Clinton welcomed as hero in Kosovo - Thank you, Wes Clark!

[wyldwolf]

Basking in public adoration the United States can only dream of in Iraq, ex-president Bill Clinton got a hero’s welcome in Kosovo on Friday, four years after NATO bombing ended Serb rule.

THOUSANDS OF KOSOVO Albanians turned out to greet the man they see as their liberator from a decade of repression under then Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.

Schoolchildren got the day off and well-wishers waving the Star and Stripes thronged Pristina’s Bill Clinton Boulevard as his motorcade drove by.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/969035.asp?0cv=CB20

And the General largely responsible could be our next Prez.

[CentristDemocrat]

1. You better believe it.

Clark a war criminal? Whatever. :eyes:

[Katie]

2. U.S. POPULAR IN MUSLIM KOSOVO

"U.S. POPULAR IN MUSLIM KOSOVO
Unlike many other predominantly Muslim places in the world, the United States is genuinely popular in this landlocked territory of two million, placed under U.N.-led administration in the summer of 1999 after NATO’s 11-week air war."

This was such a nice thing to see. But my favorite line was "Basking in public adoration the United States can only dream of in Iraq"

"Only dream of."

[caledesi]

23. I loved that line too.

[RobertSeattle]

3. Wow - what a statement (without saying anything)

Gee, wonder why Bush can't do the same thing in Baghdad?

[diplomats]

4. Just a warning

There are some people here who think this is nothing more than an effort to undercut Dean. (???)

[Brian Sweat]

10. What it will undercut, it the claim that Clark is a war monger

and a war criminal. It shows what most of us have known all along. Milosivich was a brutal thug that made Hussein look like a saint.

[clar]

18. I'm a Dean supporter

and most people familiar with me here, know that I'm a reasonable person. I do think that Clinton is backing Clark. I do think a certain number of powerful dems have been seeking anyway to take Dean out. That's no secret. The DLC was quite open about it. Others have been too. These folks see Clark as their great hope. I believe that these people think they're doing the best thing for the party, and I resent it like hell. It's paternalistic. If you don't believe that the Clintons are highly involved in the Clark campaign, read today's The Note on abc.com. They even mention the Kosovo visit as relates to Clark.

[Brian Sweat]

21. Yes, I think the Clintons are involved in the Clark campaign.

I think it's great!

[OKNancy]

24. I'm sorry you resent it

but it is their perfect right to do what they think is best. They have an agenda, and it is different than yours. That's the way it is in politics. I think Dean will be fine, and may the best man win.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Amazing, isn't it?

The difference between Clinton and Bush in the eyes of the world...no comparison. I love that man and it's stories like this that will help Clark in the long run.

[cjbuchanan]

6. This has got to show who Clinton wants to be the nom

The timing of this is just to perfect for Clark. The press will cover this event and they will mention that Clark made this all possible.

Clinton is doing just about anything he can, short of an endorsement, to get Clark at the top of the ticket in 2004.

[Terwilliger]

7. And when Bush tours Iraq

and those folks come out and cheer for him, we should take that as a sign that Iraqis are happy with what Tommy Franks did?

Clinton went to Kosovo Friday? How long has this "visit" been planned?

[diplomats]

12. For months

I remember reading about it when it was scheduled. Are you saying the Kosovars aren't happy? They have a democracy now, for God's sake. BTW, Bush won't be making any Iraq tours anytime soon, you can count on that.

[wyldwolf]

13. How you could make such a conclusion is astounding...

[GainesT1958]

8. Think any Iraqis are going to re-name a street in Baghdad...

"George W. Bush Boulevard"? Somehow, I just can't see it. :eyes:

But that IS a testimony to the diplomatic and strategic brilliance of three people in particular: Clinton, Madeline Albright, and Wes Clark. One who was, thankfully, president; another who was one of our best Secretaries of State (and may yet be again!), and one who may be the NEXT president! :D

B-)

[jumptheshadow]

9. Wishing and hoping

I hope this gets media coverage. To intelligent folks it sure tarnishes Mr. Bush just a little bit more.

