am sure that there is very little control on the various construction projects (probably all without building permits, especially is they are on private Serb property (of course they are all on Serb property)) that are financed by certain dictatorial regimes in the Middle East and the activities that are being organized there (one can only wonder). These activities will only lead to future terrorist activities against Western interest. The West does not understand that it is being used like they are using the Albanians. We are living in interesting times.

Interesting that "Serbia" is left out of the article. With its widespread corruption,open gangster control of the country and economy "serbia" should not receive a free pass in this or any article that includes or profiles corruption in the Balkans. Clearly one would have to seriously consider the credibility of any author or article that does not include "Serbia" as part of any "study" of crime in the Balkans since "serbia is the definition of corruption.

I just returned from KosMet and will go many times more. I was really impressed with many things "Joe, the Plumber", sorry, "Gjon, the Plumber" does. I always disclaimed. I am there for fun and taking pictures to later enjoy with my family and friends and that I am not from some who-knows-what American/EU/Russian/UN/Space Alien organization who has whatever objectives.

People want to live normal life and be normal, not belong to headlines. So no details, sorry. But it was fun and I am satisfied.

I can talk of course about what I did see with my eyes and what I comment on that - if anyone is interested.

What a surprise! Kosovo has been independent for almost 10 years and still crime is dominating.
(Mike, 20 October 2008 11:24)
--
Thanks for confirming Mike (the Original) as I didn't think you would have said the above. Being a protectorate or in my opinion under occupation is far from being independent.

Very funny that Misha left Serbia out. The paragraph under the headline does not match the text of this article. Only Bosnia,Kosovo,Macedonia and Montenegro are mentioned in general terms.
Maybe b92 can elaboarte on this artilce and make it clear to its readers.

Camp Bondsteel is one of the smallest not largest military bases in the world. It is not even a permanent base, it does not even have a landing strip.
(sp, 20 October 2008 17:23)

It's one of the largest US base outside of the US - but not as big as Ramstein (955 acres versus 3000 acres):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Bondsteel

It has no landing strip, it is for AH-64 Apache. What is funny tough, Apache is not particularly useful against fighter airplanes or fighter bombers Serbs may have. It's against ground forces, so potentially against.... you

Ataman
of course we want to hear details of your trip to Kosmet.
Do you have some blog where we can see the pictures you've made there?

Where exactly have you been in Kosmet?

Do you have some blog where we can see the pictures you've made there?

Where exactly have you been in Kosmet?
(veki, 20 October 2008 21:15)

I have, but B92 does strongly discourage to provide private pointers. They made no secret about it few days ago. You can find tough if you really look around on the 'Net. It's not much yet there about that particular trip.

I was in Banjska Monastery, in the city of Pec/Peja and in Decani. It's what I could do in 10 hours. I begun to drive from Studenica around 10h and returned to BG at about 4 in the next morning. It was a shame most of Ibar valley and the Pec->Mitrovica section was during the darkness.

I did not count the road between Pristina and Pec is under construction and the traffic is so heavy even on Sunday. There was a little thing I already complained here that the sign to Dechani is 90 degrees off, so who does not know, will take a wrong direction. Of course that led here in BG to some speculations and conspiration theories among my colleagues. On the other hand I did buy a little booklet in Banjska Monastery written in Russian, did not buy the English version - but what was written in Russian about Albanian population was all, but politically correct.

So it's probably 1:1 right now (sign Dechani at 90 degrees off versus the booklet with offensive language). It's a draw, but I prefer 0:0 rather than 1:1

Here is an interesting article about Camp Bondsteel:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/apr2002/oil-a29.shtml

Mike,
Your comment does not reflect well on your knowledge base. Camp Bondsteel is one of the smallest not largest military bases in the world. It is not even a permanent base, it does not even have a landing strip.

"What a surprise! Kosovo has been independent for almost 10 years and still crime is dominating."

What a surprise! Serbia has been independent since 1878 and still crime is dominating

Very funny that Misha left Serbia out. The paragraph under the headline does not match the text of this article. Only Bosnia,Kosovo,Macedonia and Montenegro are mentioned in general terms.
Maybe b92 can elaboarte on this artilce and make it clear to its readers.

Interesting that "Serbia" is left out of the article. With its widespread corruption,open gangster control of the country and economy "serbia" should not receive a free pass in this or any article that includes or profiles corruption in the Balkans. Clearly one would have to seriously consider the credibility of any author or article that does not include "Serbia" as part of any "study" of crime in the Balkans since "serbia is the definition of corruption.

I just returned from KosMet and will go many times more. I was really impressed with many things "Joe, the Plumber", sorry, "Gjon, the Plumber" does. I always disclaimed. I am there for fun and taking pictures to later enjoy with my family and friends and that I am not from some who-knows-what American/EU/Russian/UN/Space Alien organization who has whatever objectives.

