KK-Forum,
aktuelt stoff fra emperors.com om "Western" inngripen i et annet lands
indre anliggender på
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/engl.htm
Stoffet ble trykket i Politika i Jugoslavia. Deretter brukte Steven
Erlanger stoffet fra Politika i NYT.
Se mer på
http://emperors-clothes.com/indexe.htm
Knut Rognes
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U.S. Arrogance and Yugoslav Elections
A statement by:
1. Jared Israel (www.emperors-clothes.com) USA
2. Eric Garris (www.antiwar.com) USA
3. Professor Peter Maher, USA
4. Karen Talbot (Covert Action Quarterly) USA
5. Professor Michel Chossudovsky, Canada
6. Niko Varkevisser (Global Reflexion) Netherlands
We the undersigned care very much what happens to Yugoslavia. The loyal
Yugoslavs have shown us the meaning of bravery and dignity. They have shown
us and millions of others that we can stand up to the nation-destroying
Empire, led by the USA.
From our vantage point in the West, we would like to relate what we know
about Western interference in Yugoslav society and the current elections.
Content-Length: 20054
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The Yugoslav opposition coalition calls itself "democratic and independent."
However, our research shows it is controlled by Washington, by the same
people who spent the last ten years trying to break up Yugoslavia.
In July, 1999, the US Senate held hearings on Serbia. The Special U.S.
Envoy to the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, his assistant, James Pardew and
Senator Joseph Biden all testified. They stated clearly that the US pays
and controls the so-called "independent democratic" opposition.
The day before the hearings the United States Senate voted to give this
opposition one hundred million US dollars. Special Envoy Gelbard said: "In
the two years leading up to the Kosovo crisis, we spent $16.5 million on
programs in support of Serbian democratization." He added that more than
$20 million had been given to Milo Djukanovic who heads the government in
the Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro.
This money has funded, or even created, political parties, radio stations,
even trade unions. If any hostile foreign power did that in the USA their
local agents would be thrown in jail.
Here's Gelbard's assistant, James Pardew:
"PARDEW: Well, we work through nongovernmental organizations. We have
established a ring around Serbia which is using international broadcasts,
but we're [also] offering that to independent voices in Serbia, which are
using international facilities." [Note unusual use of "independent" to mean
"independent of THEM but dependent on US"]
Sen. Joseph Biden didn't feel that the measures which Pardew described went
far enough:
"BIDEN: We can make facilities available.[But] are we prepared to shut down
facilities that spew propaganda?"
Gelbard tried to defend US government policy, pointing out that during last
year's war against Yugoslavia, the US had indeed "shut down" Serbian TV -
by bombing it:
"GELBARD: Well, we have, Senator. during the conflict in Kosovo, we and our
allies - "
Senator Biden interrupted, afraid that Gelbard would say too much:
"BIDEN: No, I know that. I want to know from now."
"GELBARD: Well, as far as I'm aware, Serb television has still been cut off
the EUTELSAT facilities, and we have made sure that whenever they made an
attempt, we shut them off those."
The Mechanism, for Subverting Yugoslavia
Gelbard testified that the US government distributes money in Yugoslavia
through "The National Endowment for Democracy" which calls itself a
"non-governmental organization." But it is NOT non-governmental. It is
funded by the US Congress.
The National Endowment was created in 1983 to solve a problem. People knew
that the CIA bribed people and set up phony front groups to carry out US
policy.
"When these covert activities surfaced (as they inevitably did), the
fallout was devastating." ('Washington Post', Sept. 22, 1991)
So Congress set up the National Endowment for Democracy to try to do openly
what the CIA used to do secretly. This had a big advantage. Since the
subversion wasn't secret, how could it be exposed?
With vast sums of money, the National Endowment and its daughter groups
recruited "democracy activists" and "peace activists" and "independent
economists" from target countries. These people were wined and dined and
paid well. Plenty of expense money. Fellowships and scholarships and
internships. They were made to feel they were tomorrow's leaders in the
American Empire.
These "activists" proceeded to set up "independent organizations" in their
home countries and then applied for money from the National Endowment
(which had recruited them in the first place!) Isn't it amazing? The
National Endowment always gave them the money!
Meanwhile, the National Endowment recruited reporters from the same
countries. These were also wined and dined and paid and thus were
transformed into "independent journalists." They took over newspapers,
radio and TV stations, or set up new ones. These "independent journalists"
could then use their newspapers or TV shows to defend the "democratic
activists." If anyone accused the "activists" of being agents of the U.S.,
the "independent journalists" would denounce this as an attack on "freedom"
by "entrenched, corrupt interests" who hide behind "nationalism"!
