The role of the United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others in organizing and supporting al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups against the Soviet army during the Afghan war of 1979-1992 is well documented. It is also well documented that Osama bin Laden recruited Muslim volunteers worldwide. United States officials estimate that tens of thousands of foreign fighters were trained in bomb-making, sabotage and guerrilla warfare tactics in Afghan camps. These were camps that the US Central Intelligence Agency helped set up between 1985-92.

After the Russians withdrew from Afghanistan, the United States found another role for the mujahideen.They were needed in Bosnia to help the Muslims there in their fight against the Serbs. Despite the United Nations arms embargo, The Pentagon organized the movement of several thousand Mujahideen from Iran into Bosnia. Later, on a smaller scale, the United States employed and trained Mujahideen to help the Kosovo Liberation Army [KLA] in Kosovo.

"It was very important in the rise of mujahideen forces and in the emergence of current cross-border Islamic terrorist groups who think nothing of moving from state to state in the search of outlets for their jihadi mission. In moving to Bosnia, Islamic fighters were transported from the caves of Afghanistan and the Middle East into Europe; from an outdated battleground of the Cold War to the major world conflict of the day; from being yesterday's men to fighting alongside the West's favored side in the clash of the Balkans. If Western intervention in Afghanistan created the mujahideen, Western intervention in Bosnia appears to have globalized it." *

“The American mercenary organization, Military Professional Resources Incorporated, [MPRI] which, it is said has more four star generals working for it then does the Pentagon, has been involved in the recruitment, training and arming of mujahideen for action in the Balkans. MPRI chose one hundred carefully selected mujahideen who were Bosnian veterans and sent them to Turkey where they were attached to the Turkish military for specialized training. They were paid a salary of fifteen hundred US dollars a month. In early 1999 they were moved to Kosovo and joined the KLA forces where their specialized training in identifying suitable targets for the NATO air strikes against the Serbian military proved to be invaluable.”

“It is significant to point out that five of the nineteen terrorists involved in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon had fought in Bosnia. Osama Bin Laden was issued a Bosnian passport by the Bosnian Embassy in Vienna. These facts alone should dispel any doubts about the Balkan linkage with Islamist terrorist activities.”

“Notwithstanding this evidence the United States persists in supporting the Islamist cause in the Balkans. It is puzzling but United States policy seems to be based on the belief that it is in the interest of America to support local Islamist terrorists as long as they do not commit terrorist attack against Americans. Only two years after the bombing of Yugoslavia, the KLA and the MPRI in 2001 were actively involved in southern Serbia and in Macedonia. Their use of violence in support of the Albanian cause was clearly sanctioned by the United States government.”

Mr.Bissett summed up his remarks about terrorism in the Balkans by stating: “Given the United States record in Bosnia and Kosovo one cannot help but ask whether the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Balkans lies with Islamist terror or United States diplomacy?”

Participants of the conference, organized by the Institute for Political Studies in Belgrade and the Rockford Institute, Rockford, Illinois, had an opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Dr. Vojislav Kostunica, who informed them about difficulties and numerous challenges facing people of Serbia and Montenegro at the present time. Bissett summarized some of the points from the meeting with PM Kostunica.

On EU membership

“Prime Minister Kostunica’s number one priority is to end Serbia’s isolation and to gain Serbia’s membership to the European Union. His second priority is to establish and strengthen democracy in Serbia and Montenegro; to strengthen the rule of law, improve the judiciary and strengthen democratic institutions. He expressed his appreciation for the Radical Party that has provided solid support to the coalition that he heads. He also expressed cautious optimism about the economy. The foreign debt has been reduced.  He believes that the corner towards recovery has been turned.

On Kosovo

“As one might expect his greatest burden is the future of Kosovo. He feels that there should be certainly no boundary changes and there should not be independence. His slogan is, “not independence but more then autonomy”. He is uneasy about Kosovo’s future because he knows that there are strong forces demanding independence for Kosovo before the standards are met.”

 “Kostunica believes that standards have to be clear-cut and spelled out in detail. To begin there must be freedom of movement for the Serbian population in Kosovo. In addition at least 50% of the Serbs who have been chased out of Kosovo must have been returned and settled. Property rights have to be respected there and there cannot be any changes of the borders”.

 “Although the Prime Minister is pushing for these types of conditions he knows that there are powerful forces in the United States and among some of the European countries who want to declare immediate independence for Kosovo. He is hopeful of support from the Russians who are aware that if Kosovo gets its independence it may create a domino effect. Many other countries may then demand similar treatment: the Basques, the Corsicans, the Chechen etc. This is the sort of chain reaction the international community would not like to see.”

On Montenegro

“Prime Minister Kostunica is unhappy about the situation in Montenegro. He pointed out that there are 440.000 registered voters in Montenegro but there are also 270.000 Montenegrins residing in Serbia who may be denied the right to vote in a referendum. He is trying to get the EU to become involved and to oversee any referendum that might be held - in other words, to ensure that the ground rules are in accordance with democratic principles and to provide on the ground supervision at the polls. He would like the EU to define what the majority should be to decide the issue of separation. For example, should it be a simple majority of 51% or should it be two-thirds of the population? “

On The Hague Tribunal

“One of the Prime Minister’s most vexing problems is the Hague Tribunal. He knows that many of the senior military officers that have been brought before the Tribunal are simply loyal Serbian public servants who have done their duty. He dislikes having to force them to go to The Hague. On the other hand he realizes that if he does not cooperate then Serbia will remain isolated and continue to be seen as an international pariah. The best he can do is to persuade those who are indicted to give themselves up voluntarily and if they do so to insure that the Serbian government looks after their dependents. The Hague Tribunal is a heavy cross for him to bear.”

Kostunica is not favored in the West because of his uncompromising position on Kosovo but Bissett sees him differently.

“He is clearly a democrat and a Serbian patriot. The United States may describe him as a nationalist, but I believe that he is a man of honour and integrity. The people of Serbia are fortunate to have him at the helm during these difficult times for the nation.”

Mr.Bissett was asked what he thought about Montenegro separating from Serbia and had the following to say: “I think that Montenegro will be weakened a great deal if it separates. After all Serbia is one of the biggest and one of the most powerful countries in the Balkans. Serbia and Montenegro are tied together by heritage, by culture, by language and geography. To have Montenegro as an independent state with a population of only 600.000 people does not make much sense to me.”

“One of the most serious problems faced by Montenegro is the spread of organized criminal activity in the country. It may be difficult to deal on its own with these criminal organizations but by remaining with Serbia it would be better able to suppress them. The small country may also be faced with demands from some of its own minorities that could threaten its newly won independence.”

“There is going to be a difficult road ahead for Serbia, not only in Montenegro but also in Kosovo. It depends on whether the international community has finally realized what is in stake in the Balkans. Unfortunately, many of the most critical decisions will not be left in the hands of the parties concerned - Montenegro or Serbia. They will be decided by outside forces, as is often the case in the Balkans.”

1) * Dutch government report on Srebernica, prepared by Professor C Wiebes , entitled "Intelligence and the War in Bosnia", published in April 2002. Appendix II, or here