Bush OKs supplying arms to Kosovo

WASHINGTON (AFP) — President George W. Bush authorized Wednesday supplying Kosovo with weapons, signaling the establishment of government-to-government relations after recognizing its independence, the White House said.

In a memo to the State Department made public by the White House, Bush said: "I hereby find that the furnishing of defense articles and defense services to Kosovo will strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace."

A senior official said the authorization followed US recognition of Kosovo's independence and was part of the normal process of establishing relations with a new government.

In a comment apparently meant to allay concerns from Serbia and its ally Russia, the official stressed the military restrictions imposed on Kosovo under a plan by former UN special envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari.

Under the Ahtisaari plan, which is the basis for Kosovo's supervised independence, Kosovo is allowed a lightly armed 2,500-person security force under NATO oversight and training.

Kosovo, an Albanian-dominated Serbian province under UN administration since 1999, unilaterally declared its independence on February 17. The United States recognized it on March 18, despite strong opposition from Serbia and Russia.

The US official, who asked not to be identified, said the US weapons deliveries were preparing the ground for the future, adding that the United States had struck similar relations with other countries in the region.

Furthermore, the official said, provisions of defense equipment and services would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The official said that providing military equipment to Kosovo would improve security relations and engagement with Kosovo, promote security and stability throughout the Balkans, improve Kosovo's capacity to take part in peacekeeping activities, to detect, deter and defeat terrorists, and to deal with humanitarian emergencies.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...38DtzDO_W31Bww

Little America...

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"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried" Churchill

Little America!

Thats right. So don't forget who your weapons dealer is.

Big deal. They already have more than that in their homes. KLA was never properly disarmed.

And this blows away their dreams

If USA gave Kosovo Albanians weapons and the permission to establish their own army - it will be the same thing as supplying Bin Laden back in the Soviet days.
Who is Osama Bin Laden now? Instead of a supposed US ally, he is the state enemy No1.

Albanians, who are proved to have strong connections with Al Qaeda, may also do the same thing.

Americans, watch for boomerangs!

Blowback is the term commonly used here. ...the unintended consequences of foreign operations.

Exactly! Boomerang or blowback, doesn't matter. The consequences are the same.

USA supplied the terrorist Albanian KLA with weapons to fight Serb forces, and the Albanians took part in the Fort Dix operation later. Step No1.

I get it now.....


Serbia has been right all the time and we in the West will one day thank Serbia for holding back the Muslim hoards and defeating them at the gates of Europe.

or maybe not

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Russian Imperialism is a greater danger to the World today than AlQueda terrorism

You got it! Good for you