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Post by Ghost Writer on May 20, 2005 16:39:53 GMT 1
Ahh that's how importing works, somebody buys it from a store and posts it in the mail...and then the person at the other end..sells it in another store.....wow it seems so easy we are joking around.... do you seriously think we are that stupid... I have my MBA. I know what it takes to start something.... that is why I am not. I have a friend that brings in motorcyles, yeah he makes great money but to me it is not worth the hassles for that money.... there are easier ways of making it, without the all the trouble. importing & exporting are not worth it to me...especially in Croatia.
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Post by Augustus on May 22, 2005 18:19:24 GMT 1
Dear Mr. Kuhner,
At the beginning of this comment, let us express our gratitude for support to Croatia during the last decade which you never hesitated to put into words. Though you and your esteemed newspaper most often remained quite lonely in your position regarding Croatia, the war that led to dismantling of Yugoslavia and political development in the country after 1995, it was nevertheless a satisfaction for most of us to recognize that someone gives us support. There is however one point in which we have to express very strong disagreement with your positions. That particular point is the idea that Croatia will benefit significantly by accepting the request from the US government and sign the agreement that provides the exemption of American troops from prosecution before the ICC. Though we fully agree with your opinion regarding president Mesic who in recent past more than once and very successfully betrayed Croatia’s vital interests, in this particular case we are of the opinion that his position is correct. First of all, we find a bit perplexing to see such a strong opposition from the US to his refusal to sign the agreement with the US government. President Mesic was practically installed to his position by covert manipulation of public opinion by so called NGOs, namely National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and IRI (International Republican Institute). Their staff had an office in Zagreb for full six months before the presidential elections, offering support to one candidate, then to the second one (ex foreign minister of Croatia) who was told that he will receive the full support if he distances himself from president Tudjman. As he refused, all support went to Mr. Mesic who won the election. NED and IRI left the country (only to a degree) after that. We would rather not elaborate on NED and IRI but it is widely known that both agencies are tightly connected with US intelligence services. This is what Phillip Agee, an ex-CIA operative said about them: “Their vast operations circle the globe and target political parties, trade unions and business associations, youth and student organizations, women's groups, civic organizations, religious communities, professional, intellectual and cultural societies, and the public information media. The network functions at local, national, regional and global levels. Over the years, the CIA exerted phenomenal influence behind the scenes in country after country, using these powerful elements of civil society to penetrate, divide, weaken and destroy organizations on the left, and indeed to impose regime change by toppling governments”. The irony is that the person you qualify as being an anti-Croatian leftist was raised to his position with help of the so called ‘Non Government’ Organizations with direct support of American government’s institutions. Mesic is therefore one of the obviously failed results of these actions; he is an “american baby”. From our standpoint, being a failure and being result of American influence that really brought nothing good to Croatia, it is probably understandable that American actions – as this one regarding immunity of US troops before ICC, leaves most of Croatian population very suspicious about real nature of the US actions. To this, we would add that US provided more than enough arguments for describing American foreign politics as the one that promotes extremely selfish interests in recent years and even decades, always behind the curtain of promoting democracy in the ‘interest of the people’. Most of Croatian population sees no useful purpose of Croatia joining NATO. From NATO circles, very recently, the idea of nearly complete dismantling of Croatian army were launched because NATO will ‘defend the country’ in case of need. At the same time, NATO is seen as an institution that may be used to promote American military adventurism. We have no doubt that US may manipulate Croatian politicians into that adventure causing a rift in the country as big as one in Spain, which joined ‘coalition’ troops in Iraq, only to find Spain’s government positioned against 90% of popular opinion what in a rather tragic circumstances lead to that government’s demise. We would also like to comment at this point on your argument about idealistic nature of American foreign policy. In fact, American foreign policy was and will always be nothing but realistic and Machiavellian to the extreme. Its idealism is just a veil to make it opaque and at the same time more palatable to the general public. Your position on Croatia in general, which we commended already, implies understanding of a very complex situation in which our country is at the moment. Small country can keep its identity and freedom only if it takes care about it by itself; not by handing over the prerogatives of power into someone else’s hands. Croatia has several hundred years of experience in this regard and only when we and only we took the action to control the events, we finally brought this Croatian state to being. For all that, it’s difficult to understand your undoubtedly honest opinion about benefits of Croatia becoming the American strategic partner. Recent twenty years have seen more than enough examples of what happens with American strategic partners; the first and foremost example that comes to mind being Pakistan. American strategic partners in principle find themselves in the grip of events they cannot control and moreover, such relationships with US result in dissolution of any rational or authentic political development in the targeted country. US foreign politics is in small countries always perceived as corrupting, blackmailing, manipulative and arrogant, as the only way to forward it is to corrupt or blackmail the local political structure. In principle, it happens under false pretense of helping to restore democracy. As it is not very clear what use Croatia may have from NATO membership, it is obvious that danger from its neighbors is now promoted to that function. To further amplify the strength of such argument, the American medal that was recently handed over to the leader of fascist and murderous Serbian Chetniks movement, obviously serves the purpose. If Croatia is supposed to be the key American ally in an unstable area of the