The Simmering Balkans

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/tensions-in-the-balkans-rising-as-promise-of-eu-future-fades-a-1154499.html

A fascinating article as are all things Balkan.

But as is often the case it's only hinting at larger truths... the KLA/UÇK was from the beginning a CIA (via the German BND) backed operation. The state of Kosovo is in particular a US project and proxy. But in a wider circle the US is utilising an informal alliance with Albanian Nationalism which affects not only Kosovo, but Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro.

The fact that the BND (or even the US State Department) has now turned on Thaci and describes him as a criminal or terrorist is a laughable instance of how the West treats its former allies. When weary of them they throw them away and pull out the dossier. And what a dossier! The Western intelligence agencies have a full record since they largely sponsored many or most of the activities. They have no hesitation in turning on former allies and of course openly and officially condemning them provides a plausible deniability that most of the public will buy. Those who cry foul and charge hypocrisy are labeled as sensationalists and conspiracy theorists. One immediately thinks of Manuel Noriega.

This article also misses some of the crucial elements in understanding the back- story of Islamisation. A similar phenomenon was happening in Chechnya in the late 1990s and 2000s. Ironically (or not) this spread of Salafism was a direct result of the US proxy war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. I say 'not' because a strong case can be made that it was no accident or side-effect. But of course to admit such is to proclaim the War on Terror to be little more than a great smokescreen... a reality that was apparent to some of us from day one.

The Yugoslav Wars brought Islamism to the Balkans but it has since exploded in the wake of the US wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and now its proxy wars in Libya and Syria. The article states the sobering truth regarding the numbers of Kosovars who have ventured to the Middle East. Many will of course make their way back to Europe and trouble will most certainly follow them.

The various Albanian factions and movements have become cauldrons for both Islamism and nationalist irredentism. This led to the creation of Kosovo and continues to be used to stir up troubles in neighbouring nations like Macedonia and Serbia.

The creation of the EU held out the possibility of borders becoming downplayed or even insignificant. Clearly it's not working.

Instead the geopolitics of the day place the Balkans in danger of reverting to their historical placement of the late 19^th and early 20^th century when the various peoples were caught between Ottoman Turkey, Russia and the West. The latter being represented by Germany, Austria, Italy and to a lesser degree France and the United Kingdom. Today, instead of Ottomans, Tsars, Habsburgs and the Treaty of Berlin... it's Turkey, Russia, NATO and the EU. The US of course all but dominates NATO and uses it to steer the EU. In addition, while the US doesn't directly control Brussels or Berlin it does nevertheless through various state, military, intelligence and economic proxies exert great influence.

Turkey under Erdogan is supportive of Islam but of a form quite different than the Wahhabi and Salafi doctrines associated with Islamists. Neo-Ottomanism is the AKP's goal which puts a Turkish variety of Islam at the fore. Their vision of the caliphate is quite different from that of the Gulf Arabs. The Russians are quietly appealing to their old Eastern Orthodox leadership role and in particular their historic position as the protector of the Slavic sphere. For historic reasons they also continue to seek a buffer-zone between their Western marches and the imperialist ambitions of the EU and United States. The West seeks to finish the project of consolidation on Europe's Southeast flank and bases its appeal in the form of security, economics and liberal values. The project began in the 1990s has fallen on hard times and the great victories secured in the break-up of Yugoslavia are now in jeopardy.

It's reminiscent of geologic pressure building toward an earthquake. There are many faults and fissures across the globe. Sadly for the Balkans they represent one of the most volatile spots. The lessons of history are pertinent here.