www.tenc.net * [Emperor's Clothes]
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WHICH TERRORISTS ARE WORSE?
AL QAEDA? OR THE KLA?
by Jared Israel
[Posted 12 December 2001]
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Slobodan Milosevic, the kidnapped former President of Yugoslavia, appeared
before The Hague 'Tribunal' yesterday. (1)
"Asked how he pleaded to the charges, guilty or not guilty, Mr. Milosevic
reacted like his old defiant self and said: 'This miserable text is the
ultimate absurdity. I should be given credit for peace in Bosnia, not war.'
Responsibility for the Bosnian war, he went on, 'lies with the Western
powers that broke up Yugoslavia and their Yugoslav agents.' Because he
failed to respond with a plea, the court entered a plea of not guilty... (1)
"The charges against him in Kosovo, he said, 'will inevitably open up the
issue of the Clinton administration's cooperation with the terrorists in
Kosovo, including the bin Laden organization.' He was referring to ethnic
Albanian rebels of the Kosovo Liberation Army who, he contends, attacked
Serbian forces with help from foreign Islamic militants." ('N.Y. Times,'
12/12/01 * Note: the 'Times' uses the term Islamic, meaning Muslim, when it
should use 'Islamist,' meaning Muslim clerical-fascists.)
The charge for which Milosevic has been tried and convicted in the Western
press is that he suppressed a popular movement using brutal methods. (2)
But what if they lied to us about Kosovo and Milosevic, just as they lied to
us about the bombing of the Red Cross, or that bin Laden was fighting the
CIA throughout the 1990s? What if in fact Yugoslavia used relatively humane
methods to fight the U.S.-supported secessionists in Kosovo - which by the
way is the oldest part of Serbia. What if this contrasts favorably with the
tactics employed by the U.S. in Afghanistan - which is not part of the
U.S.A.? (3)
What if the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is a terrorist organization,
created by the USA and Germany, trained by U.S. and British covert forces,
installed in power in Kosovo as a proxy force for NATO?
What if hundreds of thousands of Serbs, 'Gypsies,' Slavic Muslims, Turks,
non-fascist Albanians and Jews have been driven from the province by the KLA
- with NATO's apparent approval? (4)
These are the issues Milosevic promises to expose.
We have posted evidence of the KLA's ties to Osama bin Laden's terrorists. (5)
New evidence emerged today. We are informed that an Australian, captured in
Afghanistan, had previously fought for the KLA, then went for training with
al Qaeda in Pakistan, and ended up a Taliban soldier.
(http://au.news.yahoo.com/011212/2/1onh.html )
But the KLA is terrorist regardless of its links to al Qaeda. The evidence
is overwhelming. Consider, for example, the case of Mr. Ramush Haradinaj.
According to a December 4th BBC report, Mr. Haradinaj, who leads the
so-called Democratic League of Kosova (sic!) or LDK, has been meeting with
leaders of the Alliance for the Future of Kosova (also sic!) to plan a
'broad based' government in the province. (Why did I put 'sic!' after
'Kosova'? See footnote 6 )
Who is Ramush Haradinaj.
"COOK HELD TALKS WITH WAR CRIME SUSPECT
by Tom Walker
"THE 'ethical dimension' of Robin Cook's foreign policy has come under
renewed attack after it emerged that a Kosovo Albanian leader whom the
foreign secretary met last week may be linked with war crimes.
"On his return from Kosovo, Cook promised that 'a principled defence of
democracy and human rights' would remain a cornerstone of his foreign policy
should he retain his portfolio after the general election.
"However, Francis Maude, the shadow foreign secretary, accused him of
"encouraging a culture of impunity" by holding talks with Ramush Haradinaj,
32, a former nightclub bouncer and guerrilla commander suspected by United
Nations officials of possible involvement in the murder of civilians, and of
helping to run smuggling rackets across the province.
"A French official said last week he was amazed that Haradinaj, leader of
the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, had been invited to the British
residence in Pristina, the capital, during Cook's visit...Haradinaj could
face charges over what may be the biggest atrocity carried out by the Kosovo
Liberation Army (KLA). Forty civilians were killed during several months in
1998 in the village of Glodjane in western Kosovo, where Haradinaj was then
the KLA commander. Many of the bodies - of Serbs, Albanians and gypsies -
bore marks of torture.
"Moderate Albanians in the Democratic League of Kosovo have implicated
Haradinaj in the murders of civilians suspected of collaborating with
Serbian forces. But Haradinaj has dismissed accusations of war crimes and
treats talk of indictment at The Hague as 'propaganda by political opponents.'
"...In common with other senior KLA commanders, he was equipped with a
satellite phone during Nato airstrikes in 1999, helping the alliance to
pinpoint targets.
"...When the KLA emerged, he... established himself as commander of the
western Decane region, basing himself in Glodjane, one of his clan's
strongholds.
"When the UN took charge of the province's administration, he became
second-in-command of the Kosovo Protection Corps, the KLA's peacetime
incarnation...