world, it may be necessary to add that most of instability in the area at present comes from the very same source – western allies; the US among them. By saying that we must return to the two most obvious examples: that medal which provides fuel for exceptionally nationalistic movement in Serbia as well and to the untenable artificial state of Bosnia and Herzegovina which is actually a western governorate where the same western allies run the country on totally absurd premises. So, far with more or less tacit agreement of US government. In other words, US foreign politics in these cases promotes instability instead the opposite and with obvious purpose – to promote foreign presence in the area. If there is a possibility that present Serbian regime which builds monuments to people who by 1943 made Serbia squeaky clean from Jews becomes the partner to the western allies sooner than Croatia, the only thing that will happen is that the aforementioned opaque veil will lose a bit of its opaqueness. Croatia is the country in the middle of Europe and if there is a partnership that the country has to build, it is the partnership with its natural political environment – European Union. Therefore, by denouncing the Bruxelles, Paris, Berlin and The Hague as ’leftist internationalists’ you brought to mind some very difficult times when political disqualification of this sort always preceded much more serious development. In fact, the best option for Croatia would be to remain as neutral as possible as neutrality is the best option for difficult times. History abounds with examples. The attempt of the US to bully as many countries to sign the American request regarding the ICC brings another question to mind: is the US counting with some universal war, if it is looking for ‘partne ctually and morally bankrupt president Mesic, as you justifiably call him, is only the tip of the iceberg of morally bankrupt Croatian politics today. The problem for majority of population in Croatia is that only such people are good clients for forwarding foreign interests. Until this moment Mesic had done that exceptionally well, albeit not in favor of the US. With sadness, we must add here that Mesic is famous for changing his political preferences so all hope is not lost for the American cause. The purpose of NATO membership for the public in many new members is very vague. Wooing countries into that treaty has some purpose but only future will show what is hidden behind these big and numerous carrots. A stick as big undoubtedly will follow, if history may be used as a teacher. Experience with bullying and arrogant American foreign policy like in the case of ICC certainly does not result in too much confidence in its good intentions. In spite of all mentioned here, let us express our appreciation for all your assistance to Croatia in recent times.
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Post by star on May 22, 2005 23:52:59 GMT 1
Its a tough situation. The recent awarding of a medal to the decendants of Mihailovic was a not so subtle warning to Croatia that if they don't fall in line then the US will look elsewhere in the Balkans, just as Mr. Kuhner predicted.
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Post by 3lions on May 30, 2005 11:29:57 GMT 1
why would the US tie itself to one Balkan country anyway?
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Post by Old Guest on May 30, 2005 12:37:44 GMT 1
Because, Balkan as single country doesn't exsit. I tought you noticed this ? Or you haven't ? Then, it makes sense ...
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Post by 3lions on May 30, 2005 12:59:52 GMT 1
what I mean is if they side with Cro, then they will lose in Serbia, which is the bigger country
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Post by Old Guest on May 30, 2005 13:01:26 GMT 1
Then let them side with Serbia.
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Post by 3lions on May 30, 2005 13:02:50 GMT 1
so who are Croatia going to side against? No one?
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Post by 3lions on May 30, 2005 13:06:57 GMT 1
I meant with
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Post by Old Guest on May 30, 2005 13:07:32 GMT 1
Get serious. It is not up to Croatia or Serbia or even UK to influence will USA love them or not.
If USA have strong geo strategical reasons to prefere Serbia as partner in region, then it is donne deal, and nobody can influence it.
For Croatia it is important to mind it's own business and keep friendly relations with everybody, as long nobody is jepardising Croatias independence.
I think it is simple. And even more - I see Croatia only benefiting from economicaly stronger and more pacified Serbia. With strong USA's influence on Serbia, Croatia can be peacefull in terms of political radicalism in Serbia, and not worry about Serbia acting "too independent" in terms of any political radicalism.
Was I clear ?
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Post by Old Guest on May 30, 2005 13:19:38 GMT 1
Haveing USA in region has some real benefits in compare to EU.
USA tends to accept borders and independence of countries in region, while EU is still ordering "independent institutes" to provide studies about "ethnicity and territory problems in ex. Yougoslavia" looking for "best solutions" even on level of "human transphere of population". So far I read 7 such studies in last 2 years, and last one I sow a week ago ...
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Post by 3lions on May 30, 2005 13:27:33 GMT 1
so Croatia need to promote better U.S. - Serbia relations, whilst acting like a mouse?
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Post by Old Guest on May 30, 2005 13:30:51 GMT 1
You just refusse to read what has been writen, right ? I go on your nerves this much ?
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Post by Old Guest on May 30, 2005 13:39:02 GMT 1
Okay ... again ... It is not up to Croatia to promote relations between USA and Serbia. It is up to USA (I almost said "... and Serbia").
I don't see what relations between USA and Serbia has to do with Croatia ? USA can send messages to Croatia and deal with it without involving Serbia. I guess this is obvious even to you, and even because I said it.
So, Croatia needs friendly relations with both USA and Serbia. So far, relations with USA are more then friendly, and with Serbia becoming more pacified, they will get even better.
So far, EU's "number one race horse" Carla Del Ponte made complete mess, so why wouldn't USA fix again after "Lords and Caringtons", and why you have such huge problem with it ?
USA don't see Balkan "equalised" or have need to "eqalise" it ... So, let them try. I bet they are not able to make bigger mess then EU did so far.
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Post by 3lions on May 30, 2005 14:12:37 GMT 1
I wouldn't really disagree with your last post, best for all outside countries to stop meddling in the region now
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