People want to live normal life and be normal, not belong to headlines. So no details, sorry. But it was fun and I am satisfied.

I can talk of course about what I did see with my eyes and what I comment on that - if anyone is interested.

Kosovo ecomony completely gripped by crime says BBC Balkan analyst Misha Glenny.

What a surprise! Kosovo has been independent for almost 10 years and still crime is dominating. Great work America and the EU. It's great that these super powers have had such a positive impact on Kosovo economy.
And you want Kosovo serbs to work with a Kosovo albanian government leader who reminds you more of Tony Montana than a real politician. Good luck!
Just proves that America is involved in Kosovo only for it's own gain of building one of its largest military bases in the world.

The 22 EU countries which have recognized the Albanian UDI did so for their own personal interests in order to have a country to deport the thousands and thousands of criminals and illegal aliens seeking political asylum in their prisons and respective societies before they do even greater damage than what they have already done.One look at the Interpol most wanted list tells you who the criminals in Europe are.That list is obviously not complete since it omits many of the KLA killers like the snake.On the contrary Mike i can easily hear the snake saying "I want the world chico and everything in it"even more convincing than Antonio Montana."I no come over on no banana boat.I am a political refugee"Tony Montana

Mike,
Your comment does not reflect well on your knowledge base. Camp Bondsteel is one of the smallest not largest military bases in the world. It is not even a permanent base, it does not even have a landing strip.

Mike (#2),

Good comments. However, Kosovo is also gripped by something else even though ethnic Albanians are trying all to deny that constantly.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_re_us/fort_dix_plot

It is quite interesting that the article mentions "The men, all foreign-born (read Kosovo) Muslims in their 20s, are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses". It would be quite embarrassing is the article had to mention Kosovo as the true location. I understand that, like everywhere, they comprise a minority, but the way the US, the EU and of course NATO have been in denial about this is beyond comprehension. In addition, I am sure that there is very little control on the various construction projects (probably all without building permits, especially is they are on private Serb property (of course they are all on Serb property)) that are financed by certain dictatorial regimes in the Middle East and the activities that are being organized there (one can only wonder). These activities will only lead to future terrorist activities against Western interest. The West does not understand that it is being used like they are using the Albanians. We are living in interesting times.

Though I agree almost completely with the first Mike's comment, it's not the normal Mike who writes here.

However, somehow I can't really see Thaci doing the whole "say hello to my little friend" Tony Montana bit. Unless his "little friend" is Richard Holbrook.

Camp Bondsteel is one of the smallest not largest military bases in the world. It is not even a permanent base, it does not even have a landing strip.
(sp, 20 October 2008 17:23)

It's one of the largest US base outside of the US - but not as big as Ramstein (955 acres versus 3000 acres):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Bondsteel

It has no landing strip, it is for AH-64 Apache. What is funny tough, Apache is not particularly useful against fighter airplanes or fighter bombers Serbs may have. It's against ground forces, so potentially against.... you

What a surprise! Kosovo has been independent for almost 10 years and still crime is dominating.
(Mike, 20 October 2008 11:24)
--
Thanks for confirming Mike (the Original) as I didn't think you would have said the above. Being a protectorate or in my opinion under occupation is far from being independent.

Here is an interesting article about Camp Bondsteel:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/apr2002/oil-a29.shtml

Ataman
of course we want to hear details of your trip to Kosmet.
Do you have some blog where we can see the pictures you've made there?

Where exactly have you been in Kosmet?

Do you have some blog where we can see the pictures you've made there?

Where exactly have you been in Kosmet?
(veki, 20 October 2008 21:15)

I have, but B92 does strongly discourage to provide private pointers. They made no secret about it few days ago. You can find tough if you really look around on the 'Net. It's not much yet there about that particular trip.

I was in Banjska Monastery, in the city of Pec/Peja and in Decani. It's what I could do in 10 hours. I begun to drive from Studenica around 10h and returned to BG at about 4 in the next morning. It was a shame most of Ibar valley and the Pec->Mitrovica section was during the darkness.

I did not count the road between Pristina and Pec is under construction and the traffic is so heavy even on Sunday. There was a little thing I already complained here that the sign to Dechani is 90 degrees off, so who does not know, will take a wrong direction. Of course that led here in BG to some speculations and conspiration theories among my colleagues. On the other hand I did buy a little booklet in Banjska Monastery written in Russian, did not buy the English version - but what was written in Russian about Albanian population was all, but politically correct.

So it's probably 1:1 right now (sign Dechani at 90 degrees off versus the booklet with offensive language). It's a draw, but I prefer 0:0 rather than 1:1