Bismarck's Principle | B92 Blog http://blog.b92.net/blog/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Andrew Beaumont sr http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss rss@b92.net rss@b92.net Blog A-JE! RSS generator v0.3 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:53:52 +0000 http://blog.b92.net/user_stuff/avatars/mali/964/6964.jpg Andrew Beaumont http://blog.b92.net/ 50 50 Friend and The Club http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k131829
Anyway, it seems to be a great challenge today, especially in western countries, to name names and see and call things by their real names. The friendship and respect paroles do not fly with anyone in Serbia today. I believe that Serbs have paid extremely high price in the past for believing in “friends” and if Serbs have learned something in the past 15 years it should be that there are no friends, only interests.

And with all respect the “civilized” approach of accepting the reality with dignity and making friends with your oppressors reminds me of that cynic advice to a rape victim, “if you cannot avoid a rape, relax and enjoy”. Well, should we really enjoy it?

Regards ]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:52:24 GMT kalvarija http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Great post! http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k127832 Serbia can have a good future, a future in which the Serbian people can have the respect they deserve and where they can achieve their potential, without having to carry around the burden of their troubled history.

The good question is: Do we deserve better future after all what have we done? In country where Radicals and DSS are so strong, the correct answer easly could be: no! ]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:29:52 GMT maharaja http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Re: Why? http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k127027
AB gave a good explanation for the need to supervise Serbs. Bosnian lesson learnt!

]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:10:59 GMT s56a http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Re: Why? http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k125785
As for the US position, here's what USAID say is the basis for their policy for U.S. assistance to Serbia, based on "... fundamental U.S. national interests in Europe". I assume this reflects the broader US foreign policy.

(Serbia) is crucial to the economic development of Southeast and Central Europe and to the political stability of Europe as a whole. As a social, political and geographic crossroad amid Western and Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Greece, (Serbia) occupies a key geographic juncture in the Balkans. With a large population, a potential for strong economic growth, and an important geo-strategic location, Serbia’s economic and democratic development remains central to the future prosperity and stability of the region. ( http://www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/countries/yg/ )

The question is, if Kosovo does not become independent can Serbia achieve her potential for 'economic and democratic development' while at the same time, she's struggling (probably without much help from the international community) to resolve Kosovo's enormous social, economic and political problems? Despite the rhetoric of some foreign Governments and commentators about Serbia's failings and wider 'responsibilities' to the disaffected pople of Kosovo, the real issue is the future of Serbia. Yes, this country has an important part to play in the future of Europe, but building a prosperous future for the Serbian people is even more important task. ]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:40:23 GMT Andrew Beaumont http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Re: Why? http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k124533
Anyway, Kosovo must not be given up, regardless. They can take it away, but it will never be theirs nor will Serbia ever sign on the dotted line. Once you give part of your country away, it doesn't stop there and new demands will keep coming.

I, too, would like to know: why is this issue so important that it has to be settled now? What about Cyprus (no resolution 33 years after the invasion by the Turks), Palestine (since 1948), etc? Oh, what about Republika Srpska or Herceg-Bosna? The folks there would also like to be free.

[*] Since the Albanians had been promised independence beforehand, there was no point "talking." They ran the clock and there was no incentive for them to negotiate. ]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:10:25 GMT m.agrippa http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Why? http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k124215
as an ‘impartial’ foreign observer living in Serbia

could explain me: why is the independecy of Kosovo so important for the western countries and gouvernments, expecially for the USA? What are the goals of this gouvernments in Kosovo? For what purpouse Kosovo would be used? Why they think that they could not achieve their goals through open negotiation with Serbians gouvernment, without pressure? Why they have to play against the international law and rules? I must say that it seems that there must be some hidden intentions / interest of this countries. Otherwais their politicians ware not so misterious and so persistent. (You may not cite the usual explanation "that is the will of the Alb. majority in Kosovo", please. This is nothing but an official excuse, we all know that.) ]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Mon, 24 Dec 2007 07:14:12 GMT dracena http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Re; Blog http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k123569 You certainly have a very good point, especially in the concluding paragraph. However, it would be hard to sell in Serbia. Unfortunately, generosity in the Balkans is most often interpreted as weakness. The issue is not anymore Kosovo, there are other territories (N. Kosovo, Prsesevo Valley, Sandzak, ..) and than other even more important issues as Serbia moves with the reforms. My take is that we can't give up although the cause may seem overall lost but to try to fight for the best deal possible.

]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:52:54 GMT Tarkovski http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Realpolitik http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k122936 Members of the Big Clubs, the UN, NATO, the EU all screwed up when they stood back and did almost nothing while most of the former Yugoslavia was tearing itself apart.
They did enough before armed conflicts started by Nationalists replacing Communism instead of entering XX Century multinational Democracy.

Bismarck would be proud of your Realpolitik commentary. Germans won against ex-YU...

BTW here in Slovenia we got open borders today all the way to the British Isles! About 1/3 of USA teritory...
]]> http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:53:39 GMT s56a http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/ Completely agree... http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#k122895 http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/#komentari Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:43:19 GMT mikimedic http://blog.b92.net/text/1726/Bismarck%27s%20Principle/