Allen Weinstein directed the research study that planned the National
Endowment. He explains:
"A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA."
('Washington Post', Sept. 21, 1991)
How clever! Like magic, "agents" became "activists." Organizations and
people who did what the US government told them to do were "the
institutions of civil society." Leaders who opposed US attempts to
destabilize their countries were "corrupt nationalists " who "opposed to
freedom". Listen to this statement from US Secretary of State Madeline
Albright, delivered to a meeting of the National Endowment for Democracy,
held by the US State Department, in Germany:
"I know that one of the subjects you will be discussing today is how best
to assist the institutions of civil society. This is especially vital in
Serbia, where we see courageous political and municipal leaders,
journalists, students and other activists trying to assemble the nuts and
bolts of freedom. We are honored by the presence of some of those brave
leaders here today."
Never has bravery been so well funded.
What is the point of this huge network of "independent" front groups? It is
used to soften up the target countries, making it easier for the US to take
over, politically and economically. And if the US succeeds in taking over,
the "institutions of civil society" can be used to undermine resistance to
the horrible effects of being made a US colony.
Buying Democracy
In a Dec., 1998 report, The National Endowment for Democracy described some
of the groups it has set up and/or taken over in Yugoslavia. This is not a
complete list. We hope to uncover more:
[Start of Quote] "…The National Endowment for Democracy has been assisting
democracy building programs in the former Yugoslavia since 1988, along with
the Soros Foundation. The National Endowment for Democracy has enabled
newspapers, radio and TV stations to purchase supplies and equipment,
including newsprint and broadcast transmitters. Past grantees include: the
newspapers Nasa Borba, Vreme, and Danas, TV Negotin, the prominent news
agency BETA, and Radio B-92, the Association for Independent Electronic
Media (ANEM). National Endowment for Democracy funds have also been used to
bring talented young journalists from the FRY to the United States for
professional internships. Other US funded groups: the Humanitarian Law
Center (HLC), the Center for Democracy Foundation, a prominent
Belgrade-based nongovernmental organization led by Dragoljub Micunovic, the
Belgrade Center for Human Rights (BCHR), the European Movement of Serbian
and the G-17. The Center for Anti-War Action (CAA) has received Endowment
funding to promote the development of an independent civil society in
Serbia by fostering political activism in the country's larger towns and
cities and by strengthening nascent nongovernmental organizations outside
of Belgrade.
"Western organizations should increase direct support to the independent
media in Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. Special attention should be given
to supporting the independent electronic media in Serbia, such as Radio
B-92 and TV Negotin, Assistance should target the establishment of small
"underground" print shops and distribution networks.
"The West should help the democratic political opposition develop a
concrete program which offers positive alternatives to the destructive
policies of the Milosevic regime. Democratic think tanks, independent
research organizations and expert groups should be supported to develop
these alternative policy recommendations. In addition to assistance in
policy formation, [National Endowment for Democracy] organizations should
continue to provide opposition political parties with expertise in
coalition building, message development, media outreach, improving the
operations of party branch offices and election monitoring.
"Democratic forces in Montenegro, including media, think tanks, student
groups, human rights organizations, must be supported financially, and
nurtured.
"One of the most important tasks is to increase cooperation between trade
unions and political parties. In addition, independent media must be
encouraged to report on the work of independent organizations." [End of
Quote] (1)
We urge you to keep in mind that the terms "independent," "democratic" and
"non-governmental" are codenames used by the National Endowment for
"Democracy" to describe organizations they create around the world to bring
down governments and societies which they wish to re-colonize, break up or
control.
Meanwhile, back at the Senate Hearings, Senator Biden and Special Envoy
Gelbard had the following exchange about the Serbian "democratic opposition":
"BIDEN: What can we do about inside Serbia? For example, [Vuk] Draskovic
continues to deny access to Studio B, which is supposedly--"
"GELBARD: No, he's actually given access to Studio B to Radio B-92, [which]
has just reopened as Radio B-292. We want Draskovic to open up Studio B to
the rest of the opposition, and that's a message that he'll be getting from
us in the next few days."
Gelbard was Clinton's top adviser on Yugoslavia. Biden is a leading
anti-Serb US Senator. These two men are so involved in the control of the
Serbian "independent" opposition that they know - up to the minute! -
whether Draskovic, Djindjic and Djukanovic are properly sharing office
space and broadcast time at Studio B in Belgrade.
