...Last August, for example, a group of Croatian-Americans from Chicago--some linked to a terrorist group that hijacked U.S. airliners and planted bombs in airports a decade ago--tried to smuggle $20 million in arms from Miami and Phoenix to nationalist forces in the republic of Croatia, which seceded from Yugoslavia in June and was fighting the Serbian-led federal army. They were caught in a sting operation organized by the U.S. Customs Service.
Others have demanded money--$3,000 to $5,000 a clip--from fellow Croatian-Americans for the cause, according to customs officials. And three brothers are under investigation in Philadelphia for allegedly stealing more than $5 million in gold and gems for the benefit of their embattled cousins in Croatia.
The efforts of emigre extremists have troubling implications beyond the criminality of some of their actions. While virtually all New World emigres advocate democracy, they sometimes support nationalists of dubious commitment to democratic principles and minority rights, including former Communist overlords and even ex-Nazis. Some seek to justify old causes and conflicts that have little to do with their new lives or those of their children in North America, and they perpetuate ethnic animosities and religious bigotry that echo from an older age.
These separatists want to prove they were right 50 years ago, and they try to pass the mythology on to their kids--like American Jews did about Israel--that things will be perfect when independence comes," Beharka says. "It's so sad--they have this great land here, and in Canada, but here they are still fighting old fights." Emigres Fuel Old Hatreds : While Slovaks and Croats in North America mostly engage in legitimate fund-raising for their causes, there also have been cases of extortion and illegal weapons trade. Los Angeles Times February 1992 Robert Toth
What did the Croatian-American emigres get out of this? In the 1994 elections, the diaspora received 12-14 seats in the Croatian Parliament. That is a much larger share than any of the Croatian population. Thanks to the Clintons, Croatian-America which is post WWII Ustasha SS and their children decide Croatian politics .
Kosovo
" The United States special envoy to the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, held talks on Friday with two men who claim they are political leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). But only a few months ago Ambassador Gelbard described the KLA as a terrorist organization.
"I know a terrorist when I see one and these men are terrorists," he said earlier this year. -World: Europe -The KLA - terrorists or freedom fighters?" June 28, 1998 BBC News
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
1
1
