Article

2014-08-17 Europe

Mercenaries, Extremists Become Major Balkans Export

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Posted by Fred 2014-08-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 Thank you Mr Clinton.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-08-17 12:18|| 2014-08-17 12:18|| Front Page Top

#2 In previous decades, this was what the Balkans exported: chaos. Under the communists, the 'Iron Curtain' saw to it that the chaos stayed bottled up. With the opening of the borders (think EU), the genie was let out.
Borders and frontiers provide a 'friction' to social change, slowing down effects. Be careful what you wish for.

Posted by ed in texas 2014-08-17 12:55|| 2014-08-17 12:55|| Front Page Top

#3 Oh, let's not forget the Serbian military sponsoring of the Black Hand action that put Sarajavo on the map a hundred years ago. The world is still paying for that one.

Posted by Procopius2k 2014-08-17 13:38|| 2014-08-17 13:38|| Front Page Top

#4 Ain't that the truth, P2k.

One of those lasting effects was the Wilsonian notion of self-determination which has led to the current preponderance of tribes with flags.

Posted by AlanC 2014-08-17 15:23|| 2014-08-17 15:23|| Front Page Top

#5 Daughter spent very enjoyable summer in Croatia a few years ago, right by the Bosnian border. The folks in Mali Ston all went to Bosnia to buy their meat, it was lots cheaper (as long as you didn't pay duty...) By her accounts the people were pretty normal (though too many were anti-Semitic) - smoked too much, and by my standards (not hers) drank to much, but... pretty normal.

Posted by Glenmore 2014-08-17 17:25|| 2014-08-17 17:25|| Front Page Top

#6 Serbs would make good mercenaries: they battled the Germans for 4 years using successful guerrilla warfare tactics; Many Croatians fought well (but cruelly) for the Germans; Bosnian SS Muslim
fought terribly and were the only SS Division to be disbanded by the the Reich during the war. I realize I am generalizing, but I believe the Serbs and Croats would make good mercenaries. (Bosnians and those from Kosovo I would give them the role of suicide bombers - many of this last group are Muslims.)

Posted by borgboy 2014-08-17 18:37|| 2014-08-17 18:37|| Front Page Top

22:54 JosephMendiola
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