by Stephen Karganovic
President, Srebrenica Historical Project
Serbia’s pathetic defense minister, Zoran Djordjevic, was seen dutifully in attendance in Warsaw last Thursday where he rubbed shoulders with NATO notables and associated freaks (e.g. the guest of honor, Ukrainian killer-lady, Nadiya Savchenko). Apparently delighted that its minister was treated to such generous photo-ops in Warsaw, Serbia’s defense ministry triumphantly averred that NATO’s invitation to Djordjevic to attend the gathering was proof that “the Serbian government enjoys the status of a stable and responsible NATO partner.”
How enjoyable that status will ultimately turn out to be remains to be seen. Serbia’s slow but steady drift toward NATO means that the message that President Putin pointedly addressed to the Atlantic alliance’s Eastern European satellites – that making their territory available for the deployment of weaponry that threatens Russia’s security will make them a legitimate retaliatory target in case of nuclear hostilities – may end up being applicable to Serbia as well. Unless, that is, its dilettantish government comes to its senses, or Serbia’s vehemently anti-NATO and pro-Russian public reads to their rulers the long overdue “riot act”.
A few months ago, with little fanfare and mostly out of the public’s field of vision, the Serbian government deepened its NATO involvement (it is already enrolled in the “Partnership for Peace” program) by signing an additional Status of Forces agreement with the Alliance although, technically, it is not a member. The eventual disclosure of this perfidy caused a brief uproar before the public retired again to its customary torpor. However, the reaction, brief as it was, left no doubt that the Serbian people utterly abhor NATO and everything that is associated with it.
But public sentiment is only a part of it. Neutrality is not a matter of preference but a policy officially enshrined in Serbian law, which explicitly forbids joining any military block. However, legal obstacles have not been known to discourage Serbia’s political elite once it receives marching orders from its Western masters. They recently signed an ominous Status of Forces agreement, granting NATO troops unlimited access to the country’s facilities and NATO soldiers diplomatic immunity and impunity before Serbian courts for any act of personal wrongdoing. In conformity with previously signed agreements, NATO personnel already sit ensconced in the Serbian Defense Ministry. They are presumably engaged in “cooperation” and imparting “advice” to the military of the country they ruthlessly and illegally bombed 17 years ago.
The audacity of the NATO-Serbia Status of Forces agreement is best appreciated in contrast to the terms of Yugoslavia’s brief March 1941 accession to the Axis Pact (NATO being its obvious successor today). That episode was cut short two days after the signing by an army coup which infuriated Hitler and precipitated his decision to invade and crush Yugoslavia 10 days later. The Axis, however, had required Yugoslavia only to remain neutral for the duration of the war, guaranteeing its territorial integrity, and pledging never to demand the use of Yugoslavia’s territory for military purposes. Whether in the long run these promises would have been kept is a matter of speculation, but they were made and signed. In contrast, NATO has already conducted a brutal military campaign against Yugoslavia (Serbia being its major component), it dismembered the country after the 1999 aggression by occupying and then granting “independence” to its vassal territory of Kosovo, and now it has obtained the approval of the servile government of what remains of the country for its military personnel to move about without hindrance and with diplomatic immunity. By demanding from Serbia to join in anti-Russian sanctions, the NATO/EU tandem has also made it clear that it will in fact tolerate nothing resembling Serbian neutrality. The 1941 deal with Hitler seems vastly more advantageous by any comparison.
The stark fact is that NATO is the only security threat that Serbia faces on its horizon.
As might be expected, NATO membership is opposed by a stratospherically elevated percentage of the Serbian population. However, numerous well-financed pro-NATO “NGOs” and lobbying groups are working overtime in Serbia to paint a positive picture of the Alliance and the supposed benefits that await Serbia upon joining it.
Their activities should not be underestimated. The way the equally unpopular NATO membership issue was managed in neighboring Montenegro might give a clue to how the matter is likely to be handled in Serbia as well. In Montenegro it was categorically stated by the ruling regime that there was no need for a referendum on NATO membership and that the rubber stamp legislature was entirely qualified to settle the issue as it sees fit, without popular interference. The stealth, no advance notice, no public debate procedure by which the Status of Forces agreement was recently adopted by the Serbian parliament is probably the model which will be followed to give a fig leaf of legality to Serbia’s eventual membership in NATO, notwithstanding the fact that, as indicated by most polls, it is an idea abhorred by as much as 90% of the population.
The rather infantile arguments advanced by the pro-NATO lobby to push for closer political coordination with the Alliance and eventually membership amount essentially to two main points. First, it is argued rather circularly that since almost all of the countries surrounding Serbia are already NATO members it would be geopolitically awkward for Serbia not to be. The same argument, assuming it had any validity at all, could have been advanced to motivate Switzerland, literally surrounded from all sides by Nazi-controlled territory during World War II, to be “practical” and to join the Axis camp.
The second bogus argument has to do with the nebulously conceived “Euro-Atlantic integrations,” of which NATO is said to constitute a key component. This narrative is presented in terms that recall the illusionist “civilizational choice” rhetoric used not too long ago to further besot the gullible Ukrainian masses, except that in Serbia the only people deluded by it (or corrupted and blackmailed, as the case may be) enough to take it seriously are members of the completely self-contained and alienated political ruling class and its media and NGO enablers.
It is clear to everyone in Serbia who is capable of thinking straight that NATO’s underlying objective in absorbing the country into its military and political framework is exactly the same as was Hitler’s seventy-five years ago. It is to do with the planned war against Russia and the necessity of taking full control of the strategic rear before the assault is launched. Color revolution rumblings in Serbia are part of the same process of imposing “full spectrum dominance” and replacing 99% subservient puppets by a new set that would be obedient 100%.
The realization that NATO is surreptitiously seizing one position after another and stealthily entrenching itself in Serbia provoked a brief outburst of popular indignation in Belgrade several months ago, when 20,000 citizens turned out onto the streets to protest. That may not seem much by robust Greek or French standards, but in comatose Serbia it qualifies as an impressive demonstration. However, for sustained political activism much more is needed than the haphazard activism of a few uncoordinated volunteers with no resources to organize the masses or serious backing from any significant geopolitical player.
The demoralized and passive Serbian people undoubtedly bear the principal burden of responsibility for allowing the ruling coterie of corrupt renegades to jerk them and their country around, drawing them into the disaster that NATO membership and alignment with Russia’s enemies will inevitably turn out to be. But official Russia also has a huge share of responsibility in the matter. It does little to mobilize and encourage its friends in Serbia, devoting itself, instead, to the hopeless task of reforming the governing elite and persuading it to mend its ways. Unless Russia is prepared to lose Serbia by default, which would be a tragedy for both countries which for centuries have been bound by common values, it must act quickly to address its message directly to the Serbian people and to make them, instead of their alienated rulers, the focus of its policy.
Russia has nothing to expect from the scum which constitutes Serbia’s governing class. They will not change their ways before – in the memorable words of Nikita Khrushchev – shrimp learn to whistle, if then.
they say: blessed ar the crackpots for some light gets through
but serbia remains watertight.
it’s where photons go to die.
very sad
@ LB
Are you referring to the Serbian or Russian leaders?
Either way I had a good laugh. Very witty, thanks.
Kim
What gives you the right to say such words?!!
It is obvious that you are not Serb!
The special war:
( The same one that Russia lost in Ukraine ) we are fighting right now and for looong years without Russia or anybody else to help!
We have minorities also you know, they see thing differently than we are and in these difficult times people just try to survive…
So there is no unity about anything any longer….Just where our enemies wanted us…..
We are small and proud nation broken (militarily and in every other way) under mighty pressure of the West.
And all we get from Russia is labeling and lectures!
While West invests millions of $ to corrupt and destroy Serb society for decades already… Russia didn’t give (not even) moral support or recommendation to the population for whom to vote!
We don’t even know who is TRUE pro-Russian candidate during the elections (cause there are many who are false!)
