Nexus - 0804 - New Times Magazine-pages

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US FINANCES ETHNIC WAR IN THE BALKANS War FINANCES ETHNIC BALKANS THE The US, the UN and NATO are accomplices in escalating a new round of terrorism and ethnic warfare in Kosovo and Macedonia, partly funded by narcodollars. [The] United States of America and the Kosovo Liberation Army stand for the same human values and principles... Fighting for the KLA is fighting for human rights and American values. — Senator Joseph Lieberman, quoted in the Washington Post, April 29, 1999 hile Washington supports the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, it is at the same time, behind the scenes, funnelling money and military hard- ware to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), now engaged in a border war with the Macedonian Security Forces. In a cruel irony, Washington is arming and advising both the KLA attackers and the Macedonian defenders under military and intelligence authorisation acts approved by the US Congress. Military Professional Resources Inc. (MPRI), a mercenary outfit on con- tract to the Pentagon, is helping Macedonia—as part of a US military aid package—"to deter armed aggression and defend Macedonian territory". But MPRI is also advising and equipping the KLA, which is responsible for the terrorist assaults. In this war, the American military-intelligence apparatus is pulling strings "on both sides of the fence". What is the hidden agenda? The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), transformed in September 1999 into the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) under UN auspices, is behind the terrorist attacks in the Tetovo region of Macedonia as well as in southern Serbia. In Macedonia, these assaults are waged by the KLA's proxy: the Ushtira Clirimtare Komtare (UCK) or National Liberation Army (NLA). The terrorists operate from KLA bases inside Kosovo under KFOR protection. Supported by the US, the KLA and its various proxies are well equipped. According to Carl Bildt (special UN coordinator for the Balkans), the Macedonian Security Forces "are no match" for the rebels: "...the guerrillas are a competent military organization... They have a core of very experienced fighters. They are well fortified, evidently well prepared, and in all probability they control substantial parts of the hinterland." But where did they get the money? The Western media convey the impression that the National Liberation Army (NLA) developed into a modern rebel force overnight, sponta- neously "out of thin air" and that NATO leaders have no contacts with the KLA. UN PEACEKEEPING FINANCES TERRORISM According to the London Sunday Times, "American intelligence agents have admitted they helped to train the Kosovo Liberation Army before NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia".' A review of US congressional documents would suggest that CIA support was not discontinued after the war. Moreover, while the KLA maintains its links both to the CIA and criminal syndicates involved in the Balkans narcotics trade, the paramilitary organisation—renamed the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC)—has been elevated to UN status, implying the granting of legitimate sources of funding through the United Nations as well as through bilateral channels. by Michel Chossudovsky © March 2001 Professor of Economics University of Ottawa Canada Fax: +1 (514) 425 6224 Email: chossudovsky@videotron.ca Procurement of military supplies, training of the KLA and provision of military advis- ers have been entrusted to MPRI. The pattern is similar to that followed in Croatia and in the Bosnian Muslim—Croatian Federation where so-called "equip and train" programs were put together by the Pentagon. JUNE — JULY 2001 NEXUS = 29 www.nexusmagazine.com