"Diplomats in Pristina said Haradinaj entered politics last year at the
behest of Britain and America, which wanted to see the KLA's support base
split. 'He said it was too early for independence,' said a European official
introduced to Haradinaj. 'He was coached to say what was needed.' Last April
Haradinaj made a fundraising trip to Washington..." ('Sunday Times,'
(London) of 29 April 2001: April 29, 2001, Sunday)
A few quick points about this article:
First, note that the 'Times' quotes nameless "Diplomats" saying "Britain and
American wanted to see the KLA's support base split;" thus the 'Times"
attempt to prettify the ugly facts: that the U.S. and British governments
coached this war criminal and funded him, thus thrusting him into politics,
instead of jail.
Second, note that Mr. Haradinaj helps lead the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC)
. This group was set up by the UN mission in Kosovo, at Washington's behest.
It is composed of former KLA terrorists. Here's how a special UN report
described the KPC:
"Murder, torture and extortion: these are the extraordinary charges made
against the UN's own Kosovo Protection Corps in a confidential United
Nations report written for Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
"The KPC stands accused in the document, drawn up on 29 February, of
'criminal activities - killings, ill-treatment/torture, illegal policing,
abuse of authority, intimidation, breaches of political neutrality and
hate-speech'." ('The Observer,' 12 March 2000, quoted in
http://emperors-clothes.com/news/howwill.htm )
Corps members, paid by NATO, have comprised most of the terrorists fighting
to destroy Macedonia. (7)
Here's more about Ramush Haradinaj. (Note that some newspaper articles spell
his name 'Hajredinaj').
On December 14, 1998, six children were murdered when a masked gunman
sprayed bullets into the Panda Cafe in the Kosovo city of Pec. This crime
was so horrific, even US Balkans envoy Richard Holbrooke denounced it.
'"Because of its cruelty and its cowardice, this crime stands above all
crimes,' said Mirko Simonovic, principal of the slain teenagers' school."
('Agence France Presse,' 16 December 1998)
The KLA was responsible. But what part of the KLA?
"...His [Ramush Haradinaj's] men already are suspected of carrying out the
Panda Cafe murders, when masked rebels opened fire in December on a
restaurant the city of Pec, killing six Serbian youths. His men also are
suspected of shooting at U.S. diplomatic monitors..." ('AP,' 8 March 1999)
As mentioned earlier, Haradinaj was implicated in the slaughter of civilians
in the town of Glodjane. These civilians included:
"...Serbian farmers, some gypsies and Albanians suspected of being
collaborators."('Sunday Times', (London) 3 September 2000)
How could Ramush Haradinaj be sure that an Albanian or a 'Gypsy' was a
'collaborator'? One way was if he or she refused to support the
secessionist-organized boycott of Public schools (taught in the Albanian
language!) Another sure clue was that he or she worked for the government,
as a forester for example. (8)
When Washington officials met with Haradinaj to discuss funding his
political campaign last year, they were of course violating Yugoslav
sovereignty. Aside from that, is it possible that they didn't know who he
was and what he stood for?
"'Washington knows what we want,' he [Ramush Haradinaj] added with a smile.
'We've been clear from the very beginning.'" (Kosovo Rebels Won't Give Up
Guns By ANNE THOMPSON, 'Associated Press,' 8 March 1999)
Haradinaj has been competing with another ex-KLA thug, Hashim Thaci, also
been transformed into a proper politician. Thaci's group is called the
Democratic Party of Kosova (sic!) or PKK. Isn't it nice that both these
terrorists have the word 'democratic' in their party names? (6)
Thaci and Haradinaj have been fighting over who gets the graft in
impoverished Kosovo - for example, over the "control of certain petrol
stations." (See 'Daily Telegraph', June 12, 2000)
The 'Telegraph' does not come right out and say these men are gangsters. But
'Jane's Defense Review' does:
"[Thaci's] PDK has good links with Albanian exile groups in America,
Switzerland and Germany, although the bulk of Thaci's funding is now
believed to come from racketeering and other crime-generated sources."
('Jane's Intelligence Review' September 1, 2000)
Note that 'Jane's Defense' calls the money that Thaci gets from racketeering
'funding,' as if he had applied for a grant for a community orchestra or a
home for unwed mothers.
Apparently gangsterism is now routine in Kosovo.
Washington gave Hashim Thaci a bigger reception than his competitor,
Haradinaj.
Here's how 'Voice of America' described Thaci's U.S. tour last year:
"Hashim Thaci, who leads the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)... spoke at a
press conference at UN headquarters. He is concluding a trip to the United
States, during which he met with U.S. State Department and congressional
officials. He also attended the convention in Los Angeles last week at which
the U.S. Democratic Party chose Vice President Al Gore to be its candidate
for president.
"In response to questions, Thaci repeatedly said he saw democracy
progressing in Kosovo. He said local elections would help provide a basis
for general elections in the province and contribute to what he called the
democratization of the Balkans.
"Thaci pointed to democratic changes in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and
Macedonia and said he believed pro-democracy forces would eventually win out
in Montenegro. He also said he considered the general elections planned for
Yugoslavia next month as "elections in a neighboring country." (From 'Radio
Free Europe,' 22 August 2000)
Thaci's tour was barely mentioned in the US press. But 'Voice of America'
(VOA) broadcast the story far and wide in the Balkans; thus VOA made it
perfectly clear that the US government was behind this terrorist.
