Sure, you can claim that Afghanistan has an independent democratic government (and don't get me wrong, these guys have all my respect for how they struggle to set the country up as a "democratic" system). However, your comment shows that you obviously have never been there ... otherwise you would know that this "democratic" government has obviously very little to say in Afghanistan. Sure, you could go somewhere, bring a bunch of people together, organize some "elections" where in many districts the tribe elders dictate who has to be elected and sell this as a success.

Yes, you can do that.

 

Afghanistan is peaceful ?? Is this what they tell you in the U.S. media ? A considerable size of Afghanistan is controlled by war lords and drug gangs. Sure they are peaceful as long as you let them do what they want to or they like your face (with beard) and you do not talk too much. Comparing Afghanistan with Kosovo os something which can only come from a person who does not know either of the two.

 

Concerning Kosovos state: EU was never authorized to do any "nation building" in Kosovo: When the Kosovo war broke out, Kosovo legally was part of the Federal republic of Yugolsavia. As Alban population in Kosovo wanted to have independence, this movement was supressed by the regular Yugoslavian authorities. The driving paramilitary UCK was deemed to be a "terrorist organization" fighting the regular Yugoslavian forces by most western countries. After Rambouillet negotiations were rejected by Serbian leaders, NATO (not EU) decided to intervene in order to stop violence (mainly from a Serb side). Obviously it is still debated whether this NATO intervention was an agression and illegal act according to international law. Yes, there is still an international governement (although most European nations have recognized Kosovo as an independent state) and the situation is still not easy, however much better compared to your GREAT nation building efforts in Afghanistan or Iraq. However, you cannot enforce these things if the population is not able or willing to make their peace with each other (abviously also the U.S. also have problems with enforcement do as you see in Iraw and Afghanistan).

 

Now, if you talk about FINE examples of EU nation building - why not looking at Slovenia or Croatia ? These countries were very early recognized by the EU countries and became independent and also economically well doing nations (Slovenia in the meantime EU member and Croatia in preparation). Also Bosian, although still under international administration, is at least stable and build up works can go on (Bosnia is not a very rich country - no oil ,etc.) .

 

One word to your "leading role in nation buildinG": Recognition of Slovenia and Croatia (although recognized by many EU countries) was strongly opposed by the U.S. - even to an extent that the peace keeping forces down there were not allowed to intervene. My unit was deployed in Croatia and later in Sarajevo (Bosnia) . Given the political setup at that time and what we saw ... I do not think that we really need lessons from the U.S. about any nation building ... really not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't worry I'm sure that the EU will be IMMUNE to any lessons in nation-building that might be offered...You guys have pretty much failed in it so far in the Balkans, why spoil a god track record?  That's hat I love about you Euro-French guyz...you MUST be right, it's not the US that has a swelled head, it's you guys....Kosovo is a muddle, with no self-determination and it's final status up in the air...it's far less than Afghanistan or Iraq.  You don't want to admit it, fine...but if yo can point out a domestic Prime Minister/President/Parliament in Kosovo or even Bosnia that is actually governing the country, rather than relying on the UN/EU?NATO forces for their support good luck with that...the reality is that neither has anything close to self-government, unlike Iraq or Afghanistan...

I have NEVER claimed Iraq was "peaceful" only that it was a functioning democracy....the US in the era 1861-65 was a democracy, not peaceful...and capable of self-governance, even though it was in the midst of a civil war.  So too, Iraq, and so NOT the Balkan countries of Bosnia or Kosovo...Slovenia and Croatia have made it, Slovenia probably best of all, Croatia has achieved take-off speed, but it's purge of Serbs in the Krajina region (IIRC) doesn't bode well for its human rights record.

 

And yo're right never been to Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, or Bosnia...never been to japan either, or France, doesn't mean I know less than you do, though, does it...you're committing a logical fallacy, false appeal to authority.

I think EU does not need lessones in nation-building because EU does not generally think they are responsible or authorized to do so. You ve never been there but you know everything - because EU/French guys have a "swelled" had. Come on - thats a bit childish isn't it. Lets try to stick to the subject instead of being friendly to each other (I cannot remember that I said that the US had a swelled had, did I ?).

Slovenia is doing very well (Balkans), Croatia is doing very well, although not a EU member - however doing well. Concerning the Krajina region (I think you mean RSK, which was never an internationally accepted state) it has turned out that "purging" actions against Croates where primarily done and specifically planned by the JNA (army of the former Jugoslavia). You are right in the aspect that later in the war there were acts of war crime commited by the Croates as well (but you have read that in wikipedia for sure :-) ), after RSK laucnhed a missile attack against the capital city of Croatia. However, please also note that the responsible military leaders for that have been captured and are put to court in Den Haag. Please also note that Croatia is "repatriating" former inhabitants, supporting with state funds reconstruction work of destroyed property (although there are still problems for returning people to unwind compulsory purchase of properties - but this a more or less normal effect of and things are in process). By the way Serbia is also not doing bad as well, although they are closer to their traditional ally Russia, they are in process of seting up an association agreement with the EU. What about Bosnia - Herzegowina: the case is a bit more difficult here because the region is more less split into two nearly independent administration zones (population is not so homogenuous as it in Slovenia and Croatia). Although the state is still under international Administration (say as a mediator), Bosnia Herzegowina has indeed a very active political spectrum and is also not doing so bad - better there is an international mediator than just "proclaiming a government" which cannot effectively rule the country. Bosnia is independent and self-governed. The fact that you doubt "self-governing" capability becasue a country does not appoint a "prime minister" is ridiculous (probably in this case it would help if you traveled to that country to ge ta feel for it, rather than just taking your "knowledge" from wikipedia, etc.). So, Bosnia is independent, however under UN supervision (and hey, I though the U.S. is also involved in the UN, right ? Its pretty funny - obviously you are blaming EU because it sticks to UN resolutions ?). Republic of Albania - restored with help of the OSZE the country took a many refugees from Kosovo. While having economic problems, it is a stable state (again signed association agreements with EU). That the Balkan states decline in their economic capability from