Dear friends:

Kosovo on Sunday declared its independence from Serbia in a move that fueled a growing dispute between the west and Russia.

A German Web site says:

The Balkan region as a whole remains quite vulnerable to the threat of ethnic conflict. We must bear in mind that few, if any, of the conflicts that led to bloodshed throughout the 1990s have really been resolved. We have institutions in place now that help manage these conflicts politically, but tensions in Bosnia and Macedonia, for example, remain. Apart from Albania and Slovenia, I don't think that any of the other Balkan countries will find it a very easy decision to recognize Kosovo.... Because of the close links between Kosovo and two other major previous secessionist conflicts -- Bosnia, the Serbs, and Macedonia, the Albanians -- there is a danger that violence in and around Kosovo could spread and create instability across the Balkans.

The Balkans situation has a complex history and I am not knowledgeable enough to comment on it. 

I only know two things:

1.  World War 1 actually began in that same controversial area.

2.  The Kosovo population is mostly Muslim.  The Serbian population is mostly Christian.  In foolishly trying to please the Muslims (which is impossible), I am concerned that America and the West are again backing the wrong horse in the conflict.  For once, the Russians may be right.

Watch this one.  Anything could happen.

Jim