The so called "Muslim street" will not likely become more pro-American if the American led West were to drop its support for an independent "Kosova." (Albanian pronounced spelling)  The 911 tragedy occurred despite the Clinton administration initiated anti-Serb policies. The Muslim world hasn't distanced itself from Russia over the wars in Chechnya.  Not so long ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a World Islamic Conference gathering and indicated a Russian willingness to join that organization. There's nothing brazenly stopping Serbia from having good relations with the Muslim world.

This past Thursday (June 21), there was a gathering of American and Russian lawmakers in Washington. The highlight of that CSPAN televised panel dealt with the matter of disputed former Communist bloc territories.  Kosovo was the main focus of the discussion.

Much has been written about Russia's Slavic Orthodox Christian sympathies for Serbia.  On the other hand, one doesn't find as much written on what encourages individuals like American Congressmen Tom Lantos (Democrat, California) and Eliot Engel (Democrat, New York) to take their militantly pro-Albanian nationalist stance. Lantos is the recipient of significant Albanian-American contributions ($10K in 2006) and Engel has a sizeable Albanian-American constituency. This reality is what motivates those two to piously tell their Russian colleagues that Kosovo is "different" from the other disputed former Communist bloc territories.

The Russian side to that discussion gave a credible performance.  As is the case with such panels, some additional points can be added.

At the end of the panel, Eliot Engel lashed out at Natalia Narochnitskaya (a charismatic advocate, who doesn't hold back in expressing her well founded Russocentric views) for portraying the Albanian nationalist side as Islamic.  Time didn't permit for a follow-up, which could've noted how since NATO's forced 1999 entry into Kosovo, the province has had Serb churches destroyed as mosques are built with Saudi funding.  Something like 90% of Kosovo's Albanian population are said to be of Muslim origin.  Putting aside the Islamic connection to Albanian nationalism, there's no denying that this movement has violent and expansionist elements.  Narochnitskaya noted the numerous Greater Albania maps listing Serbia's Presevo region, Kosovo, Albania, parts of Montenegro, Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as one nation.  Remember all the hoopla about a "Greater Serbia"?

In answer to the Russian side providing a documented appraisal of Albanian nationalist violence, Engel said it's important to not exaggerate past and present wrongs.  A highpoint of his hypocrisy which wasn't tap danced on.  During the discussion Lantos and Engel staunchly stated their belief that Kosovo should never be returned to Serbia because of what (in their view) happened during the Milosevic era.

Iraq and Turkey don't lose Kurdistan for the harsh treatment those two gave the Kurds.  Much worse than what the Serbs could ever be legitimately accused of doing to the Albanians.  The latter instance which wasn't such a one way street.  Minus Kosovo, present day Serbia is more democratic and tolerant than what one finds in Turkey, Iraq and Kosovo.

Unlike the Albanians, the Kurds lack lobbying clout.  Unlike the Turks, the Serbs aren't NATO members.  Factors which relate to the gross hypocrisy.

Lantos and Engel will obviously not budge on this issue.  They've too much at stake to change for the better.   The same isn't true with the overwhelming majority of Americans, as well as some other American lawmakers besides Lantos and Engel (Texas Congressman Ron Paul being one such example).  Reason enough for having high profile point-counterpoint debates on the subject.