Kosovo?
I wish someone could explain to me why a national guard unit from my home town recently deployed to Kosovo. First let me explain that I remember the Balkan conflicts well. I even took in a stinky, arrogant exchange student from Yugoslavia (Serb) temporarily who was fleeing their draft. I never bought his explanations for the conflict, but did learn some about the region from him. I also learned another perspective from US Army officers who served in Kosovo since NATO forces intervened in 1999. I just do not understand why we have troops deploying there now.
I know Kosovo has been spooked by the Russian action in the Ukraine and are asking that the US build a permanent military base there. They had every reason to be in NATO by now. Ukrainian membership of NATO was not purely theoretical. Not at all. Its in their constitution and NATO has consistently refused to rule it out, having agreed in 2008 that Ukraine and Georgia “will become members of NATO”. Russia, too, can be forgiven for considering the government illegitimate given that In 2014, the country had a democratically elected president toppled in a Western-backed coup. With us in Kosovo temporarily to keep the peace for 23 years who can blame them for wanting us to build permanent defenses there? We did invite them into NATO and even though they remain one of the most corrupt countries in Europe according to our CIA. For that region that is saying a lot.
So my question remains, why are we still there? To protect a NATO member? Having worked at NATO’s military headquarters I interacted with representatives in uniform from member nations, as well as those in the “Partnership for Peace” to provide support services. At one time the later included Russian soldiers. In the 4 years I was there I also learned a bit about how decisions were made for NATO.
My question remains, why are we still sending guys from eastern KY to defend Kosovo? To protect a NATO ally from the bear? What if the bear threatens Sweden or Finland instead of Macedonia? I am not an isolationist, but I do think NATO is about 30 years past its sell by date. I think it is time to for us to reassess, taking a hard look at who our real allies are and what they are willing to pony up for a new security agreement. I would be willing to wager there will be fewer than 30. SHAPE facilities in Belgium were getting pretty dated anyway unless the US has poured even more money into updating things. Sunk costs, right?