Word: kosovo
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...There is no surprise in continuing attacks on Serb civilians in Kosovo by Albanian extremists. This was not the first, nor will it be the last. But what was significant about this attack was the technique - a remote-controlled antitank mine buried in the asphalt. This goes way beyond the concept of "random revenge attacks." It required a high level of technical sophistication and organization. And that means it was a message to KFOR, too - that the NATO-led peacekeeping force is also vulnerable. Those who carried out this attack could just as easily have blown up a KFOR vehicle...
...Iraq doesn?t produce some testy moments, the Balkans will. Europeans raged at campaign hints from Bush and Rice that they would order a pullout of American forces from nato?s peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. Now the Administration is backing off?Rice has said that ?it is important to review American deployments? but that ?any review will take place with allies.? Still, the U.S. will likely insist that its troop numbers be reduced?even though the U.S. accounts for less than 20% of the total peacekeeping force in the Balkans?and will move toward a burden-sharing arrangement...
...That upsets some officials in Kosovo, who say that American troops provide an emollient against conflict that European forces do not. Yet Europe has no choice but to shoulder more responsibility for the Balkans and operations like it. Powell has given a muted blessing to the E.U.?s new defense force, ?so long as it strengthens nato, and does not weaken nato?; and one influential Bush adviser, Stephen Hadley, has written that the U.S. should give Europe ?breathing space? to develop its defense identity. As it hands off more of the load to the Europeans, the Administration won?t hesitate...
...Kosovo is an unfinished peace. If American soldiers leave...
...BATON HAXHIU, editor of Kosovo's Koha Ditore newspaper, on suggestions that U.S. President George W. Bush wants to pull troops out of the Balkans...