BAJRAM CURRI, Albania  Serb infantry troops crossed into Albania Tuesday, briefly seized control of a border village, and fought a running battle with border police and Albanian soldiers, Albanian officials said.
http://www.foxnews.com

Mrs. K and I were discussing also that we observe the ground troop situation as an indication of hidden reservations.

They (the troops) are in training and preparations now for possible civil unrest in the US only 8 months from now. It would be impossible, would it not, to have our troops in a foreign country at this time and be prepared for the upcoming scenario of Y2K?

Mr. K
***looking at the extremely large "whole picture"***

-- Mr. Kennedy (here@work.now), April 13, 1999

Answers

'afternoon Mr. K. Looks like they were in and out. Here's an update from Yahoo news... <:)=

TIRANA (Reuters) - Serb forces withdrew from Albanian territory Tuesday after surrounding the northern village of Kamenica and exchanging heavy fire with Albanian border guards for several hours, Albanian television said.

``Serb troops entered 500-600 meters (yards) inside Albania. Albanian police, supported by police from the neighboring border post of Padesh, fought with them for many hours, obliging them to withdraw,'' state television said.

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), April 13, 1999.

'afternoon Sysman ;-)

The damnedest thing about the border crossing and invasion is that it appears the forces are "TRYING" to get Russia involved with that action. They have no political motive to cross into Albania at this time, and this action only points to them trying to incite action from us that would prompt Russia to be brought into the war full swing.

Mr. K
***Thanks for the update Sys***

-- Mr. Kennedy (here@work.now), April 13, 1999.

Or, perhaps the Serbians feel the best defense (against Albanian aggression over the last 12 years) is a good offense.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), April 13, 1999.

www.stratfor.com has an excellent analysis of the Serbian incursion into Albania. As this crisis unfolds it looks less and less like it will degenerate into a regional conflagration. There is a lively diplomatic dance underway, and it most likely will lead to a negotiated settlement.

Incidentially, one thing which is not discussed in the media is Serbia's vast stockpile of land mines. In the final analysis, Serbia has the means to do a modern day version of salting the earth. If they sow several million butterfly mines across the Kosovo countryside then it would be decades before the refugees could return safely to their homes. It would take several billions of dollars and lots of time to clean up the mess. If, by chance, things do get out of control then this is exactly what I would expect the Serbians to do.

-- No No (nono@nogo.com), April 13, 1999.

Interesting news - the fighting - even if only a few feet over the border - seems to make no sense.

It is exactly as if he did it, or was drawn into doing it, as a way to give NATO the "invasion" excuse they want to legitimize a ground war and more escalation.....

But why would M. S. want to taunt NATO, to give NATO more excuses?

Unless he felt that Russia will not materially and logistically support his troops (and government) unless NATO actually invades.

-- Robert A Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (Cook.R@csaatl.com), April 13, 1999.

It is exactly as if he did it, or was drawn into doing it, as a way to give NATO the "invasion" excuse they want to legitimize a ground war and more escalation.....

'evening Mr. Cook. I agree with this observation. In case you haven't heard, I believe it is Fort Bragg that has started deployment of 400 ground troops tonight here from NC. Alas, it is starting.

Mr. K***hears many more Nat. Guard helicopters over the house now (base 20 miles away)****

-- Mr. Kennedy (here@home.nite), April 13, 1999.

http:// www.wral-tv.com/news/wral/1999/0413-airmen-leave/

POPE AIR FORCE BASE (WRAL) -- The Department of Army in Washington confirmed that up to 300 soldiers, many of them at Fort Bragg, are on high-alert status. They have been given a stand-by and wait order that is just short of a deployment order. Of those 300 soldiers and the support assets that would go along with them are troops from selected units of the 18th Airborne Corps. They could come from Fort Bragg, but they could also come from some other 18th Airborne Corps units stationed at other bases across the country.

Now the link to the story above seems to not be consistent with what is coming on the local news right now. I'll give a better update when I hear it.

Mr. K
***is waiting to hear***

-- Mr. Kennedy (home@last.tonight), April 13, 1999.

'evening Mr. K. This is not good. 300 soldiers here, 300 aircraft (and support) there, I don't like what I am seeing. Let us all hope that we make it to Y2K. No fun ahead. <:(=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), April 13, 1999.

When Hitler wanted to invade Poland, he kept trying to force a border incident with the Poles...but they were smarter than he was, and kept out maneuvering him politically, so that he wasn't able to start anything. Finally, in desparation, the Hitler had the SS (dressed in polish uniforms) attack a radio station on the German side of the border *while the radio station was on the air*. The SS killed everyone at the radio station including the small German Army security detachment assigned to protect it, then left all of the bodies along with a sufficient quantity of bodies (of young men who had been shot at a concentration camp, just for this purpose) in Polish uniforms lying all over the landscape.

voila' the Polish radio station incident...which of course the real Polish Army never even knew happened.

interesting, no? remind you of anything?

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), April 13, 1999.

Arlin, you have reminded me of this particular incident. The old memory isn't what it used to be.

WTVD news in Raleigh NC just stated the Pope AirForce Base has delayed the flight of the airmen due to plane problems until the morning.

What they did say is that 150 "soldiers" were flown out thisafternoon and should already be near the Kosovo area.

Funny, we didn't hear of this earlier.

'evening Mr. Sysman. Good to see you about this evening.

I did also see that congress is actively pressuring Clinton to send ground troops. Clinton said it isn't off the table, but also said "we are significantly slowing down the Serb capabilities with the air strikes".

I think Clinton is waiting for the polls to rise. The more he waits, the more I see public opinion changing to "what is he waiting for?" I think he sees that too.

In the meantime, Yeltsin challenged his cabinet to go ahead with HIS impeachment hearing today. He said "either do it or shut up". With the war looming over his doorstep, he's probably hoping they'll take him out.

Mr. K
***thinks there is almost too much to keep up with***

-- Mr. Kennedy (here@home.tonight), April 13, 1999.

WTVD just announced their "flash poll" for "do you think there should be ground troops etc etc"

500 residents yielded 53% for it
43% against it
4% undecided

That is compared to last weeks flash poll: 28% for it
50% against it
22% undecided

Mr. K
***following the troop situation with trepidation***

-- Mr. Kennedy (here@home.tonight), April 13, 1999.

Yet again, the face of the situation has changed.

Now at 2:00 Wed, the local tv announced the number of Ft. Bragg troops on standby is now 700, up from 400.

Mr.K
***looks darkly at the increase***

-- Mr. Kennedy (update@the.time), April 14, 1999.

The 82nd airborne has gotten the go-ahead to go. Ground troops on the way. Local news has not specified how many have been deployed.

They are said to be going for "security" reasons, however, we know how that goes. They'll be there already, then the change of mission occurs.

Mr. K
***darker news***

-- Mr. Kennedy (here@home.today), April 14, 1999.