Munich and continuity between Bush, Obama foreign policies

Unfortunately this is basically correct. Obama does not represent "change we can believe in". With Biden, Clinton and friends it was always going to be a long shot. Oh, well....

I think the American empire will only change when a bigger empire clobbers it on the battlefield, that's the way it has always been.

Let's hope the next "big shot" has a softer spot for the Serbs.

"NATO faces a substantial split, conditioned partly by Germany’s dependence on Russian energy, but also by deep German unease about any possible resumption of a Cold War with Russia, however mild. The foundation of NATO during the Cold War was the U.S.-German-British relationship. With the Germans unwilling to align with the United States and other NATO members over Russia or Afghanistan, it is unclear whether NATO can continue to function. (Certainly, Merkel cannot be pleased that the United States has not laid the BMD issue in Poland and the Czech Republic to rest.)"

For Nato to thrive, the US needs more than just military support from its now-shown-to-be-less-than-blindly-subservient-allies. The US will also need them to chip in financially too to pay for America's huge and wasteful military adventures. Neither forms of support are appearing in the horizon anytime soon. If Biden is smart, he will wise up to this new reality.

"Milan, Germany has been among the first to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign country and the relations with Russians have not change. Moreover, Germany is arming Kosovo's Army.
(k-alb, 12 February 2009 17:09)"

okay, if you consider your lightly armed security force to be an army, well, suit yourself. But most people would beg to differ.

Its obvious that we are witnessing the decline of US hegemony. However the US is not going to back into its corner so easily. That's what smart empires do and when have we ever witnessed a smart empire take up a defensive position? They usually go out with a bang and Afghanistan will be that bang for the US. Plus its broke also and poor Obama will be the fall guy in this.
My dear K-ALbo friends you have bet on the wrong horse. Once again the offer is autonomy and no independence. The US will not be able to back you for much longer.

"So why are Tadic, Jeremic and Kostunica losing sleep about it?
(Ruben, 16 February 2009 23:32)"

Because they see it as a breach of Serbian sovereignty.

Milan, Germany has been among the first to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign country and the relations with Russians have not change. Moreover, Germany is arming Kosovo's Army.

So why are Tadic, Jeremic and Kostunica losing sleep about it?

Milan, Germany has been among the first to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign country and the relations with Russians have not change. Moreover, Germany is arming Kosovo's Army.

So why are Tadic, Jeremic and Kostunica losing sleep about it?

Unfortunately this is basically correct. Obama does not represent "change we can believe in". With Biden, Clinton and friends it was always going to be a long shot. Oh, well....

I think the American empire will only change when a bigger empire clobbers it on the battlefield, that's the way it has always been.

Let's hope the next "big shot" has a softer spot for the Serbs.

"NATO faces a substantial split, conditioned partly by Germany’s dependence on Russian energy, but also by deep German unease about any possible resumption of a Cold War with Russia, however mild. The foundation of NATO during the Cold War was the U.S.-German-British relationship. With the Germans unwilling to align with the United States and other NATO members over Russia or Afghanistan, it is unclear whether NATO can continue to function. (Certainly, Merkel cannot be pleased that the United States has not laid the BMD issue in Poland and the Czech Republic to rest.)"

For Nato to thrive, the US needs more than just military support from its now-shown-to-be-less-than-blindly-subservient-allies. The US will also need them to chip in financially too to pay for America's huge and wasteful military adventures. Neither forms of support are appearing in the horizon anytime soon. If Biden is smart, he will wise up to this new reality.

Its obvious that we are witnessing the decline of US hegemony. However the US is not going to back into its corner so easily. That's what smart empires do and when have we ever witnessed a smart empire take up a defensive position? They usually go out with a bang and Afghanistan will be that bang for the US. Plus its broke also and poor Obama will be the fall guy in this.
My dear K-ALbo friends you have bet on the wrong horse. Once again the offer is autonomy and no independence. The US will not be able to back you for much longer.

"Milan, Germany has been among the first to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign country and the relations with Russians have not change. Moreover, Germany is arming Kosovo's Army.
(k-alb, 12 February 2009 17:09)"

okay, if you consider your lightly armed security force to be an army, well, suit yourself. But most people would beg to differ.

"So why are Tadic, Jeremic and Kostunica losing sleep about it?
(Ruben, 16 February 2009 23:32)"

Because they see it as a breach of Serbian sovereignty.