Buddy, it’s About Oil; but What Way Forward?
Let us welcome the freedom of the Kosovars from tyranny. Let us also thank the United States for ensuring that Kosovars are safe from human rights violations, at least for now. Kosova is also unique in some sense in that this majority Muslim population is pro-US. Much of the freedom struggle was funded by the Saudis- with support from US.
The Oil Factor
Given it’s shiny human rights record, history of war and occupation- it’s difficult to believe Washington’s commitment to democracy outside it’s own country. Their backing of Kosova has nothing to do with commitment to either democracy, freedom or human rights. You guessed it right- it’s about oil. Again.
Kosovo does not have oil but its location is strategic as the trans-Balkan pipeline - known as AMBO pipeline after its builder and operator the US-registered Albanian Macedonian Bulgarian Oil Corporation - will pass through it. (Source)
More recently,
on January 10, Swiss-based Manas Petroleum Corporation broke the news. Gustavson Associates LLC’s Resource Evaluation identified large prospects of oil and gas reserves in Albania, close to Kosovo. They are in areas called blocks A, B, C, D and E, encompassing about 780,000 acres along the northwest to southeast “trending (geological) fold belt of northwestern Albania.” (Source)
So then. It’s also good to reckon that Kosova is the second largest foreign military base of the US. Oil is important. That’s what makes Kosova important. Good thing is, it worked in their favor. It could have been otherwise.
History and Politics
Serbs (and their friends) claim that Kosova is integral part of Serbia, which is not correct. It was conquered and ruled by the Serbs for about 250 years before the Ottomans conquered the whole region in the 13th century AD. In 1912, after about 600 years Serbs conquered it back from Ottomans. In the meantime, the cultural and political linkage between the two regions got severed.
When in late 1990s a revolution broke out, the Serbian forces reacted with gross human rights violations. The UN intervened and set up a “autonomous” government within Serbia. The government of Kosova, ever since it was installed in 1999 has not actually been a autonomous one. EU and NATO (US in particular) has a lot of say in how the country runs. The three previous Prime ministers are known to have been involved with illicit activities. The new government?
It will be run by an appointed High Representative and bodies appointed by the U.S., European Union and NATO. An old-style colonial viceroy and imperialist administrators will have control over foreign and domestic policy. It is similar to the absolute power held by L. Paul Bremer in the first two years of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. U.S. has merely consolidated its direct control of a totally dependent colony in the heart of the Balkans. (Source)
The US wants to secure it’s oil, and more ambitiously- to control the flow of oil. It is ready to pay a lot of money for that- shown by it’s rather costly occupation of Iraq.
There are fears that this will cause further instability in the region. There are opinions that Kosova should have stayed within Serbia. I shall not get into that debate after Kosova is already independent. We should focus on future taking the present into account.
Future
As the Kosovars have affinity towards the US and they share some strategic interests with the US, it will not be wise to try to get US out of Kosova. The presence of US forces give security to this tiny country of 2.2 million.
The US is not going to protect them for ever. In the meantime, as the US is busy building on it’s own interests, the Kosovars should build their nation.
Politically it’s very difficult for a population of 2.2 million to remain unwary of a hostile neighbor- Serbia. It is good (if not essential) to establish strong political and economic ties and treaties with Albania, B&H and Turkey (the biggest power in the neighborhood and a NATO member.) An amicable merger with Albania will not be bad- since Kosova is so little and landlocked. Last but not the least- the Serb minority should not be oppressed- Allah does not love the oppressors.
A honest and hardworking society (which are essential qualities of an Islamic society ) can form the backbone of the nation. A just and swift judiciary and police force ensure the health of a nation. It is a good time for Daw’ah. However, one has to be careful in a society that has seen little Daw’ah for a long time. It may be met with hostility unless Daw’ah is sympathetic.
Trade and industry provide backbone for a state. If too many countries do not recognize Kosova (recognition is another interesting ball game) it will be difficult to engage in direct trade with them. It will be good if Kosova is eventually recognized.
Kosova is rich in minerals- making heavy industries a possibility. Oil is nearby. The technical colleges should incorporate material, mechanical, civil and petroleum engineering heavily into their courses, if they are not doing that already. Automobile and aviation engineering can come later.
Medical training has to be taken seriously, and free healthcare for the poor only brings Barakah to the state. A good healthcare system will bring health tourists from the Arab countries who now head for UK or India.
There should be enough support for students of every useful stream (including deeni ilm) to ensure that a single talent does not go untapped for lack of money.
Building good road and railway network is essential for growth. They help fight unemployment and generate expertise. Are well worth the money and effort due to their long term gains and implications. But no IMF/World Bank loans please. How about attracting some FDI from the Arab states (seeing that they have funded the war)?
It’s a scenic place with not much rain. Perfect for a film industry, I would imagine.
Prayer
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Kind
I hope and pray Kosova takes it’s freedom very seriously, and flourishes both spiritually and otherwise.
Amen.
Well, I read the post, and I liked.. surprise
Brother, if this war is about oil and minerals [Chomsky’s thesis], then tell me why big oil companies were against the war at the beginning. Also, if this whole thing was about oil, then why is the price of oil so high?
gess
I did not know about oil companies opposing the war in the beggining. Now tell me gess, if the oil companies had absolutely no interest in it, why would they care if there is a war or not? They must have had some interest at that point that prompted them to say “no” to war.
I will not recommend discarding a theory because Chomsky agrees with it.
Moreover, Washington’s policymakers are interested in ensuring enough oil for US. And also Controlling the oil supplies of other countries- which gives them tremendous strategic advantage.
I do not think there’s a direct connection between their decision to intervene and oil prices. Kosova is a long term plan. They want to build pipelines, and oil wells which will take time.
Even then, if oil prices are high, I will guess US oil companies gain. They steal oil from Iraq anyway.
In spite of everything else I would say it doesn’t matter how they got the independence.
This opportunity given to them by Allah (using US as a tool) should be utilized as much as possible.
Individuals should set up businesses with the aim of helping the society and the country.
Once they have the money, they should invest heavily in building engineering firms and colleges, hospitals and medical colleges. Produce best quality machines and medicine.
Easy to say. Easy to do, too, if Allah so Will.
I watch a show yestarday about Kosovars in
http://www.inner-live.com
Anybody see it ?