[Donna Zen]

11. the unofficial Clark newsletter

is reporting thousands of letters coming in from the Kosovars wishing Clark well. Then you read a few of these threads and can't believe he left any of them alive. Also, military families are grouping.

[diplomats]

14. Amazing, isn't it?

The Kosovars are ecstatic, and Slobodan Milosevic is in the Hague facing war crimes charges (meaning Serbia is free of him finally, too). That's what's called a successful military venture. (BTW, do you have link to that newsletter if it's online?)

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Why do I get the feeling ...

... that Blair will schedule a return trip to Kosovo to shore up his crumbling international/Muslim popularity?

[diplomats]

16. I don't think it would help him at this point

[ShaneGR]

17. but, but, didn't Clark kill all of the them??????

I thought he single-handedly exterminated all of Yugoslavia! There are people left there?

This simply can't be true.

/sarcasm

[Starpass]

19. Certain ring to it, isn't there??

Kinda a step up from I got a ticker tape parade in Vermont.............. Amazing..I wonder if these people over there have heard of Howard yet??? Don't they know he's so much better than Clinton or that vampire Clark?? Time to put some real international experience in the WH, I say. To replace the great international experience that we have there now..........

[Nashyra]

20. Apositive Clark thread is not Dean bashing

just as a positive Dean thread should not be considered a Clark bashing. For those who have to resort to bashing that I expected from the RW, you do a diservice for your candidate and the party. Promote the positive aspects of your candidate, and remember "United we stand,Divided we fall" This was a rallying cry for our union during the lead up to a Flight Attendant strike in 93 which ended up being a great success. This should be for all candidate supporters, and from the sound of things on this board the most obnoxious noise is coming from rabid Clark and Dean supporters. I like Clark, will work for Clark and will work just as hard for Dean if he is the candidate.

[reachout]

22. Hey, that's great

The Albania Kosovars are thrilled about the '98 war against Serbia. So how exactly to the other Kosovars feel?


http://www.balkanpeace.org/monitor/koskss/index.shtml



Since NATO's occupation of Kosovo and Metohija on June 12, 1999, the indigent Serb population (along with all ethnic minorities) has suffered greatly at the hands of Albanian extremists. According to a UNHCR/OSCE report of November 3, 1999, there have been 348 murders, 116 kidnappings, 1,070 incidents of looting and 1,106 arsons (numbers are higher according to local Serb sources). The victims are primarily Serbs, followed by Roma, Slavic Muslims, Gorani, Turks, and other minorities.

According to various reports, over 350,000 people have been ethnically cleansed from Kosovo and Metohija since KFOR occupied the region. The expulsions, beatings and murders continue to this very day.

Destruction of Serbian religious monuments is also widespread. Over 70 monasteries and churches have been intentionally destroyed – mostly utilizing sophisticated explosive charges suggesting it is the work of trained experts. Desecration of cemeteries is also a common daily occurrence.

Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Bernard Kouchner, claims that incidents of violence against Serbs have gone down lately. The information is misleading in two ways: 1) most of the Serbs have left the region and 2) the violence against remaining Serbs is in the same proportion.

If the situation continues as is, Kosovo and Metohija will become a mono-ethnic entity, the UN mission a complete failure, and NATO's promise of a multi-ethnic democracy a cruel hoax.




Oh and before someone repeats the "stopping genocide" lie, please read this: (numerous links at the bottom)


http://www.balkanpeace.org/monitor/mgenindex.shtml

[aneerkoinos]

26. Thanks reachout

Let's see if Harri Holkeri can do a better job. I hope but I have my doubts...

[edward]

25. Don't you mean, Thank you Bill Clinton?

Did Wes Clark have authority to do it without Bill Clinton?

[disgruntella]

27. This article is going to keep a happy smirk on my face

for the rest of the day. An American president being hailed as a hero by Muslims in a foreign country. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Dubya!