Word: nato
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...separatism theme is played differently by Moscow in different contexts: Russia brutally burns out separatism in Chechnya, but it endorses the efforts of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to break away from pro-NATO Georgia, as well as those of Moldova's breakaway region of Trans-Dniestria. Russia uses these separatist entities to turn up heat on Georgia and Moldova, and the separatist movements in all three demand Russian recognition, and subsequent incorporation into Russia. Hence, Moscow's headache: Should it go along with the Ahtisaari plan, it must insist that the same approach be applied to Russian allies, lest...
...Serbian province of Kosovo, whose 2 million people are predominantly ethnic Albanians and want independence, has been administered as a U.N. protectorate since NATO's 78-day bombing campaign forced Serbian withdrawal in 1999. Now, U.N.'s special envoy Marti Ahtisaari has proposed de facto independence under European Union supervision for Kosovo, with a view to subsequently integrating both it and Serbia into the EU. Ahtisaari's plan is backed by the U.S. and NATO countries, but Russia strongly objects to what it describes as a dangerous precedent for separatists elsewhere. And as an historical ally of Serbia, Russia cannot...
...Serbia certainly has reasons to be piqued. Despite the NATO countries pledging even handedness, they appear oblivious to the fact that the tables in Kosovo have been turned since 1999. U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 on Kosovo, demanded to guarantee the safe and free return of all refugees and displaced persons to their homes. But since 1999, the Albanians have forced out some 200,000 Serbs, who cannot freely return. NATO peacekeepers are not always able to calm down clashes between Albanians and the few Serbian enclaves still remaining in Kosovo. Though Kosovo will never again be a part...
...instead. But that's a misguided strategy. The raid on Dadullah took place in the same area where a U.S. air strike had killed at least 21 Afghan civilians earlier in the week. Since the beginning of March, more than 130 Afghan civilians have been killed by U.S. and NATO forces. Even among those predisposed to support the West, the mounting loss of life is engendering anger that undermines any gains that might come from killing enemies such as Dadullah. In the end, draining the appeal of the insurgency will require not more troops but more money, patience and restraint...
...major setback for the Taliban, which has been fighting to regain power, its lead military commander, Mullah Dadullah, was fatally shot in a joint operation by U.S., NATO and Afghan forces. He is the third top Taliban leader to be killed in the past six months...