Russia doesn’t move their little finger on those occasion while the West is all over the Serbia!!!….. Serb population can’t clearly see any kind of sign from Russia for all these years…..
They talk to Serb “elites” and they are the SERVANTS of the West !!
So message from “the demoralized and passive Serbian people” who “undoubtedly bear the principal burden of responsibility” ;
What is your part of “responsibility” in all this huh, Russia?!
Do you expect that 6 -7 million impoverished Serbs can defend themselves from the West and NATO forever?!
Why does defending Syria as prevention makes sens and defending Serbia as prevention doesn’t !?
Looking forward for “operation Barbarossa 2” maybe?!
They are destroying us in every possible way!
We are “Yeltsin” kind of Serbia in slow motion for DECADES !
And we will not be able to hold them much longer !!
What you said in your message makes sense to me. However, I know that lots of Russians absolutely love and admire Serbs as a Nations and as a culture, and if there was anything Russia could do would’ve been done already. Russia’s resources are painfully overstretched but at some point the help will come. The war in Syria and Ukraine has to be dealt with before anything else can take place. This is, in many ways, the life line of Russia, at least for now. Things will change! I’m sure of it. I’m looking forward to the times when Russians and Serbians will be travelling to see each other without any restrictions, in safety and comfort. We will be ONE, without losing our identities or independence. For now, you will have to fight on your own but the rewords would be plentiful. I feel it in my heart.
I believe the serbian phrase for that type of wishful thinking is “Zivi bili pa videli.”
Don’t delude yourself, Russia/Putin is more interested in cooperation with Germany than Serbia. He IS a business man .
Russia forgave Afghanistan BILLIONS in debt in recent years – Lavrov even bragged about it. So how can Russia do so much if it was so “poor”.
And what about the Russian investments in Montenegro and splurge on luxury items by its rich?
Russia never forgave Serbia a dime of debt.
The excuse of Russia being so poor does not makes sense when it is forgiving or investing many billions in other countries – including countries which had war against Russians and are also occupied/puppet governments of the west now.
‘But official Russia also has a huge share of responsibility in the matter. It does little to mobilize and encourage its friends in Serbia’
That is the crux of the matter. It astounds me that “Official Russia” does apparently nothing to assist others to help Russia and this neglect will rebound on Russia one day.
As Uncle Bob keeps on repeating in this blog, Russia has to learn to win friends and keep them. It may be very noble to keep oneself squeaky clean when it comes to propaganda but 90% of the zombiefied masses haven’t got the resources and the capacity to know what’s going on behind the smoke and mirrors scenario painted by the well-heeled and -oiled Natoland’s mind control machine. It is appalling that the Russian leadership are failing in this important aspect of their duty to the Russian people to defend it against the hybrid war already in motion to crush Russia. At least, if their talents are not up to the task, they could just copycat what Natoland is doing, tit-for-tat like.
Kim
Not on the payroll of the Moscow Times are you? Maybe Radio Liberty? You certainly are a paid up member of the 5th columnist Atlantacist movement. Russia should do the one thing guaranteed to set the world alight, cause millions of deaths and her eventual destruction – get as violent, insane, dictatorial and vicious as the U.S. of Aggression?. Copy the murderers and destroyers – in order to prove how she is better than they are?
I wonder what the technical name is for this type of insanity.
NATO must go!!!! As a Croat-Amerikan I urge the Serbian people to reject the West (is Worst) NATO bullshit and open your eyes. Are you whores or are you real human beings. Don’t submit along with your government to NATO as Whores!!! (watch the caps,MOD) like the rest of EUrope, my Hrvatski brats included. We’re Slavs, we should be proud and not subsurvient to the Anglo-Zionist-Amerikan fascist hegemonists. Free Serbia from the NATO-loving scum!!!
If Croats feel like this, why don’t you start an anti-NATO movement, and why didn’t you guys support Montenegro against NATO?
Croats could have helped Serbia by giving a lot of dirt on the Bosniak army, which was heavily involved in Operation Storm, and was killing people and animals and burning Serbian villages inside Croatia. Of course, the Bosniaks have a whole bunch of dirt on Croatia, which had 40,000 troops stationed within BiH throughout the entire war.
So much truth is being sat on and hidden by the non-Serbs.
No the Croats don’t “feel like that” at all !
Just minority of people in Croatia is against NATO !
Majority of Croats hate or simply reject Serbs.
US has forced Croats and Muslims to stop their conflict in Bosnia at the beginning of the war…To make peace…So that they join their forces against Serbs….They needed story that fits US agenda of demonizing Serbs as main culprits (war criminals) of the conflicts in Bosnia and later on Kosovo.
The “unity” of Croats and Muslims is based on hatred against Serbs.
They have history of exterminating Serbs together in WW2 …. old habits die hard…
Remove Serbs and they’ll jump on each other throats….religion is their main problem.
The Croats never voted to enter the NATO, North Atlantic Terrorist Organization.
I am indifferent to Serbs, I don’t care about Serbia, Sebia and the Serbs don’t exist for me – but I would die for Russia. – Croat – Hrvat.
Croats never opposed to enter the NATO…
So there was no need for referendum…. And even now there is no serious opposition to NATO in Croatia. Not single important party that I know of is against the NATO.
I would say that when it comes to EU and NATO – Croatia is integral part of it.
–
I don’t care about Croat perception of Serbs really.
I know you well….
Maybe you would “die for Russia”…..One thing is sure that many Croats did die… but fighting against Russians in the 2nd WW as volunteers…
Orthodox Serbs never fought Russians and never will.
The feeling is mutual my friend. As for you “loving Russia”, you may want to have a word with your ustasha compatriots about volunteering to kill Russians in Donbass on behalf of Pravi Sektor, Aidar and Azov Nazis. Vidimo se u Srbskoj Krajini brate.
@ Isabella:
Always love to read your impassioned responses and well reasoned comments here. As for a “technical name to describe this type of insanity”? I don’t know either but would venture to guess it might be composed of a compilation of terms sounding something like – Testosteronegomania, or more simply Rambomania. Whatever the case, it should also have the words psycho, suicidal, homicidal, genocidal and sociopath somehow incorporated into it’s meaning as well. Kind of describes the mental state of most of our Western and NATO leaders today doesn’t it?
I agree with you, Isabella. I have started to wonder if this “Kim” might be a very shrewd anti-Russian infiltrator, that has been biding his/her time here, using the MFC to collect “followers”…
But I could be wrong, of course.
Isabella, I agree with you. Russia will achieve nothing on the long run with copying US-tactics. Serbian people are friends of Russia, they just need a better government – as most of us do. A lot of these new “partners” of NATO aren’t even vassals with a military potential of their own. They are just NATO-airports, launch pads for rockets against Russia nothing more. It will never be possible to create a “monolithic” army out of all these countries with diverging interests. As Turkey shot down the Russian jet in Syria it was clear that the NATO would be teared apart if somebody have tried to convince all these countries to stand up against Russia even if Russia have retaliated militarily. Or can somebody imagine that Greek or Italian soldiers are ready to be killed – for Turkey……against RUSSIA? :))) The problem for these small countries has been described by Putin and others: They become targets for Russian Kalibr, Iskander or worse…..
Regards
Gunnar
Do you think the USSR used the right approach in WWII? The current threat from the West may just as serious. They want world domination, and the world is ruled by force.
As far as who is on someone’s payroll goes, the pacifists have been allied with the pro-Western liberals, haven’t they? That doesn’t mean Moscow should get violent, it just means recognizing that words won’t change the reality in Serbia or the Ukraine – actions will. As Russia is one of the view sources of funding and organizational ability, she has a chance to influence the world. There is very little standing throughout the world as the West has a policy of destroying all institutions that could get in the way. So small places like Serbia or Armenia are simply battlegrounds between Russia and the West.
@ Isabella
That’s a bit below the belt. Please read again what I wrote and fear not that my words might bring Armageddon.
