What are your thoughts?

The various news media have been abuzz, Kosovo having declared its independence last night. Naturally, the political engine has been rumbling at home and abroad.

Russia wants to solidify it's influence with it's former Soviet nations -- Kosovo included -- while the U.S. has long supported the nation in the making.

It only furthers the tension between Putin and Bush.



On a side note. Putin-Bush.

It's going to be interesting, particularly to how the US and other Western Europe nations respond, given Russia's protest of Kosovo's independence.

The Australians, shockingly, support Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's declaration. The US Administration has to be on board, naturally and so do the British.

Russia wants to solidify it's influence with it's former Soviet nations -- Kosovo included -- while the U.S. has long supported the nation in the making.

Agreed. And like you observed; this will doubtless widen the rift between the two. There were and have been riots in Serbia as a result. But with such a largely Albanian population versus the relatively small Serbian demographic in Kosovo...

I see things flaring up as a result.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica promptly denounced the move.

"Citizens of Serbia, we have to come together and show the world that we do not acknowledge the creation of a false state on our territory," Kostunica said. "We will do our utmost to bring the province of Kosovo to where it rightfully belongs."

That certainly doesn't bode well.

And with the U.S. trying to get into Eastern Europe with it's defense grid and Russia denouncing the move as well, I have to agree.

I see something of a parallel possibly happening on with between Kosovo and Serbia and the relationship between Taiwan and mainland China.

Would the United States tolerate it if California declared its independence? let us think - the last time that happened there was a war and subsequent subjugation. I support Serbia.

The US has always held a double standard like that. Remember East Timor? Kuwait (ok, maybe not directly related, but still somewhat)? But should one of our states ever try to revolt, we'd be in uproar.

But I can see why Kosovo would want it, especially after the 1998 massacres.

Would the United States tolerate it if California declared its independence?

It is comments like this, profound in their audacity, that ruin the chances of our having a logical discussion of the issues at hand. The comparison between the declaration of independence on the part of Kosovo in 2008 and the 1821 Mexican War of Independence is utterly outrageous. Case in point; the movement for an independent California which continues today has not the cause of war, massacre or economic instability behind it.

Telan, if you want to be contrary for the sake of being contrary you could, at the very least, muster a better argument for your attitude.

The US has always held a double standard like that.

It is hardly a double standard in this case, but a matter of aligned interests on the part of largely pro-Western Kosovo and the still Russian-loyal Serbian state. I agree that the issue is sticky with valid arguments on both sides, however.

I just think it is a mistake to take this event out of context and try to give it meaning based on comparative analysis with unrelated events (many of which are, at this point, merely historical reference points).

Personally I favor the rights of the Albanian Muslims in Kosovo to assert their independence not for any altruistic reason other then, as a member of the Western World, it is in our best interests.

I also think it is important to keep in mind the loss of life, recent in their history, which has been described by many as Genocide perpetrated by the Yugoslavians against the Kosovoans in the late 90's. A million civilians displaced, tens of thousands of non-combatants killed as a result...

How anyone can make any argument against their move towards democratic independence I just don't understand. In fact the only substantial reasons for Serbia to oppose Kosovo are, imho, silly.

1.) Historical Homeland: Orthodox Catholic Serbia claims that their historic 'homeland' will be lost, claimed by Kosovo cropping up as an independent country on their border despite the fact that the UN has been basically running Kosovo since 1999.

2.) Russian Paranoia: The excuse for Russian opposition is that this will set a global precedent for secessionist groups, despite the fairly obvious intentions of the 'New Russia' to bring former Soviet satellite countries back in to the fold. Obviously having a pro-Western Democracy so close to Serbia hurts their chances.