Making villains out of heroes

An interesting thing happened recently on the international scene. Slobodan Milosevic, widely known as the "butcher from Belgrade," died in his cell in The Hague. Milosevic shook the world in the late 1980's and early 1990's with his rise to power and all the wars he mastered-minded against Serbia's neighboring peoples and nations in the years to come. His demise came after the turn of the millennium when his own people forced him out of power. Whether or not it was economic shambles or the pariah status that Serbia had gained in the 90's, or the fact that the Slobodan wasn't winning the wars his people wanted him to win drove him from power-- is quite debatable. For all the social and economic hardship the Serbians have come to endure; in spite of all the international embarrassment and ridicule, there is much evidence the Serbs have not experienced the required catharsis that everyone hoped they would. Serious social and political indicators speak volumes of the prevailing mood in the Balkan nation. Many Serbs, even while proclaiming their disgust for Milosevic, yearn for a Greater Serbia. The chalice. The Holy Grail. The prize that has mesmerized the minds and captured the hearts of millions of Serbs is still sought after. Milosevic was not the problem. Serbian imperialism was and remains the problem. Millions of Serbs still believe, even after all the wars, bloodshed and catastrophe, that Greater Serbia is their destiny. And that it is attainable. Nothing has changed in Serbia. Milosevic is gone. But the Serbian political, intellectual and religious elites that yearn for a Serbian empire live on.

Last December, Croatian general Ante Gotovina was caught and shipped to The Hague to stand trial for crimes he did not nor could have committed. Gotovina led Croatian forces to a lightning-quick liberation and victory in 1995. Greater Serbia, in Croatia at least, was defeated. The Croatian general brought a lasting peace to Croatia and neighboring Bosnia by shattering the Milosevic-spawned Serbian resistance and rebellion to Croatian independence once and for all. It did not matter to the international community that Gotovina first defended then successfully liberated his nation, which was the victim of a foreign-backed insurrection on Croatian territory. Gotovina represents Croatia. The victim of aggression. As opposed to Milosevic, the deployer of aggression. It did not matter, for both would make their home in The Hague. The International Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has become the model for moral relativism in the International community. It is the epitome of an instrument of politics on a grand scale. It does not take into account history or facts. It does not care who was the aggressor or who was the victim of aggression. It only cares to revise history. A criminal revision that has already mustered new resentment, anger and distrust between all parties involved in the ex-Yugoslav wars. There is no just peace or closure being reached in The Hague. The tribunal's existence serves one purpose. The rehabilitation of Serbia and the criminalization of the Croatian Homeland War.

So with Milosevic now dead, not convicted of anything he committed in the 1990s, Gotovina remains, awaiting the start of his trial. Media reports allege that Gotovina came to befriend Milosevic quickly after his arrival. They allegedly spent time together talking and taking walks. Shocking, some might say. But to me, not in the least bit. These are acts of jailhouse solidarity and courtesy, nothing else. However, Milosevic belonged in The Hague, Gotovina does not. Milosevic was a mass-murderer, while Gotovina is not. Milosevic was the leader of the Serbians and a political figurehead. Gotovina was a soldier. Milosevic incited wars, while Gotovina defended his people against them. Gotovina was the victor and Milosevic was the loser. None of this matters. Gotovina recognizes this, and his conscience is clear. And he has now warranted the ironic disgust of the many who helped ensure he'd be sent to The Hague to stand trial at the same court that attempted to convict Milosevic. Gotovina gave his condolences to Milosevic's family, sparking controversy in Croatia and leading the same members of the political and media elites that sold him down the river to question his moral integrity and even his patriotism. The same people that lobbied for his indictment, capture and extradition. The political pundits that have for years equated his valiant role as defender with that of Milosevic the aggressor, now have the gall to question his judgment with another wicked propaganda campaign aimed at the image of Gotovina. The Pharisees in Croatia have once again reared their ugly heads. They will stop at nothing to tarnish the image of a man who led a successful Croatian army in the defeat of Milosevic's henchmen. The vilification of Gotovina in the so-called Croatian media is incessant. They are intent on psychologically preparing Croatians for The West-Balkan Union by trampling the Homeland War and its victors. But Gotovina has nothing to lose or hide. He defeated Milosevic on the battlefield when it counted. How did his countrymen repay him? They guaranteed him a trip to The Hague.

-Frano Budimlic