Separatists Make me Nervous

[unbound_spirit]

Protesters in Belgrade attack U.S. embassy

"In the short term, analysts said an anti-European Union backlash would gain force after the West's support for an independent Kosovo." 

Um, did the analysts say this before or after this riot broke out?

I have more opinions about this but I'm curious to hear what other people think about the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state.  (Russia seems to be one of the few countries not recognizing it while the U.S. and several other European countries are.)

Comments

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

I really don't know enough about it, other than it's driven by ethno-nationalist strife (Kosovo is primarily Albanian in ethnic make up, I believe). The US, France and Germany recognize Kosovo's right to be independent based on prior behavior of the Serbs. Russia and China balk at the idea because they feel it sets a dangerous precedent (especially since both of them have a history of dealing with rebellious provinces). I think past atrocities committed by the Serbs makes the West feel we have some moral authority to dictate the future of the Serbian state, and perhaps we do. But I can't help but feel as though the interest and support for an independent Kosovo is driven by something other than humanitarian interests.

[unbound-spirit.livejournal.com]

I also feel its a dangerous precedent, I have to admit.