One of the supposedly independent groups funded through the National
Endowment for Democracy is the G-17 group of so-called "independent"
economists. G-17 and the "democratic opposition" have been doing what
Gelbard and Biden want them to do. They have been meeting for months to
plan for the current Yugoslav elections.
Backing a Single Candidate
On August 2, 'Agence France Presse' reported that a delegation from the
"democratic opposition" met behind closed doors with the Montenegrin
leadership, trying to convince the Montenegrins to support the "democratic
opposition" candidate for President:
"The Serbian delegation, included Zoran Djindjic of the Democratic Party
and Vojislav Kostunica of the Democratic Movement for Serbia (DSS), the
most likely Milosevic challenger.
"The meeting took place a day after US Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright met Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic in Rome and urged
Yugoslavia's opposition groups to drop threats to boycott the elections and
unite to defeat Milosevic. ..." ("Agence France Press," August 2, 2000)
Here's some more information on the trip Albright made to Rome, where she
met Djukanovic:
"In addition to election issues Albright said she had discussed with
Djukanovic ways in which to increase assistance to Montenegro which is in
the throes of an economic crisis. ("Agence France Presse," Aug. 1, 2000, my
emphasis)
So Albright offered Milo Djukanovic money if he would support the so-called
"independent" opposition.
At first Djukanovic refused. Kostunica criticized him publicly for not
joining the team. Then, on September 11th, Djukanovic endorsed Kostunica.
Albright got her money's worth.
It was a stroke of luck for the US agents in Yugoslavia, working with their
National Endowment for Democracy handlers, to maneuver Kostunica into the
no-win situation of joining Djindjic and Djukanovic and numerous others
under the umbrella of USA sponsorship.
Kostunica has a very weak organization. He therefore depends on the
US-controlled parties, groups and mass media to campaign. If he were to win
the Presidency, the local US puppets (Sorry! the "democratic activists")
would staff his government.
This "democratic opposition" has endorsed a Program written for them by
G-17, the group of neoliberal economists in Belgrade, funded by the
National Endowment for Democracy. This Program is posted on the websites of
both G-17 and the "student group", Otpor. The program has a list of points
which the "democratic opposition" is pledged to carry out were they to win
the presidential and/or other elections. Here are some of the main points:
1. The "democratic opposition" program proposes the option of adopting the
German Mark as a legal currency for the whole of Yugoslavia, following the
lead by NATO forces in Bosnia, Kosovo and Montenegro. This would
immediately impoverish the Yugoslav people by making the country an
economic dependency of Germany.
2. The "democratic opposition" program calls for ending all price controls.
No subsidized food, no social protections. Working people, including a
million refugees whose conditions are already difficult, would be buying
food at Western prices but without Western wages.
3. The program calls for the immediate shock treatment of introducing a
full capitalist society without first providing Yugoslavs with the
necessary financial means to participate in such an economy. The result
would be the transfer into foreign hands of control of the entire Yugoslav
economy. Similar provisions for the application of so-called "modern
economic ideology" have already succeeded in destroying Russia's economy.
4. Curiously the "democratic opposition" program makes no mention of NATO's
criminal aggression against Yugoslavia.
5. The program calls for slashing public spending, demilitarization,
radical tax changes, drastically limiting the power of the central
government. All these measures set Yugoslavia up to be controlled from the
outside.
6. The program would accept the US dictate that Yugoslavia no longer exists
and that Serbia must come on bended knee to Washington to be recognized
anew. This would mean the immediate surrender of all the assets and
historical rights of the Yugoslav state. These assets include billions of
dollars worth of embassies, the Yugoslav navy, the air force, bank accounts
frozen all over the world, foreign assets, property assembled by the
Yugoslav people since the end of World War I.
Kostunica's candidacy is nothing more than an effort to paper over the
easily recognized faces of the United States' discredited agents in
Yugoslavia.
An Honor Roll of the Discredited
The coalition backing Kostunica includes:
Zoran Djindjic, leader of the Democratic Party, who fled Serbia during the
NATO bombardment and continued before and after the bombardment to meet
with the likes of Gelbard and Albright and to take their money.
Ms.Vesna Pesic and an assortment of similar "activists" who sought from the
early 1990s to undermine Serbia's legitimate military defense against
foreign aggression and illegal secessionists.
These people have been working with the Endowment for Democracy for years.
