Rep. Franks (Az) rattles the Balkans sabre

[paineinthearse]

Copied from the GDP forum - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1814294

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I was a bit concerned as I viewed this sabre rattling yesterday on CSPAN....

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?r109:./temp/~r109FrTBMI

AMERICAN POLICY IN THE BALKANS -- (House of Representatives - May 26, 2005)

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The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Franks) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, allow me to address a very deep and growing concern about American policy in the Balkans. The policy of the United States should be predicated upon its own interests and its own sovereignty and security. Defying reason, somehow we keep hearing that the current administration plans to continue the former administration's policy in Southeast Europe.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot understand this, given the fact that we have learned so much about the nature of the foreign fighters that have come into Bosnia-Herzegovina to fight the Serbs, and now we have encountered them ourselves in Iraq.

To observe the current unemployment and socialist economic structure in Kosovo is to recognize that the previous administration's so-called policy there has been an absolute and utter failure. I certainly agree that we should be looking for a workable solution for all in that region; but in order to do so, we cannot disregard the fact that there have been over 300 mosques constructed in Kosovo since 1999, mostly funded by Saudi Arabia, while at the very same time, 150 Serbian churches, Orthodox churches, about 10 percent of all the churches in Kosovo, have been destroyed. And I am wondering if this is the legacy that we want to leave for the United States involvement, Mr. Speaker.

Further, we can now clearly see that many of the most dangerous terrorists that the United States has encountered in the fight against terrorism have had some connection to the Balkans and particularly Bosnia. For example, two of the September 11 hijackers fought in the wars in Bosnia. Sohel al Saahli fought in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Chechnya; and he later became a leader in Iraq and was killed in a U.S. air strike in March of 2003. Abdel Aziz al Muqrin, al Qaeda's leader in Saudi Arabia, personally decapitated Paul Johnson; and he had fought in Bosnia, Algeria, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, there is an alarming pattern here.

Abu Anas al Shami fought with other Jordanian extremists to fight jihad in Bosnia. He was the right hand of Abu Masab al Zarqawi fighting against U.S. forces in Iraq until he was killed in September, 2004.

And, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, our Balkans policies helped these terrorists.

And now there is data found on Mr. Zarqawi's laptop computer indicating that terrorists have the means and the plans to use WMDs here in Europe and perhaps even here someday, in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, given these disturbing details, the fact that we are now moving troops out of Bosnia and out of the Balkans is a profound concern to me. Further, as a guarantor of the Dayton Peace Accords, we have a duty to reaffirm them and to ensure a sense of comity and fair play. We should not seek to change them through a coercive top-down pressure, as has been recently attempted in the talks in Bosnia under the auspices of the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and this with the approval of our U.S. Ambassador Douglas McElhaney.

I am also very concerned that, according to news reports, our ambassador incited public opinion against the Republic of Srpska's chief of police by insinuating that he should be removed from office for statements he made concerning the nexus between Bosnia and the Madrid bombings.



Mr. Speaker, the police chief's statements concerning the relationship between certain individuals and materials in Bosnia and the horrific Madrid bombings that took place last year deserve our attention and our investigation rather than our rebuke. I truly believe, Mr. Speaker, it is time we take a second, very serious look at the realities and the growing terrorist danger in Bosnia.

END

...but now I am growing more apprehensive as I read of this "surge" deployment.

5 ships ordered to ''surge'' to support war on terror
By JACK DORSEY, The Virginian-Pilot
© May 25, 2005
Last updated: 12:19 AM

NORFOLK — The Navy has ordered five ships and 2,800 sailors to deploy on unexpected missions to support anti-terrorism efforts in the Balkans and Middle East. Four of the ships will leave today. The deployments are in response to requests from the European Command and the Central Command and are not exercises, Vice Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, commander of the 2nd Fleet, said Tuesday. While most ships know several months in advance – sometimes a year or more – when they will deploy, these ships were given between six and eight weeks’ notice to get ready, Fitzgerald said.

That is the main difference in today’s Navy under the latest use of the service’s year-old Fleet Response Plan. It was developed to find ways of operating, training, manning and maintaining the fleet to increase readiness and more quickly deliver combat power when and where it’s needed. This so-called “surge” of forces follows last year’s nearly simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft carrier strike groups that were given little notice to get under way in an initial demonstration of responding to crises around the globe.

“I wouldn’t paint this in the same light as last summer,” Fitzgerald said. “We are trying to be responsive to the combatant commanders, and both the European Command and Central Command came in with requests for forces. They are looking at trying to get at a few of the problems they have out there.”

Those problems include the need for maritime interdiction and anti-terrorism missions, he said. The ships and their crews, including special operation forces, will work with allies to detect, disrupt and deny international terrorist organizations the use of the maritime environment, the Navy said. The flotilla includes the amphibious assault ship Saipan, amphibious transport dock Nashville and the guided missile frigate Nicholas, all from Norfolk. The guided missile cruiser Philippine Sea will deploy from Mayport, Fla., and the dock landing ship Gunston Hall will join the group from the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach a week later. The Saipan, Nashville, Nicholas and Philippine Sea will deploy for approximately three months, while the Gunston Hall will remain at sea about six months.

Reach Jack Dorsey at [phone] or [e-mail].