Kim
Kim
Don’t worry, sometimes a word is being taken out of context, it does happen. How ? I don’t know, really, being myself not an English speaker by born, I didn’t misunderstood your words, I know what you mean, and that is not Armageddon as you said but a real and straight stand from Russia. Hello, everyone …. a strong stance is not a weak one…if you understand what I mean.
” the crux of the matter”
Everything you say about “crux of the matter”is right on the target, and you are not even from Serbia or Russia!
–
“Russia has to learn to win friends and keep them”
–
In Serbia they don’t even have to “win” friends cause there are plenty of friends of Russia in Serbia. But we are absolutely neglected and totally unsupported from Russia for decades !
While when it comes to the NATO and the West it is totally opposite!
They are all over Serbia and openly bribe media and who ever supports their agenda!
Respect for you and your comment.
Greetings from “Yeltsin-ized” Serbia !
In recent times (1941 and 1989 ) if I am not mistaken Russia let down Serbs. I am not surprised that now turns away from unreliable partner. Nevertheless I am speechless that after NATO bombing they on the same boat now.
Russia did more than let Serbs down – it actively worked against them for profit or to go along with the west.
Russian arms exporters were selling arms to the Croats and Bosnian Muslims – much went through Slovenian middlemen, but was paid for with German and Austrian loans. https://euobserver.com/foreign/114482
Russia either voted for or didn’t use its veto for the sanctions on the Bosnian Serbs, the bombing of the Bosnian Serbs and the set up of the ICTY.
Russia also threatened to cut of Serbia’s gas supplies, for debt owed, at the crucial time of the run up to the elections between Milosevic and the U.S./west backed DOS. I think the debt was a couple hundred million. Yet Lavrov, a few years ago, bragged that Russia had forgiven Afghanistan several BILLIONS in debt.
And Serbia itself forgave Iraq one billion in debt.
Russia’s moves pushed Serbia to fall and I think some in Russia wanted to wash their hands of Serbs – or the expectation that Russia should help or do something. There has to be some in Russia who do not like Serbia or Serbs for Russia to have acted as such.
In the past Russia greatly favored Bulgaria over Serbs, and the Russian Tsars financed the “Bulgarization of Macedonian Serbs” for “generation after generation” according to the great author Rebecca West. It may be because Russia was much more involved in Bulgaria and Serbia was more independent.
But Bulgaria, as everyone knows, jumped to the Axis and Nazi sides right from the start, or very near the start of WWI and WWII. I’ve even heard a Russian muse recently that they shouldn’t help Serbia because look what Bulgaria did to Russia.
Serbia has let itself down through its choice of “leaders”.
They continue to do so, if someone is determined to drown how can you help them???
They have just lost any spirit they had and are determined to be slaves.
Harriet Tubman said that she freed a lot of slaves- but would have freed a lot more if the people themselves had realised they were slaves.!!!
This quote applies to Serbia. Roof over the head, food, money = happy life
They done want to challenge the status quo.
Just as in ukraine the people except in Crimea and Donbass have accepted that they live in Banderastan.
“Serbia has let itself down through its choice of “leaders””
OK who is that “leader” that Serbs didn’t choose please?!
Give me one name be cause I honestly can’t see a single person that meets your description!
From 1948 to 1990 Yugoslavia’ politics was heavily antirussian and prowestern, it served to limit Russian influence on the Balkans, i.e. let Russia down. From 1990 Russia let Serbia down, but since the “perestroika” Russia let every Eastern European country down and even pushed them to NATO.
May I remind you that Russia applied to NATO and actively encouraged its allies to apply, too, many people and politicians (not all) of that time truly believed they are doing the right thing together with Russia. The rusophobia came to them later. NATO accepted them in but not Russia. If they or at least some of them were mislead and thought that it is for peace and security in the world (And some of us in NATO thought the same) , what are thinking now Serbia, Montenegro, Albania …when applying to join NATO and it cristal clear that the objective is to destroy Russia?
R
Serbia is occupied. That bitch does not represent Serbs, but does show what NATO is made of.
Just like many in Russia, there is no Serbian family that hasn’t lost a soul from Imperial/Fascist aggression in last three wars…
Its utterly beyond my thinking that this could be happening in Serbia of all countries. For 500 years ,with rebellion after rebellion ,the Serbs fought the Ottoman until they finally pushed them out. Then whenever they had a regime in power that disgusted the people they violently kicked them out. One of the most notable being the death of King Alexander Obrenovic. Serbia the land of the Chetniks,the Black Hand,that defied the Austro-Hungarian Empire,that defied the might of Hitler and Mussolini,land of the Partisans. That this land has none within it today to defy NATO and their Serb stooges is amazing. Where are the Chetniks,Partisans,and Black Hand’s of today to strike today’s NATO collaborators. Are they now just happy to vacation in the EU and watch Eurovision on TV. Their ancestors in the grave must be raging in fury for their descendants today.
It’s not the question of spirit, it’s the question of demographics. And what we have is a demographic catastrophe. Population is shrinking rapidly, birth rates have fallen to nothing and what is left of the young people is emmigrating more and more every day. So who is left to rebel? 50 and 60 year olds? Yeah, they’re the stuff that revolutions are made of.
We had 3 million casualties in 20th century.We lost 60% of the male population in WWI. More than million dead in WWII. We fought NATO twice in the last 20 years. Go and recover from that when you have 5,6 million people total. And do you know what we got from all that? Nothing. Nothing other than where have the Serbs gone comments from internet warriors. They’ve gone into the ground. They’re dead. We won nothing and lost everything. So rebelious spirit really served us well. When there’s no Serbs left in 100 years I’m sure everyone will sing songs about our free spirit and bravery.
@Vladimir
Excellent comment !
You’ve got all that is essential there !
Unfortunately you are right, my brother. The Serbs are a noble people with a very tragic history, but it’s important to stay positive and never give up. And most importantly — have babies again!
You are absolutely right. The demographics of all the balkan states are falling drastically… not just Serbia.
Russians are too nice and they don’t really understand the evil of the West. I was born and raised here in the West and these people are barbarians. They do not respect law and order and the principle of sovereignty is alien to them. They want to do whatever they want to do. The most anti-West Serbs are in the diaspora because we have seen the disgusting propaganda every night in the 90’s. Maybe Serbs in Serbia weren’t exposed to it and so they don’t understand how much hate the West has for Serbs and now this hate is on to the Russians. The West is hate. They need to hate the other because they hate themselves.
Serbs helped out Russians in 1999. After rebelling against NATO the Russian security establishment freaked out and put Putin in power. Putin being in charge has worked out pretty well for the Russians. If there hadn’t been the bombing in 1999 with Serbia defiant, and instead Serbia just let NATO do whatever would the Russian security establishment have tried to “right the ship”, or would pro-Western politicians have remained in charge of Russian and would Russia be in pieces right now. The Russians saw what happened to Serbia and they realized if they didn’t get it together the same thing would happen to them. Serbs didn’t do what they did in 1999 to help the Russians of course, but it did have the unintended consequence of dousing the Russians in reality of what their future would be if they didn’t reform. Look what’s happening in Ukraine. That could be in Moscow, or the Urals, or Siberia right now. Or 7 years ago.
If Serbs rebel against NATO what will happen? Easy to figure out. NATO is pure evil, but they are powerful and can do what they want in the Balkan. They will rile up the Albanians in South Serbia and there will be war. The Western media will say it is all the Serbs fault. We Serbs are Nazis’ blah blah blah. and who knows how far it will go. How much land in South Serbia will the Albanians take??? How many Serb towns will be ethnically cleansed of Serbs with the Western media cheering along?? Let’s get real. And what will Russians do about that scenario?? NOTHING. So don’t give me this crap article. I don’t disagree with this article, but what reasonable alternatives do Serbs have other than cooperation with NATO??? If Russians care about Serbs then donate money for humanitarian help: https://www.28jun.org/
Why then, if Serbs always chase away their suppressors, didn‘they throw out the Turcs in 1390, or even in, say, July 1389? Imagine yourself through several reincarnations during five centuries, looking at them in disgust: Why didn‘t they do it yesterday? Will they tolerate all that yet another week? year? century?
