Ok, so while I may have been a little off in the timing, it appears I was somewhat right in predicting that it was going to go to hell when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
In case you hadn't seen, the US Embassy in Belgrade is currently en fuego.
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Smoke billowed from the American embassy in Belgrade after scores of protesters broke into the building on Thursday, cheered on by crowds outside, in a protest at U.S. support for Kosovo's independence.One protester climbed up to the first floor of the building, located on one of the Serbian capital's main boulevards, ripped the Stars and Stripes off its pole and briefly put up a Serbian flag in its place.
Protesters jumped up and down on the embassy balcony, holding up a Serbian flag as the crowd below of about 1,000 people cheered them on, shouting "Serbia, Serbia."
Some 200 riot police finally arrived about half an hour later, beating and arresting some of the rioters and driving the rest away. Some protesters sat on the ground, bleeding.
The storming of the building came during a largely peaceful state-backed rally attended by around 200,000 people to protest at Kosovo's secession on Sunday.
"As long as we live, Kosovo is Serbia," Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica told the crowd from a stage in front of the old Yugoslav parliament building in Belgrade, to applause.
"We'll never give up Kosovo, never!" protesters chanted back, as they waved national flags. A huge banner reading "Kosovo is Serbia" draped the front of the building.
"We're not alone in our fight. President Putin is with us," Kostunica said, paying tribute to the Russian leader who has opposed U.S. and European states' recognition of Kosovo.{...}
Mmmm. Nationalistic hyperbole? Saber rattling---even if it's not your saber you're rattling, but one of your friends' instead? Fire? Busting into an American Embassy and treating it like it's your own personal kaibo? What more could you ask for?
Mark my words: this thing is not going to end peacefully. We're just ramping up. The UN, for all its posturing, can't do a damn thing about Russia and its veto. And if Russia didn't veto any resolutions put forth, then China would. The EU is completely hamstrung, because, apparently Serbia doesn't want the carrot they've offered, and they're pretty sure they can get around the stick. All the Kosovars have going for them right now is NATO---and while that's a pretty big and good organization to have on your side, they really didn't solve the problem in 1999, did they? All they'll be able to do is keep things from going from bad to worse. While that may be a lot, it's not going to end this conflict, once and for all. It'll just put it on the back burner, again, for it to simmer, again.
Furthermore, I suppose this could actually be considered, well, somewhat opportunistic for the Russians. Presidential elections are on the slate for Russia next month, and if Vlad the Impaler wants to make sure his lackey Medvedev replaces him, and is willing to show some muscle to guarantee it (even though polling data suggests Medvedev already is going to win by a landslide) how handy is it that the Kosovars declared independence with such perfect timing and obliged him. I can almost see Vlad rubbing his hands together with glee, can't you? It remains to be seen whether Vlad can put his money where his mouth is in terms of the supposedly new and improved Russian Armed Forces, but, rampant speculation aside, there's just one thing that really needs to be said about all of this: hold onto your diapies, babies! This is going to be a bumpy ride.
UPDATE: According to Fox, the fire at the Embassy has been put out and the embassy has now been secured.
Also, according to Fox, and a Reuters correspondent they're currently chatting with who was on the ground at the time, the police let the protesters into the Embassy to set it on fire/trash it. Then they came back about ninety minutes later and cleaned things up.
Niiiiice.
Posted by Kathy at February 21, 2008 02:26 PM | TrackBack