The Long Game

August 3, 2008: Serb newspapers are claiming that Bosnian Serb war criminal Radovan Karadzic was once "protected" by a deal with the CIA. The alleged deal involved staying out of Bosnian politics. The Serb reports say Karadzic broke "the deal" in 2000 The US says (firmly) no such deal existed.

August 2, 2008: The name war continues. Greece has supposedly promised Serbia and Bulgaria that it will push for Serbian "integration" into the European Union and help Bulgaria with an EU funding issue if both Serbia and Bulgaria will change their positions on Macedonia 's name. Serbia and Bulgaria have agreed to refer to Macedonia as the Republic of Macedonia . Greece is completely against that and insists on calling Macedonia the FYROM, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .

July 30, 2008: In a decision that some in the Turkish media have dubbed a "slap at the Army," Turkey's Constitutional Court decided to fine instead of disband the Justice and Development Party (AKP). In other words, the "judicial coup" did not occur. Many Turks see this decision as another demonstration that Turkey is ready to join the European Union??another signal that Turkey is a functioning democracy. Most members of the EU hailed the decision and the EU's "enlargement committee" praised it. Many secular Turks (not all Kemalists) aren't so sure since they see the AKP as a "stealth" Islamist party. Still, the AKP is a popular party, has broad support, and is the duly elected government.

July 28, 2008: Albania installed a new army chief of staff to replace Lieutenant General Luan Hoxha who was fired in the wake of the investigation of the March 15 ammunition depot blast in Tirana. The new chief of staff is Brigadier General Maksim Malaj. The ammo depot blast is a huge political issue in Albania . 26 people died, 300 were injured

Turkey 's Constitutional Court hast officially decided to investigate the Justice and Development Party (AKP) . The AKP is accused of undermining Turkey 's secularist institutions. The Court has been getting ready to take the case for several months. Interestingly enough, the government-controlled media is attacking the court. The non-government-controlled media (which tends to be secularist) is going after the AKP. Meanwhile, the government continues to pursue its investigation of the "planned coup" against it by former members of the military. The group now has a name: Ergenekon. So far 86 people have been indicted.

July 26, 2008: European reports indicated that Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic will likely be sent to face charges at the U.N. war crimes tribunal (ICTY) at The Hague , Netherlands .

July 22, 2008: The United States has called on the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to take control of northern Kosovo. The quote from the State Department is instructive: "The north of Kosovo is now a lawless area." The area isn't exactly lawless - the predominantly Kosovar Serb area is engaged in a quiet rebellion against the rest of Kosovo.

July 21, 2008: Well, he was finally caught. Serbian police arrested fugitive war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic. He had been on the lam 13 years. It is no coincidence that the arrest comes on the heels of Serbia 's new "pro-Western, pro-EU" government coalition formally taking power in Belgrade . The Serb ultra-nationalists have been dealt a political setback. Now one of the main Bosnian Serb players in the Yugoslav Wars of Devolution has been arrested.

July 17, 2008: French diplomats believe that a permanent, stable solution in the Balkans will require an entire generation. Many other European diplomats agree.

July 10, 2008: Macedonia announced that it had started its "new rotation" of peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan . This is Macedonia 's fifth troop rotation. 127 Macedonian troops from the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade comprise the contingent.