In other words, it seems that a self (??!)-liberation (including the „revolution“ in Europe TheSaker dreams about) takes time, needs forces and means (supporters and weapons) and strategies you have first to collect or to produce, and then a propitious moment, which may be a most unfortunate moment or black day like the „seca knezova“ in Valjevo in early 1804 (after already a period of „arbitrary abuse unmatched in the entire history of Ottoman misrule in the Balcans” [wiki] by renegade turc commanders since 1801), which was answered with the First Serbian Uprising immediately afterwards („technically for the Sultan“ – wiki), which then happened to be successful for some years, and a building block for much later complete independence. What about „the people“ being disgusted by a regime and „they“, the people, kicking them out? It seems Aleksandar Obrenovic was murdered with his wife in 1903 not at the order of the people, for the people, through the people, but by an officers‘ conspiracy for differing opinions about the „right“ foreign allegiance, which seem to have been the same until today: is Serbia to go with the Austrians/Germans or with the Russians? – to which the Anglozios respond: Neither, we‘ll make you *our* slaves whatever you try to avoid exactly that. Thus Apis (Dragutin Dimitrijevic) organized the murder of the germanophile king Aleksandar, son of the germanophile king Milan (so that in WW I Serbia could serve as cannon fodder to her Western „allies“ and not to the others), and the same Apis, Mr Black Hand, then organized (it is widely believed – all these questions are controversial until today) the murder of Sarajevo, which declenched WW I. The putsch of 1941 was again done by officers influenced by and in the interest of the „western powers“, or ZioNazis as we know them to be today. And there were no „Chetniks *and* Partisans“, but either – or, much unfortunately, and definitely not because the people/“the Serbs“ wanted just that.
So it looks as if new putsches (after the murder of Djindjic, again a germanophile or worse (see Serbian Saker, article of Jovanoovic about him)) at present lack all necessary ingredients for being able to happen: no outside support, namely by those who always use murder, the zionazis (they are in command now, why would they putsch against themselves), no patriotic officers anymore (the best were murdered by the hollandish zionazis in The Hague), no ever worsening unbearable suffering (Angela Hitler‘s rule through Vucic is more like that of the sultan‘s through a pasha: a shame , but not a nightmare, an invitation for faring better as prostitutes to an enemy). And: no more any dark corners where conspirators could meet, no possibility of assemblies of like-minded where directions to be taken and leaders to be trusted could be agreed upon. Today‘s meetings begin with mobile phone calls which are analyzed by the enemy before the contacted can answer them.
„That this land has none within it today to defy NATO and their Serb stooges is…“ a misconception, a lack of info. Vojislav Seselj is alive and kicking, he has written more books against the enemies than one can read, he has supporters in his party and in the electorate – but not a majority. There are excellent writers, journalists (like Lazanski), and papers, even the german-owned Politika is still worth reading. There are two periodicals, Pecat (weekly) and Geopolitika (quarterly), that analyse the situation not worse than TheSaker. But you have to take a plane to Beograd every time a new issue comes out. In Nazi Occupied Groß West Berlin, Pecat was sold for a while and eagerly bought by the Yugo diaspora; it was definitely not a matter of rentability but of german=nazi suppression of every freedom of thought and expression that the press importer stopped importing it.
According to my impressions in Serbia, the people is and remains aware of what is happening and what it means. Even those who vote Vucic „because he seems to be a favourite of Merkel‘s, perhaps this will be better“, know that, everybody. They are disgusted, without means, but not without brains. And memory – a general slavic trait looking to the others as an „exaggerated interest in history“.
Cheers, bp.
“Why then, if Serbs always chase away their suppressors, didn‘they throw out the Turcs in 1390, or even in, say, July 1389? Imagine yourself through several reincarnations during five centuries, looking at them in disgust: Why didn‘t they do it yesterday? Will they tolerate all that yet another week? year? century?”
Because of the “curse of the Slavs” throughout their history,disunity. The Serbs were divided between different feudal lords. all fighting and backstabbing each other to be the ruler. On one side you had a loose collections of nobles that fought the Turks. And on the other, you even had Serb nobles that fought “with” the Turks against other Serbs.That “curse”has been seen throughout history.The Mongols were able to conquer Rus because of the different Princes disunity. They were able to defeat the Poles for the same reason. The Turks used one Slav noble against the other in the centuries of their conquest and rule over the Balkans.When there were times of Russian unity,they were invincible. But those were only a few occasions in history. We see that even today.With the Ukrainians,and the Russian 5th column.I don’t know why its like that,greed,self-interest,etc. But their enemies are quite aware of that “curse” and count on it.
This is the ultimate meaning of the Stockholm´s syndrome. The hostages in Sweden, as you can expect, eventually became “de-programmed” by the time they were released into their natural environment in the Swedish society.
But in Serbia, on the other hand, an entire people that has been living with or beside their rapist and their imposed quisling cult ruling them in a forced marriage for 17 years already, has become self hating flaggelants, somehow led to believe that they were baptised into democracy by NATOs “humanitarian” bombs, saved and carefully protected from their evil self and the brave soldiers and Generals who defended them against the US/NATO onslaught, it´s bombs and imported wahhabi terrorists.
This is by the way, the same people that proudly threw out German fascists during two world wars under well deserved humiliating circumstances. Eventually, they will do it again, Kosovo and NATO fascists triumphantly riding through their holy lands, waving US flags, might become the much needed spark to free themselves, for, as they say “Samo sloga Srbina spasava” or “Only Unity Saves the Serbs”.
So we Serbs are dead then… Because frankly I don’t think they have it in them in the homeland at the moment… Death comes not by a swift sword but by a thousand tiny cuts… Each a small humiliation but not enough to stir the warrior spirit…
Welcome to huge club of those who lecture Serbs and Serbia!
And what did you do when it comes to that “warrior spirit”?!
I was for example participating in the war and I could have chosen easily way out as refugee to sit somewhere in “diaspora” and have some “analytical” approach to the “situation” !
Instead…. now ( I ) we have people who lecture ( me ) us….
“I don’t think they have it in them in the homeland at the moment”
And how exactly would you know that?!
If you really believe that than you should finish us up!
A “coup de grâce” please!
Hurry up with your “thousand tiny cuts” and finish us up please!
When you don’t feel like supporting us as Serb be at least a friend and save us from misery!
I was too young to fight. That being said I’m not lecturing, I’m taking the temperature of our people. Our people are defeated and do not have it in them to fight for as you said, “nothing” as for a thousand cuts, what do you call the salami tactics of the west as they erode the Serbian state one slice at a time? They take a little at a time away until they take everything….
Like the boiling frog analogy.
Canada’s new govt has expressed a wish to restore Canada as a prominent peacekeeping nation, like we were back in the 70’s (pre- NAFTA, globalizatioon)
Canada is supplying a Commander and troops to Latvia. Perhaps the same offer could be made to Serbia, as peacekeeping troops in this case.
If anyone wants to pursue this, I’d suggest contacting Canada’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stephane Dion, @MinCanadaFA
Don’t get too caught up in his rhetoric – we have our internal politics here too.
Why should Serbia accept the US’s toadie? Its not enough of a humiliation that the war criminal Blair is advising the government?
I understand your feelings, for sure, legitimate concern. But looked at from a purely pragmatic level, could the Serbs use something like this to their advantage?
Hey, our “peacekeeping nation” had “peacekeeping” troops taking part of the destruction of Yugoslavia. Look at this one here, although I was in my capacity of a doctor, not a soldier there. And the troops to Latvia are part of the NATO eastern front against Russia, not even in disguise as “peacekeepers”. You live in fantasies.
