U.S. diplomats, early last week, quietly proposed that Kosovo and Montenegro join Serbia as equal republics in a more loosely configured federation. Hashim Thaci huffed. We don't want to create another Yugoslavia. We should not be put in a situation to fight. After a flurry of cables from local missions, the idea was shelved.
Diplomats admit that interest in the region is likely to wane.
They are also mindful of the risks of disengagement. The Albanians must not think that we are compromising their desire for independence. Should that happen, hard-line elements will rise and radicalize. Already some anger is surfacing. But we, the K.L.A., contributed to this.