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ODGOVOR KONGRESA BOSNJAKA SJEVERNE AMERIKE NA UVJREDLJIVO PISANJE JEFREY KUHNER NOVINARA WASHINGTON POSTA U TEKSTU: “Redrawing Bosnian Borders”

 

ODGOVOR KONGRESA BOSNJAKA SJEVERNE AMERIKE NA UVJREDLJIVO PISANJE JEFREY KUHNER NOVINARA WASHINGTON POSTA U TEKSTU: “Redrawing Bosnian Borders”


Jeffrey Kuhner’s article, “Redrawing Bosnian Borders” of October 1, 2003, is a remarkable. I thank Kuhner for his insight and his demonstration of his complete lack of knowledge of contemporary as well as past Bosnian history. I would first pose the question of which Bosniak called for the eradication of all Christians from Bosnia, when and where? The idea is simply preposterous, regardless of what right-wing simpletons of the Bosnian HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) political party (who are also regular visitors with the Washington Times) claim. Also, which mosques are preaching for “jihad” against the Croats and Serbs? Kuhner should name one. But he does not. Why not? Maybe because the fact is there are none. There is no real evidence to back any of his claims. If there is evidence, pass it on to the appropriate authorities or just present it here in the Washington Times. What and where are the facts which support his arguments?


Many of Kuhner’s arguments are even simply bizarre as when he argues that the Herzegovinian Croats are the best Croats. What does this mean? Do Croats from Croatia agree?


Ante Pavelic, head of the world war two era Nazi-backed Croatian state called the Muslims (i.e. Bosniaks) the "flowers of the Croat nation," so maybe the Bosniaks are actually the best Croats. Also, while some extremist Bosnian Croats are for inclusion in a greater Croatia, the Republic of Croatia is against Bosnian partition, because its government recognizes that European integration is the way forward. In Croatia, where some of the best Croats live, the few but influential addle-minded extremists from the HDZ were thrown out of office for their policies which cut against the tide of European integration and common sense—while their extremist HDZ brethren in Bosnia, whose leaders hold regular meetings with the Washington Times, hold on to political power and the primitive ideas of segregation, apartheid and retrograde tribalism. It is these ideas and a general lack of economic knowledge which contribute to the economic difficulties of Bosnia. These failed leaders continue to play the nationalism card to cover up for their pitiful inadequacies and raging incompetance on economic issues while they enrich themselves and their constituents suffer.


Kuhner’s other bizarre arguments that “the Croats in Bosnia can again take up their historic role as a strategic bulwark against Islamic expansionism on the Continent” and that “Herzegovina was primarily the site where the Croats for centuries fought off the invading Ottoman armies” are historical nonsense. The first argument comes directly from the late President of Croatia Franjo Tudjman, who, had he lived, would have been indicted as a war criminal by the Hague War Crimes Tribunal. And just what Islamic Expansionism are we talking about? Has it occurred to the Times to answer these questions? How can there be Islamic expansionism coming from Bosnia—a small, poor country? It just does not make sense. If there is Islamic expansionism, where is the evidence? The second argument is another fantasy. Croat identity in Herzegovina has not existed "for centuries". "Croat" identity becomes a real factor in Herzegovina only in the late 1800’s.


As for Bosnia being a breeding ground for Islamic extremism, the overall security situation is ultimately controlled by the international community, NATO and the US. Any potential terrorist cells should and would be cracked by these and local security forces. Furthermore, Bosniak Muslim political and religious leaders have been the leading critics of Islamic extremism. Unfortunately, vocal and effective anti-extremist Catholic and anti-extremist Orthodox leaders are not found to the same extent in the Catholic and Orthodox churches and communities in Bosnia.


Nevertheless, no one has a greater interest in being the bulwark against extremism, regardless of its faith (clearly the wars in ex-Yugoslavia, in the 1940’s and 1990’s demonstrated that some of the Catholics and Orthodox in the region are about as extreme as you can get), than the Bosniaks. In fact, Bosnia’s Grand Mufti, University of Chicago educated Mustafa Ceric, has been an eloquent and outspoken critic of extremism and has repeatedly worked for freedom of religion in all areas of Bosnia for Bosnia’s Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims. Thankfully, Christians in Bosniak majority areas have more religious freedom than Muslims in Croat or Serb majority areas, although the trend in Bosnia is for a return to the pre-war level of social interaction and integration.


These Muslim European Bosniaks have successfully demonstrated their commitment to freedom and to religious pluralism for five centuries. The sounds of the ringing bells of Sarajevo’s churches mixed with the call to prayer of Sarajevo’s mosques are more than an adequate proof of this argument. Unfortunately, this melody of tolerance is missing in many Croat and Serb areas of Bosnia. Is there extremism in Bosnia? Yes, but that methodical extremism is not coming from the Bosniaks. Contemporary and past history confirms this.

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