@ 113
Re your: “Canada’s new govt has expressed a wish to restore Canada as a prominent peacekeeping nation, like we were back in the 70’s (pre- NAFTA, globalizatioon)”
With all due respect to a fellow Canadian citizen, what in the hell are you pushing here when in fact our new Jack boot (or is it jack ass) US ass licking quisling Prime Minister baby boy Justin Trudeau (who tore a page out of Noble Peace Prize winning ‘talk peace while waging war” Obama’s PR book) has already committed us to fully supporting the the Ukrainian Nazi regime killing it’s fellow Russian speaking brothers and sisters at home. And having just deployed a contingent of Canadian troops to the US/NATO’s Wehrmacht’s Eastern Front in preparation for a Barbarossa 2.0 attack and invasion of Russia. Not to mention our inglorious “Defense” minister Stephane Dion having just recently closed a Harper deal to supply the head chopping Wahhabi misogynist Saudi Royal Monarchy with some 15 billion dollars worth of arms and weapons, all the better to suppress and crush their own people, commit genocide against women and children in Yemen and continue to supply their IS terrorist in Syria with weapons of mass destruction. All this while our new “Hope and change” Prime Minister is pushing for the implementation of US trade deals such (as the various forms of the notorious TIPP deals) which on top of the already disastrous FTA and NAFTA trade deals will forever seal our fate as a US colony if not just another state of the American empire. So any talk of us restoring our role as “Peace Keepers” in the world which has long been dead in the water and a relic of past glories and history going back some 40 years now is Trudeau blowing hot air out of his ass hole. Get a grip my friend and do a reality check on whats actually happening in the 21 century here in Canada today because unless we have a revolution we are in exactly the same prostrate position as our dear friends are in Serbia with our “new government” totally defying the will of it’s people. Just face it, we are now ruled by a “liberal” yes man/woman party who’s current leader is little more than an arrogant spoilt prick of a child of a once considerable intellect and Canadian Prime Minister whom for all his faults championed a unified nation independent of US hegemony, but who’s only surviving son chooses to use but his rectum in place of his brain cells. Do I make myself clear enough here? Stephan Dion and Justin Trudeau should both be tried for crimes against humanity and hung for treason period.
Agree, Canada on the American continent is like Poland or Latvia in Eastern Europe.
R
Thank you both for encouraging the cause of direct conflict between Russia and USA in a nation which borders both. No proxies here, this is the real deal!! The AZ owned media will be delighted to hear this kind of sentiment from Canadian citizens, as the AZ cabal relentlessly bangs the drum for war between US and Russia through the MSM… and attacks this Canadian govt, which isn’t enthusiastic enough about this!!
See Putin’s comments about Russia’s relationship with Trudeau’s govt of Canada, expressed to media both in Feb. at his annual televised Q&A (he answers a media question directly about Canada after the live part), and see Putin’s comments about Canada at the recent SPIEF. “Full relations” are being developed between Canada and Russia again. Trudeau is Putin’s Trojan Horse, and Canada is once again returning to its global responsibility of maintaining a buffer zone here, in order to prevent a direct confrontation between the world’s two most powerful armies, with the largest nuclear arsenals.
Respectfully, you are both wrong. And driving us to a nuclear standoff, worse than the Cuban Missile Crisis. No proxies!!
@113
Re: “Thank you both for encouraging the cause of direct conflict between Russia and USA in a nation which borders both. No proxies here, this is the real deal!!”
What in hell are you talking about? How is criticizing Canada’s foreign policies and specifically those of our quisling new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his defense Minister Stephane Dion and our Liberal cabinet, with facts, remotely constitute “encouraging the cause of direct conflict between Russia and USA”? Pray tell me.
Please quote us the actual words spoken between Trudeau and Putin as well as your sources with direct links that cause you to believe that Trudeau is seeking for Canada to play any kind of genuine and positive role as a “Peace Keeper” nation in the world, lessening tensions and mediating the exact kind of “nuclear stand off” that US/NATO aggression against Russia the Obama/Clinton regime has been perusing.
Actions speak louder than (any hypocritical) words, and Canada having recently aided the US in decimating Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Libya with NATO bombing raids in the last case being directly directed by a French Canadian General, our (post FTA & NAFTA) tradition of aiding the American empire in it’s quest for world hegemony has not changed one iota under our new Liberal Prime Minister Trudeau’s reign to date, as I specifically outlined in my comments above, we are still in the business of selling arms to tyrants and making war on behalf of the US empire against small defenseless countries such as Syria, supporting Nazi and IS terrorists and pushing for war and a nuclear confrontation with Russia and China.
If you have any evidence to suggest otherwise, please present it. Otherwise I don’t know if your serious, a paid Liberal hack, a shill or just blinded by ‘hopy changy’ Trudeaumania.
Meantime in reality our Canadian troops are marching onto the Russian front preparing to attack and that’s a fact.
And you see the visit of Trudeau to Ukraine. Listen to his joint declaration with Poroshenko.
Saker, would you please consider posting some commentary about Canada’s unique role — and responsibility — when it comes to US/Russia relations??
Why would Putin specifically mention Canada on both these occasions? How should every single person react, 7 bilion +, if we ever again witness any leader of Canada refuse to shake the leader of Russia’s hand, and cut off communication? Some dots need connecting here. Patrick Armstrong, are you out there?? Someone, please!
If we ever witness the refusal of any leader of Canada to maintain relations with either the leader of Russia or the leader of the USA, all 7+ billion of us should raise h-e-double hockey sticks.
Talk that ignores Canada’s unique responsibility must be viewed the sam as…joking about having a bomb while boarding a plane
@ 113
Re your: “Talk that ignores Canada’s unique responsibility must be viewed the same as….”
As a fellow Canadian, I would think YOUR own “unique responsibility” is only to hold your own government’s feet to the fire and not buy into it’s propaganda and make excuses for it’s treasonous actions putting us all at risk of terrorism at home and a nuclear holocaust.
Otherwise you become it’s willing enabler and partner, either through willful intent or by sheer ignorance of the facts.
Very beautiful articulation, RayB, I’ll grant you that. In response, let me refer to another speaker who articulates beautifully. This quote is from Lavrov at a news conference on July 13:
“With regard to future activities of the Russia-NATO Council, we know for a fact — I don’t think I’m revealing a big secret here — that leading NATO countries, primarily European, called for making the work of the Council regular again as it was in the past. But the minority which draws immense pleasure from adopting Russophobic positions completely blocked the proposal, saying that they will have to meet before they can take a decision. It looks like they are playing a game of their own and fail to understand the important events that are unfolding.”
It’s my opinion that you are inviting me, intentionally or not, to play an intellectual game with you, which ignores or fails to recognise the important events that are unfolding. This is why I drew the comparison to someone joking about having a bomb, while boarding a plane. So, respectfully, I will decline the invitation.
@S113
You’ve failed to show me any concrete facts or evidence here that Canada is among the “leading NATO countries, primarily European” that seeks to normalize relations with Russia which the outstanding Russian Foreign Minister and astute diplomat Lavrov is referring to.
As for your “It’s my opinion that you are inviting me, intentionally or not, to play an intellectual game with you, which ignores or fails to recognize the important events that are unfolding.” it’s you that’s playing a mind removed game here by failing to provide me with any real evidence to substantiate your unfounded claims.
So with all due respect “decline” all you want, but that doesn’t alter the fact that you’ve provided absolutely nothing to support all removed you’ve been spewing out here on these pages or that Canada is in reality not doing anything other than the US Ass’s geopolitical bidding.
Please keep your replies constructive and not attacking other commenters. Mod.
RayB, I think you and I disagree on timing and location. So if we decide to have a joking conversation about bringing a bomb on a plane, depending on the time and the location we will either get a lively, spirited debate… or an interrogation by CSIS(since we’re both patriotic Canadians here). They would be interested to find out exactly what all of Canada’s RayB’s actually know about a bomb on this plane.
So, frustrating as it may be, we’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Let’s enjoy the weekend, and forget about it.
Serbs are tired of fighting everyone’s wars. It didn’t bring them any prosperity or happiness. They are absolutely correct not to do anything until it’s on their own terms. Temporarily lost territories are just that, temporarily lost territories…..