Nenad Canak, President of the Vojvodina League of Social Democrats who has
called for a Vojvodina Republic and who provides a focus for secessionists
nationwide.
The opposition is supported by Milo Djukanovic, whose government has
invited Croatian military forces to train special police and who, according
to the British newspaper, the "Independent," has invited British SAS troops
to train snipers to assassinate Yugoslav Army officers.
The opposition includes a collection of various other pseudo-political
figures who have realized that taking bribes from the US continues to be
the most profitable business in the world.
What is the US Government Trying to Do?
The US government wishes to crush the Serbian and other pro-Yugoslav people
as a force capable of resisting US/German domination of the Balkans and the
East. There is nothing new about this. The German establishment has been
trying to crush the Serbs as a political force for more than a hundred years.
Senator Biden said it quite clearly in the July 29, 1999 hearings:
"I mean, for example, it's amazing what can happen when you eliminate the
extremes. I mean, the single best thing that ever happened to the Republic
of Srpska is we kicked the living hell out of Milosevic. There ain't no
alternative left. …It's amazing what a salutary impact that has upon
extremes in countries. And that's why the single best thing we -- my dream
is to visit Milosevic in prison. (Laughter.) I mean that sincerely. I'm not
being facetious. Because you put Milosevic in prison, and things in the
region will change drastically." (Senator Joseph Biden, Senate Hearings on
Serbia, July 29, 1999)
Note that by "extremes" Sen. Biden means: people who refuse to kneel before
the U.S. boot.
Do Biden and Gelbard and the other U.S. puppet masters believe Kostunica
can get enough votes to win? We doubt it. After all, his campaign apparatus
consists of people who are discredited as US agents.
But if Kostunica did win, it would be great for the US government.
Regardless of Kostunica's intentions, he has a very small organization and
the US-paid opposition forces, who are numerous, would flood his government
apparatus.
The US would then use its dominant position in such a Yugoslav government
the same way it has used its dominant position in Kosovo. Since NATO
marched into Kosovo 15 months ago, about 350,000 ethnic Serbs, Gypsies,
Slavic Muslims, Croatians, Jews, Turks and anti-fascist ethnic Albanians
have been driven out. Even the UN admits that Kosovo has been turned into a
gangster's paradise. Tens of thousands of women have been kidnapped by the
US ally, the Kosovo Liberation Army, and forced into prostitution. This is
what Yugoslavia could expect if the US agents got their hands on the
government.
Look how the US has treated its allies, the pro-Islamist Bosnian Muslims
and neo-Nazi Croatians. All things considered, these groups did not profit
by being obedient to their US and German masters. By every standard of
measurement they are worse off today than before they illegally left
Yugoslavia. Or one can look at other countries. Take Russia. The Russian
government was fully obedient and adopted every horrible measure the US
"advised" . They helped the United States crush the Russian economy. And
what did the people get? The worst poverty since World War II. A falling
population. But the population of Serbia has resisted for the last ten
years. If they were to stop now, if they were to fall for the nice words,
"freedom" and "democracy" and "modern economic measures", as others have
fallen for these words, what could they expect? Could they expect to be
treated as "well" as the Russians and Bulgarians who as nations have not
resisted? No. Yugoslav loyalists would get the special treatment the US
gave the American Indians. Do you know what they used to say? "The only
good Indian is a dead Indian."
If the US, were to get control of the Yugoslav government apparatus they
would try to crush the people. KLA terrorists would infiltrate all over the
country. NATO would try to disarm the people while fascists destroyed
Serbian culture. People would be expelled with nowhere to go. Prices would
shoot sky high. Industries would be seized. Secret lists of phony "war
crimes" suspects would be used to arrest or shoot any leader who resisted.
It would be open season on Serbs and other Yugoslav loyalists. Of course,
the Yugoslavs would not take this like lambs. Such a government would be
driven from power by the ordinary people.
For ten long years the people of Yugoslavia have seen the evidence that the
US government has no mercy. We believe the Yugoslavs will not drop their
resistance now.
Footnotes:
1. The full text of the July 29, 1999 Senate hearings on Serbia can be read
at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/analysis/hearin.htm
2. The NED report is a "Statement by Paul B. McCarthy, National Endowment
for Democracy to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe". It
can be read at (
http://emperors-clothes.com/news/ned-1.htm )
3. For more on G-17 see the article "Who is G-17, IMF Medicine in Disguise"
by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky. (It will be posted shortly at
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/chuss/G-17.htm )
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