Escalating Tensions in Kosovo: Unraveling the Complex Web of Challenges
Finding solutions to complex problems is an enduring activity
Good day readers. The nights are getting longer, and it's hard to fathom that October is here already. I've never really been one to fully embrace Halloween. Back in 2009, we happened to be in San Diego during the Halloween season. Halloween is quite the spectacle in the States (as most things tend to be), and we decided to venture to Universal Studios in Los Angeles to experience the grand event.
Over the top? That’s one way to describe the experience. “Don’t touch the actors, they are not allowed to touch you.” That was the message as we entered the gates to the theme park. Walking through the house of horrors was an experience, and not one I am in a hurry to repeat.
I often wonder what goes through the minds of those who write and star in horror movies and shows. Have you ever watched the TV show Criminal Minds? Yikes! Some of the script writing is way over the top in so many ways.
Conflict in Europe
At times, life can see like a horror movie. The war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending, and it seems that US support is waining. According to Politico, President Joe Biden signed a stopgap funding bill Saturday to avert a shutdown and keep the government open for 45 days.
What does that mean for Ukraine. At the time of writing, there is no new funding agreement, and that’s a blow to President Zelenskyy.
We cannot under any circumstances allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted. I fully expect the Speaker will keep his commitment to the people of Ukraine and secure passage of the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical moment. President Joe Biden.
Weighing in on the argument was House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D). “House Republicans will have a choice in the next few days when we reconvene on Monday. Are they going to stand up for freedom, democracy and truth and the Ukrainian people, or will they continue to bend the knee to the pro-Putin caucus in the House Republican conference?”
Britain’s support for Ukraine continues. Per a Telegraph interview with U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, Britain is considering conducting training of Ukrainian troops on their home soil. The strategy makes sense, because British Army training teams could rotate through neighbouring Poland. The interview also goes on to suggest BAE could expand its operations by moving into Ukraine.
Ukraine received their first batch of Abraham Main Battle Tanks last week. Anyone who has ever worked in an engineering background will know how technical machinery is, and how temperamental it can be. Expediting support for Ukraine in the form hardware has been a key priority for President Zelenskyy. I'm curious about how Ukrainian soldiers will adapt to the challenging task of mastering a multi-national fleet of armour.
Kosovo on alert
My six month operational tour of Kosovo ended in August 2020. Sadly, things have deteriorated in recent years. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia still formally deems Kosovo to be part of its territory. Politico reported 30 heavily armed Serbs stormed the northern Kosovo village of Banjska last Sunday. During the attack, a Kosovo policeman and three of the attackers were killed in gun battles.
Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo’s Serb-majority area after April elections, those very ballots Serbs boycotted. The deteriorating situation has sparked a reaction from Brussels. NATO has authorised additional forces for Kosovo.
Serbs account for 5 percent of Kosovo’s 1.8 million people, and ethnic Albanians about 90 percent. Some 50,000 Serbs in north Kosovo, on the border with Serbia, vent their rejectionism by refusing to pay the state utility for energy they use and often attacking police who try to make arrests. Al Jazeera
HS2 Disaster?
In 2022, my phone rang off the hook with offers to work on HS2. My initial thought was “What do I do in 8-10 years when 30,000 people are all looking for a new venture.” I declined the chance to participate in the project, and it seems that the fate of the northern section of the line is as unpredictable as the weather in the coming year.
Community Efforts
Ending on a positive, it’s great to see the growing numbers of community projects across the globe. Sadly, many people are actively walking the streets of their communities to collect the mounting volumes of litter. One of my favourite litter picking efforts comes from across the pond. Tommy, a subscriber to this letter, goes way above what is expected from the average citizen. Check his efforts out on Twitter. Unfortunately, Twitter is at war with Substack, and publishers can no longer embed tweets. Keep up the great work Tommy.
The Woz Report forms part of the John Woz Network. I love creating content and I’m getting ready to launch a new project. You can check out what I am up to on my brand new Patreon page Leaf from the Front.
That’s all for this week. Enjoy the golf, rugby or whatever else you’re planning. Thanks for sticking around and don’t forget to share the Woz Report with your friends and family.
JW
*featured image produced with Adobe Firefly
Thanks for the shoutout John!😉
So glad to see you back on Twitter & read your substacks!👍