….And, may i add. Russia will,as always, do anything for their southern orthodox brothers and sisters but they have to brake free and help themselves first. as Putin said it´s pointless to save somebody that is determined to drown.
“pointless to save somebody that is determined to drown.”
OK mikhas tell me how do you know that we Serbs are “determined to drown”?!?
Can’t you comprehend that we are tiny nation of just above 6 million people that has overwhelming power imposed on us for decades!?!!
If we could “liberate” us from NATO and the West by ourselves only…. than why would we need anybody… ever?!
In that case we would be swimming world champion that never drowns and not pathetic tiny nation fighting for survival in our knee deep pond just be cause there is hand from above that is drowning us!
What would be the point of this article or this discussion if we could do all without any help!?!
This is pathetic. Most of the people in Serbia, specially the young, just adore The West. They would do anything for a possession of an EU passport. They adore USA.
So, this is a logical step.
ad hominem sentence removed …. mod-hs
Majority of the Serbs are against EU – specially be cause EU membership gives independence to Kosovo !
That’s why prime-minister rejects referendum!
He knows what people really want – to get out of the EU membership!
I’d like to address certain comments here such as:
“Roof over the head, food, money = happy life. They done want to challenge the status quo.”
and
“Are they now just happy to vacation in the EU and watch Eurovision on TV. ”
This could not be further from the truth!
To illustrate this here is a joke making the rounds among Serbs:
A picture of Adam and Eve , naked with a fig leaf in a woodland area. Eve says to Adam: “where are we?”
Adam says: “Let’s see.. we are naked, we have no money, we have no job, we have no house.. we must be in Serbia!”
Caption underneath says, “Don’t show Vucic as he will says we are living in paradise”
Serbs do not have money even for basic necessities let alone “vacations in etc EU”…There is apathy in Serbia, but it is hardly due to the “good life” as you put it.
Our collective spirit is broken. Some people are asking themselves, what good has it done us to always be fighting against evil? What do we have to show for it?
When you came out from under the Ottoman’s you had far less than you have now. When you fought the Austro-Hungarians in WWI you had far less than you have now. When the fighters were were in the woods and mountains fighting against the nazis and Ustashe in WWII you had far less than you have now. Except for one thing only,and in that you had much more,the desire to see a free Serbia.If you can’t bring that back (and I don’t know if you can) then maybe its better to just give up and those that still have some spirit move to Russia. There is a lot of land open there. Millions of Serbs could settle there. The rest of what’s left can just join the Albanians,Hungarians,Romanians,Croats,Bosniaks,Bulgarians,and Macedonians.They all have some claim to parts of Serbia anyway..And just abolish a Serbia.That would probably be liked by those others and NATO anyway. Why even pretend to be a state if you can’t be free.I could give this advise to some others as well. But this thread is about Serbia,not other states.
Agree, and since this thread is about Serbia, I will leave you a good program I picked up around there in another blog recommended by the old strategist
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07j4ppw
Shrimp, like all crustaceans, whistle whilst being boiled. It’s the air escaping through their chitinous carapace. Khrushchev was an observant fellow, but the poor shrimp cannot give a repeat performance.
To be able to resist Nato occupation of Serbia, one needs either committed state institutions, like military, executive branch, legislative branch etc., or one needs a strong resistance movement with persuasive, viable narrative.
Today, these state institutions are pathetic ones , declawed, full with traitors, corrupted by outside money.
There is today not even an ‘r’ in the resistance movement.
Consider WWI: then Kingdom of Serbia, together with Greece and Bulgaria, just defeated Ottoman empire in Balkan Wars 1912-1913, had battle tested army, fresh supply of weapons and a pretty strong and intelligent monarch, King Peter I. And it showed its strength by defeating Austro-Hungarian empire in 1914, the first military victory by Allies in WWI.
Consider WWII: although defeated by Germany in April’s war of 1941, the remnants of military regrouped under leadership of gen. Draza Mihajlovic, and started resistance. The second resistance movement started in July of 1941, led by J.B. Tito, who waited until USSR was attacked. Both resistance movements had a strong ideological narrative and attracted a lot of people.
This is not the case today. The problem for Russia is that there is no one on a horizon, today in Serbia, to assume organization of an effective resistance, as is there in both Syria and Iraq. There are few parties that claim such leadership
but they have not proven themselves and are widely distrusted.
Perhaps the only Serbian leader today that has shown his worth is Milorad Dodik, but he is severly restrained, equivalent of being tied in both legs and one hand behind. There is a profound reason Nato split Sebian nation into Montenegro, Serbia, and Republika Srpska, similarly what Hitler has done in WWII. If united, they, the Serbian nation, would be a real strategic problem.
Strangely, current passivity saves a lot of human lives. Any premature resistance risks annihilation and bloodshed. We have seen it, e.g., in Nicaragua. Russia is aware of it and it patiently bids is time.
Regards, Spiral
The Partisan movement was started by men,some of whom, had served as fighters in the Spanish Civil War. And used that experience to form fighter detachments inside Serbia. Serbia has had a fairly large number of men go to Donbass and fight in that war during the last 2 years. It would seem to me they would be available if contacted, and recruited, to form Partisan underground units in Serbia to fight fascism there.
‘Strangely, current passivity saves a lot of human lives.’
It’s pure instinct of self preservation….
We had huge losses in 1st WW and huge losses and genocide in 2nd WW.
We had too many wars in last few centuries….
Natality problem now….we are dying nation…
You’ve made very good comment BTW.
That may be true, but it doesn’t mean that Russia can’t give aid to Serbia. Not even military aid, but just humanitarian aid. The leading aid organization for the diaspora to Serbia has raised only 4-5 million over the past 5 years. If Putin gave 100 million to go to south Serbia that would mean a lot. But, Putin can’t even help Russians in the Donbass. At least for them he can give lots of aid.
Let me offer my 2 cents and cut through the historical and political fog and go straight for the crux.
Money!
The elites today have created an environment where only money matters. There is no political ideology in Serbia on the horizon. The ideology is money. I am sure that it is true of many other countries if not all, but in Serbia, business, political and judiciary corruption are the way of life.
Let me suggest a way for Russia to “keep” Serbia:
Invest heavily in pro Asian Integration NGO’s. Offer more money than the West offers and we will have results. The biggest problem in Serbia is youth unemployment. If Russia and her Asian and BRICS partners were to create cultural and business projects (Serbia’s economy has been devastated by western privatizations) that would be mutually beneficial, the Nuland’s, Merkel’s and Stoltenbergs would have nothing to do in Serbia. As it is, the EU, NATO and the USA are the ones paying the salaries of those in power. As long as that remains, Serbia will drift ever more towards the EU and NATO.
Russia today will not do what you suggest. For diferrent reasons. May I suggest a diferrent approach. You know what “balkanization” means, it was created and funded by the West, initially European West, then USA took the upper hand. It was and is a division, animosity and wars between your nations who are brothers by blood, culture, language, and to a great degree religion. To make them small, poor and weak.
There was a project for Balkan Federation, uniting you right after the WWII, author was the last General Secretary of the International – Georgi Dimitrov. The West was against, the Russians were against, Georgi Dimitrov and Iosip Bros Tito were called to Moskow, Dimitrov went and died there under suspicious circumstances, Tito did not and immediately changed the course from pro Russian to anti. The prominent pro Balkan Federation Bulgarian politicians like the prime minister Traicho Kostov were killed. The project died.
Revive this project, unite the nations – Serbians, Bulgarians,Croats, Slovenians , Romanians… there are big anti NATO parts of their populations, unite. Unite despite the advice from anywhere and anyone and you will be strong to sustain and survive.
R
The Anglo-Zionists have bought a venal Serbian politician, but have they bought the military?
” But official Russia … does little to mobilize and encourage its friends in Serbia, devoting itself, instead, to the hopeless task of reforming the governing elite and persuading it to mend its ways. ” >
‘Official Russia’ lacks an socio-political-economic ideology … Hence they keep on anchoring on the politicians-oligarchs-bureaucrats who are utterly corrupt and are capable of jumping into AZ Hegemonic ship as soon as they are assured of a bit larger share of wealth … e.g. Ukraine
This article is ridiculous. Can’t you find somebody to write something informative and true about Serbia?
