Nebojsa Malic

Nebojsa Malic left his home in Bosnia after the Dayton Accords and currently resides in the United States. During the Bosnian War he had exposure to diplomatic and media affairs in Sarajevo. As a historian who specializes in international relations and the Balkans, Malic has written numerous essays on the Kosovo War, Bosnia, and Serbian politics. His exclusive column for Antiwar.com debuted in November 2000.

Bosnia’s Founding Stepfather

To End A War, by Richard Holbrooke New York, Random House, June 1998, 432 pages (hardcover) Few things have been as grossly misunderstood as the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, commonly known by its birthplace as "Dayton." Agreed at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base outside Dayton, Ohio and initialed in Paris, France on … Continue reading “Bosnia’s Founding Stepfather”

The Folly That Is Europe

Next month’s summit meeting of European Union leaders in Thessalonica has prompted increasing speculation about the future role of the Brussels bureaucratic behemoth in Balkans affairs. The Empire is preoccupied with reshaping the Middle East – though if its Balkans “successes” are anything to go by, that’s another developing disaster. Russia has pulled out, daunted … Continue reading “The Folly That Is Europe”

Lies Reporters Tell

Recent revelations that a New York Times reporter invented quotes, fabricated facts and flat-out lied in dozens – if not hundreds – of his stories hardly come as a surprise to a jaded Balkans observer. Lying journalists, fallacious newspapers and severely biased TV coverage are all old news in Belgrade, Sarajevo and Zagreb, even if … Continue reading “Lies Reporters Tell”

Worshippers of Power and Violence

One thing that more than anything else defines the contemporary patchwork of states that used to be Yugoslavia – with the notable exception of Slovenia – are the 1990s Succession Wars. They are the Genesis myth, at the heart of their governments’ source of legitimacy and their leaders’ claim to power. No longer just the … Continue reading “Worshippers of Power and Violence”

After ‘Liberation,’ Democracy

As any survivor of Imperial "liberation" can attest, it is usually followed by the mass conversion to the conquerors’ religion, Democracy. As with most religions, it means different things to different people. Its definition is kept deliberately vague to preclude criticism, and even when offered, frequently changes for the same reason. Because of its asserted … Continue reading “After ‘Liberation,’ Democracy”

Empire’s ‘Liberation’

Last week’s "liberation" of Iraq bore a striking resemblance to the "liberation" of Kosovo four years ago, or the continuing "freedom" Bosnia enjoys, replete with the Imperial occupation troops, a viceroy, general devastation and cultural destruction. Empire’s quest for a global Balkans grows more apparent by the day. The polls may indicate that most Americans … Continue reading “Empire’s ‘Liberation’”

Bolsheviks in Belgrade

Empire’s cheerleaders gleefully reported last week that the Bosnian Serb Republic has been eviscerated by the Imperial Viceroy, a move aimed at "bringing the disobedient entity to heel." In yet another move towards the misguided centralization of Bosnia, the Republic lost control of its military and intelligence services, as punishment for allegedly repairing Iraqi aircraft … Continue reading “Bolsheviks in Belgrade”

Seeking Scapegoats

Despite the insistence of high Imperial officials, it is obvious that after two weeks of fighting, the un-American war is going rather badly. Instead of gleefully surrendering, Iraqis are (gasp!) defending not so much their leader as their country. The same happened four years ago, during the attack on Serbia, when all but a few … Continue reading “Seeking Scapegoats”

The Argument of Force

Two weeks ago, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was shot and killed by a sniper bullet. His successors immediately declared a "state of emergency" – in effect, martial law – of undetermined duration, and launched a massive police operation to crack down on alleged crime syndicates suspected of Djindjic’s murder. Djindjic was given a full … Continue reading “The Argument of Force”