Redstate

Posted at 3:15pm on Feb. 17, 2008 Foreign Policy Makes A Comeback As An Issue

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

The state of the American economy is a big deal in the upcoming election, but it isn't as if foreign policy should take a back seat as an issue. To say the least, there is a lot going on in the world today and the next President of the United States is going to have quite the full plate to deal with. Including this:

Kosovo's parliament has unanimously endorsed a declaration of independence from Serbia, in an historic session.

The declaration, read by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, said Kosovo would be a democratic country that respected the rights of all ethnic communities.

The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognise Kosovo on Monday.

Serbia's PM denounced the US for helping create a "false state". Serbia's ally, Russia, called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting.

It will be interesting to find out what Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton think of the American stance on Kosovar independence. They promise us that they will conduct a foreign policy that will win respect and affection around the world. Will that include respect and affection from Russia, which bitterly opposes this move? And how will they respond to Russian demands Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two Russian enclaves in Georgia, be recognized in response to Kosovo's independence?

Posted in Foreign Affairs | Kosovo | Presidential Campaign Reactions | Russia | Serbia | The EU | The United States — Comments (4)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:15pm on Jan. 24, 2008 Kosovo: Who are the good guys here? (Comments enabled)

By Neil Stevens

The word is that Kosovars are on the verge of declaring formal independence from Serbia with the support of the EU and, apparently, the United States.

Should I cheer? I can't tell which parties are trustworthy here. On one hand you have Serbia, a country that not too long ago was a party to genocidal activity in Bosnia, and probably has folk who wouldn't mind some 'ethnic cleansing' in Kosovo. On the other hand, Christians in Kosovo and their churches have been under attack since the region fell under NATO protection, and there's the suggestion of Islamic terrorists getting their way here.

Is it even possible for us to come up with a resolution here that one could cheer? I'm open to corrections here on any of my impressions above.