We Serbians are the only nation in Europe to have actually fought NATO militarily in 1999! Has anyone else done the same in Europe? All of our cowardly neighbours allowed NATO planes to fly over their territory to bomb us. No one helped us, except Lukashenko who flew during bombing to Belgrade, causing the bombing to stop for several hours. And Serbians fought NATO beautifully, honourably and valiantly. NATO even tried a land attack with special forces and Albanian terrorists at Koshare together with Albanian army, where they got their asses kicked, despite huge advantage in numbers. And despite all their bombing, NATO destroyed only 13 Serbian tanks in Kosovo and Serbian Army lost very little men or equipment thanks to brilliant tactics. Ask any military expert willing to tell the truth. NATO then wisely decided not to try a full-scale land invasion, which is why it ended up physically occupying only Kosovo and not the whole of Serbia, as was their initial intention. At the time, Serbia proved that military resistance against the NATO monster is possible, despite huge costs and disparity.
What have you done to help good to defeat evil? I, as a Serbian, feel that I have done more than my fair share. Can you all say the same? I am not sure that you can – I remember seeing Tomahawk missiles flying to their targets in Belgrade, I remember the thundering of bombs and huge flames at night, and thinking: Does anyone see this? No. Nobody paid attention, including both the West and the East. Even Russia turned away its head and closed its eyes, while everyone in the West was triumphant and calling for more Serbian blood to be spilled. Serbia was alone against the monster and nobody cared.
We have done our part and now it is on you to carry on what we started. We will help, but after DECADES of war, demonization, total UN embargo, bombing, economic warfare etc. our strength is limited. Now we need some time to recover. Now is the time for Russia to openly help Serbia, after Serbia earned Russia the time it needed to revive its national being. Do you remember how and when Putin came to power and what role the barbarian bombing of Serbia had to play in that?
Another thing: many people seem to wonder why Serbians are not protesting in huge numbers in the streets. Really, why? Because we were the target of the first modern color revolution in 2000 and we saw firsthand how dangerous that is! Luckily, it was bloodless. But after that, people learned how it works. Now most Serbians know that street protests and civil war among Serbs is the best way for NATO tanks to enter Serbia proper or at least make it self-annihilate itself like Ukraine or like it is being tried in Macedonia now. That is why nobody is protesting anything now, despite being many reasons to protest: Serbian people will not allow a Maidan here. Any mass protest will allow NATO to try to bring down Serbian government and start a bloody war here. That there are no protests in Serbia now is A GOOD NEWS! Why would you want another Ukraine or Macedonia here? How would it help anyone except NATO? Serbia has already narrowly avoided large-scale street violence in 2008, despite foreign attempts. Please think more thorougly before reacting in a knee-jerk manner.
You forgot to add that during the bombing campaign Serbia managed to shoot down NATO “stealth” F117
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_F-117A_shootdown
We can put up a fight when necessary. What is demoralising is being sold down the river by our own politicians (PAST and present), by our neighbours (or is that blood brothers, Uncle Bob?), and so-called friends and allies.
Bravo! I appreciate the way you look at the situation. Its heartening to hear.
“No one helped us, except Lukashenko who flew during bombing to Belgrade, causing the bombing to stop for several hours.”
Lukashenko actually offered to fly in anti-aircraft and other weapons BEFORE the NATO campaign, but Milosevic told him it wouldn’t be needed. Milosevic foolishly though NATO would not bomb Serbia even though all the signs/clues were pointing in that direction.
It was the Russians who visited during the war, and the bombing stopped – at least in the Belgrade vicinity. However, NATO bombed extra hard once they left.
Also, you cannot compare western-backed protests which put their puppets in with a TRUE PATRIOTIC protest. You DO need to have patriotic protests.
And Serbia is already essentially occupied.
Also, the puppets started destroying Serbia from the inside with bad/robbery privatizations to mafia.
Serbs do nothing about the traitors in their midst and roll out the red carpet to people like Tony Blair.
Yes, you MUST protest against the puppets and do something about the traitors, like Natasa Kandic.
Also, there are many Belgraders who believe, at least some, of the western-pushed propaganda on behalf of the Muslims in Bosnia.
Serbs are not learning from their OWN refugees – they aren’t asking the Bosnian, Croatian, Kosovo-Serbs, etc. – what exactly went on and getting all the details to the run-up to the war, during the war and what happened to them. You can learn what really happened through their eyes instead of the propagandist hacks which work for the mainstream news.
Care to provide some proof of that Lukashenko’s offer?
Serbia had democratic elections a couple of months ago and the people have spoken. You can take your “true patriotic protest” and shove it. Half of the people in the color revolution of 2000 were “true patriots” (AKA useful idiots).
Serbs held their Liberation Day parade in 2014 four days early in order to “roll out the red carpet” for…PUTIN!
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-russia-eu-idUSKCN0I30CY20141014
Tony Blair? Who is that?
Natasa Kandic? Is she still alive?
It seems that Mr. Karganovic is advocating for a coup/revolution in Serbia. Does he have any specific color in mind?
Well, lets see what were the consequences of that hailed 27.03.1941 coup (organized in large part by British intelligence). On April 6th Belgrade was thoroughly destroyed, with tens of thousands casualties and immeasurable damage to national heritage (eg. historic documents in burnt down national library). Ten days later Yugoslavia was dismembered, Serbia occupied and Independent State of Croatia (NDH) formed, pawing way for the biggest GENOCIDE of Serb population in history.
And the benefits of that coup? The operation Barbarossa MIGHT have been delayed by a week or two and Serbs now have a date on which they can pat themselves on the back for showing Hitler a middle finger. Some deal.
I really wish Saker would do some thorough and independent analysis of the Serbian situation without listening to/promoting the same kind of hurray patriots that he rightly ignores when analyzing Russia. Serbia is in very similar situation right now as it was in 1941. SURROUNDED. But the Empire knows that Serbia will never be a reliable ally, so I would venture to say that a nationalist coup/revolution is exactly what the Empire wants and what Putin does NOT need at this moment.
Yes, Serbia is in Partnership for Peace (sic), but so was Russia until recently…and Russia did not walk out, it was thrown out. Yes, Serbia is seeking EU ties, but so did Russia while it was feasible.
To conclude, wake me up when Serbia actually joins NATO and/or introduces sanctions on Russia. In the meantime, it would be advisable to give the “scum” Serbian government the same kind of leeway that is given to Putin for avoiding to fall into the Empire’s traps.
Whether it benefited Yugoslavia in the short (or long) run,is open to question.The same could of course be said about Poland saying no to Hitler on the corridor demand. And really we could say that about almost any issue of peace and war. As the saying goes about Chamberlain “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war.” I think that standing up for your self-respect is important ,even if you lose from it. But maybe that’s just me. Maybe being the appeaser can be more than another saying says about it,”“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”
But as for Barbarossa and the Yugoslav battle. Almost every military writer and military historian credits the time lost invading Yugoslavia for the defeat of Barbarossa. That the shortened months of available good weather led directly to the defeat of Barbarossa . Leaving the Germans unprepared with equipment and clothing to fight a long winter campaign. And trying to advance through massive amounts of mud that went to the top of their vehicle wheels,caked in tank tracks. While the record cold froze engine oil and caused motors to break. So whether Yugoslavia at the moment gained is an open question. But that the USSR and really the whole World gained is not a question.
And Serbs again gave Russia (and the World) a breathing space by fighting the Empire and its proxies for almost a decade, paying again a heavy price for that. And yes, I also took part in that conflict, willingly and proudly. What more do you want?
As for the current Serbian policy, it’s not about appeasement…its about buying time. Ask Putin.
But if/when the war does break out, there is little doubt as to which side the Serbs will be fighting on.