Thaci became a KLA media star during the so-called peace negotiations at
Rambouillet in the winter of 1999. Before that he was the main KLA leader in
the Kosovo town of Klecka, which had been seized by the KLA. When Yugoslav
forces liberated town in August, 1998, they made some gruesome discoveries.
[Start Quote] "Captured KLA Men Say Serbs Were Executed
"Klecka, Yugoslavia
"...Police escorted journalists into the area on Friday after three days of
fierce fighting to dislodge its KLA defenders. [Note the use of the word
defenders to describe the KLA terrorists.]
"Reporters for Western media said two captured KLA men showed them a spot in
Klecka where 10 Serbs-- including three women and two children - were shot
by a KLA firing squad.
"Pristina country court investigating magistrate Danica Marinkovic said four
burned bodies found in the village were believed to be those of victims of
the shootings. There was no trace of the other corpses." ('Reuters' 28
August 1998) [End Quote]
And:
[Start Quote] "Domestic and foreign reporters, residing in Pristina, were
allowed to follow questioning of a witness, at the site of the crime. The
arrested Bekim Mazreku was answering to questions of Ms. Danica Marinkovic,
an investigation officer. In presence of police, translator and the
journalists, Mr. Murzeku said the following:
"Mr. Bekim Mazreku: We executed ten here. Two were children, three women,
two young boys and three men."
"Ms. Marinkovic: Could you tell us the age of the children?
Mr. Bekim Mazreku: From seven or eight to eleven.
"Ms. Marinkovic: "And women?"
"Mr. Bekim Mazreku: From 28 to 32.
"Ms. Marinkovic: Who was executing them?
"Mr. Bekim Mazreku: The Kosovo Liberation Army.
"Twenty one year old Mr. Bekim Mazreku was then returned to jail.
Journalists were then shown the fence and trees where the execution bullets
landed. Also we saw the mentioned pit with chlorine as well as few
semi-burned skulls and numerous bones belonging to victims of this crime.
The police have also shown to us photographs of a dead man with head chopped
off and mutilated body. The police told us that the photographs were found
in a basement of a house in Klecka.
"The village of Klecka has a dozen of houses on few acres of land. It had
been turned into a military camp by KLA." [End Quote]
(From 'Radio B92,' 29 August 1998. You should know that in the fall of 1998,
'Radio B92' was fiercely anti-government. It was funded by Western
government sources. Regarding this, see
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/interviews/emperor.htm As you will see if
you check out the above link to our interview with two people from the
station, B92 did not have a pro-Yugoslav Army bias; quite the contrary.)
And:
[Start Quote] "The killings in Klecka have been linked to Thaci, who now
heads the Democratic party of Kosovo." ('Sunday Times' (London) September 3,
2000, Sunday) [End Quote]
We who labor to expose media lies about Yugoslavia have argued that the
KLA's links to al Qaeda prove the KLA is a terrorist group.
Maybe we've got it wrong. Maybe we ought to be arguing that the KLA's links
to al Quaida prove al Quaida is a terrorist group.
-- Jared Israel
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FURTHER READING:
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1) Milosevic was literally kidnapped from Yugoslavia and taken to The Hague
'Tribunal,' about which see 'NATO's Tribunal: Straight From the Horse's
Mouth'. Includes some amazing facts about this institution. Can be read at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/docs/h-list.htm
2) 'KLA Attacks Everyone; Media Attacks...Miloshevich?' by Jared Israel.
Challenges much of what you have been told about the man. Can be read at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/jared/expan.htm
3) * For our interview with people at Red Cross headquarters concerning the
bombing of their warehouses in Kabul, go to
http://emperors-clothes.com/interviews/redcross.htm
* For the evidence the bin Laden is still, in some form, a CIA asset, go to
http://emperors-clothes.com/news/probestop-i.htm
4) "What NATO Takeover Would Mean for Macedonia: The Lesson of Orahovac in
Kosovo." Eye-witness accounts of NATO's occupation of a Serbian town.
http://emperors-clothes.com/misc/savethe-a.htm
5) 'Bin Laden in the Balkans' includes several mainstream media accounts of
the link between the KLA and al Quaida. Can be read at
http://emperors-clothes.com/news/binl.htm
6) To understand why there's a sic! after 'Kosova,' see Linguistics
Professor Peter Maher's 'KosovO/KosovA - What's in a Name?' at
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/JP%20maher/InAname.html
7) 'SORRY VIRGINIA BUT THEY ARE NATO TROOPS, NOT 'REBELS'' by Jared Israel,
can be read at http://www.emperors-clothes.com/mac/times.htm
8) For a discussion of the attempts by the ethnic Albanian secessionists in
Kosovo to intimidate non-secessionist Albanians, see
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/Johnstone/1yugo.htm#kspring
Ms. Johnstone's article is filled with mind-stretching observations about
Yugoslavia. Worth reading twice.
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