I really must say that I have learned so much reading these comments. Having no understanding of the feelings of those involved, neither the deep knowledge of the history, as a empathetic American, I can only sit in silence and learn. Many of us here, that are of like-minds as I am, are very disheartened and angry over what is happening in our name. I want to thank all of you for helping in my education. You have my respect and humility.
Operation Barbarosa 2 will begin in May 2017 once Killary Clinton has got her coterie of corrupters firmly encamped in the White House.
The invasion route will be the same as for the first Barbarosa campaign in 1941. Just as before major advances will sweep in to Russia only to be hampered by severe equipment shortages amongst the NATO/Axis forces due to logistical failure. In 1941 it was different railway guages vis a vis Germany and Russia.
Barbarosa 1 had to be completed within 6 weeks according to Whermarcht logistical planning officers. Barbarosa 2 will be more like 6 days and more than likely will have to be achieved with little air support either from NATO/Axis bombers or rockets due to Khabini and the S400 defence system.
This is the last chance the Fourth Reich NATO-US-EU alliance will have to impose their fascist will upon Russia. I dare say that the Russian Army will find all the patriotic freedom fighters they need from amongst the Serbs (and many other peoples nominally under NATO/Axis control) to disrupt the fascists in their attempt to control the world.
Serbian elitey, educeted young people fully adore the West.
Just listen what they talk about. Being western or westernized, that is the ultimate dream of Serbian youth.
@ Darko
Why are you doing this?!
You are not ethnic Serb. You are Croat.
Maybe you aren’t even living in Serbia….
Serbian people do not have opportunity to go on referendum on any important subject including EU.
And that is so only be cause those in charge know that people reject EU!
If people must choose between Kosovo and EU they will reject EU no doubt about it!
But the West would never permit such referendum !
That referendum was promised by prime-minister but he never kept his promise….
And that is the essence of the problem!
Serbs are ushered (when necessary) forced step by step to go in the direction we don’t want !
By the methods of “special war” and color revolution that are experimented over us by the decades!
They do to us Serbs what would they love to do to Russians if they only could get the chance to do it there !
Darko, with all the respect but you probably are not Serbian. Very defeatist comment and not exactly true.
All the recent polls usually show half-half pro/against EU and the West at the worst. Young people these days are smarter, more patriotic, same as in Russia. Not easily fooled anymore by the the “glass beads” coming from the West. They know who the real enemy is and that EU/NATO represents-slavery and colonization.
Serbia needs more time to recover. People are tired and exhausted of all the wars, sanctions and demonization in the last 30 years. Like Russians, we saddle slow, but ride fast. When Russia is on it’s knees, Serbia is also devastated. When Russia is strong, we are too. But I strongly believe different times are coming. Very fast.
Never loose belief in Serbian people. We were never slaves and ass kissers, never will be. Half of my heart ticks for Serbia, the other for Russia.
Darko, ako ste toliko dobro upuceni u mislima i zeljama Srbskog omladinu, onda recite mi ovo – zasto LDP i Ceda Jovanovic nemaju ni trunku od podrska u Srbiji? Ako je stvar kako vi kazete, onda Ceda bi pobedio na izborima odavno, sa ogromnoj podrsci omladinskog sveta. Sto znaci da je stvar obrnuto. Najveci deo omladina u Srbiji podrzavaju patriotske opcije, i su izrazito protiv NATO i EU.
I’ve written this in Serbian for reasons people can guess. Let’s see what the answer will be.
Really tragic when an oppressed people turn to embrace their tormentors. Are you Serbs really going to pitch in and attack Russia when ordered to do so by the country that bombed you for months in order to excise a piece of land that was Serbian for dozens of generations called Kosovo? Are you sanguine about what happened to Kosovo after America built its largest viper’s nest, I mean “base,” in Europe there and turned the government over to international criminals who don’t even try to hide their foul deeds? America already took your land, the price of NATO membership will be your soul and identity. Now you will be just one more shit-eating American vassal state giving more priority to Uncle Sam than your own people and needs.
We are all out of shrimps…
Would you care for whistling a lobster?
Of course we Serbs are not going to attack Russia Whistling Shrimp, man, don’t you realise what we Serbs are capable of with our muscle & abnormal heroism? We’re going to take Washington, right after we’ve taken over the banks on Wall St & repatriated Germany’s gold to Belgrade because they owe us some dough in reparations. After we’ve taken Washington, we Serbs are going to inform Russia that NATO will no longer be expanding to her doorstep, but we won’t disband NATO, we’ll just take it over, after we’ve captured Brussells, & then we’ll offer Russia full NATO membership & a peacekeeping stint in Syria, after we’ve captured Damascus -which we Serbs are about to do – watch the news on Friday, our forces are entering Gouta as we speak. If Russia agrees to join Serbian run NATO, then we’ll let Russia sell some more gas to Germany, after we’ve captured Berlin, which we Serbs are about to do, watch the news on Sunday, I think we’ll be in the center of Berlin about noon, right after lunch. Then we may go on to Poland, if Russia objects about Serbian NATO approaching Kaliningrad, it may affect our historical brotherly relations & we may have to order Bulgaria to occupy Crimea & hand over the naval resources at Sevastopol to us. That’s just some of what we Serbs are going to do, because don’t you know, we have the might to do just about anything, not to mention the right.
You are one funny guy. Yel ti drago sada?
R
The article is little bit emotional, but generally true. The problem with Serbia is its historical and endemic dilemma, West vs East, which is today the dilemma between the US led political West and Russia.
Although it is true that the overhauling number of Serbian population is against NATO, it must be mentioned that the substantial number is still pro-Western, at least in the sense of expecting some naked benefit from the West.
Serbs are more or less pragmatic people, and they still feel that Russia is either not willing, or not able (or even both) to protect them from Western pressures. So they quietly keep the status quo.
Both the parts of the population and especially the ruling elite have a somewhat double-faced relation with Russia, they expect help and support from it, but still dance according to Western tunes and expect (non-existing) benefits from the West.
Serbian elite expects and even begs Russian backing for the status of Kosovo, but denies the Russian mission on its soil the right it gave to NATO.
So it also must be said that Serbia was never truly a solid Russian ally.
It main problem is that it is still in a kind of no man’s land. The West sees the Serbs as an obstacle to its interests in the Balkans and a Russian agent there and will continue its policy of weakening Serbia in every regard, but Russia also fosters distrust of the will of the Serbs to stand up for themselves.
Also, there is the tendention of the Serbian elites to play good friend with Russia just to scare the West and cause it to give some concessions to Serbia.
it is a dangerous and futile game. Milosevic tried to play it and he lost, with terrible consequences.
Basically, ever since the fall of Tzarist Russia up to this day, Serbia and Russia did not have good relations.
Serbia is an impossible situation and the West has all the means to wreak havoc in the country if it does not follow Washington’s dictates.
Just look at what happened in Macedonia.
Generally, I think that only a significant change in the global order can pull out Serbia from its position. Though this will depend on the ability of the elite to adapt in time.
Time of big global changes is coming, Serbia’s neighbor, Hungary made moves to adapt in time, but signs for Serbia are not good.
Sober analysis. Withouth sniveling. Much needed.
R
In a sane country a psychopath who murders 2 reporters would be shunned. Show the depravity of Ukraine that she’s paraded around like a freak show. It’s a cozy partnership between the psychopaths who rule almost every country and the ngo’s that are their sycophants. Ngo’s should be banned and brain scans would stop psychopaths from destroying our globe.
granting NATO troops unlimited access to the country’s facilities and NATO soldiers diplomatic immunity and impunity before Serbian courts for any act of personal wrongdoing”
sounds like serbia has sold itself completely
I mused a bit about why some special ethnic entities get harassed and suppressed by almost any power they have contact with… at least during last decades… I primarily thought about Serbs and Kurds… what have these two in common, most probably? a strong independent pride of their own tribe, thus they possibly are not as prone to join a colorless European or big-nation-Turkey soup and dissolve in it as other ethnicities. They got guts, thats why they try to break their backbones.