He was captured on Bus 83 from New Belgrade to Brussels, a bespectacled man with a wild, gray mane. Serb authorities had kept him under surveillance for weeks, waiting for the right opening and the least resistance. And after a decade-long search, Radovan Karadžić, sought for his leadership in the brutal ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims and Croats, had been arrested.

Headlines broke in minutes. His capture was heralded as "justice," as a "new page for Serbia." Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, declared it "an important day for international justice because it clearly demonstrates that nobody is beyond the reach of the law and that sooner or later all fugitives will be brought to justice." Paddy Ashdown, the former EU high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, said it was "a great piece of justice for Bosnia and... an extremely important piece of justice for the world at large."

Is it?

Since the arrest and Hague trial of former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic in 2002, the United Nations and the European Union have placed immense pressure on Serbia to comply with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, a court that much of Serbia's nationalist leadership refuses to acknowledge as legitimate. In the timeline of Serbia's rocky history, the leadership has gone from attempting to fulfill the requirements of admission to the EU to breaking ties with the EU, and now back again.

Since his first election in 2004, pro-EU President Boris Tadić has had difficulty pushing his agenda to bring Serbia out of isolation, primarily because his parliament is split between his progressive party and the Radical Nationalist Party of his presidential opponent, Tomislav Nikolić. So, it came as no surprise when in 2006, the EU suspended talks to integrate Serbia until the government complied with the ICTY by, among other things, handing over both Karadžić and his Bosnian military commander Ratko Mladić. While Serbian politics remain convoluted, the bottom line is that Tadić's party, along with just over half of the Serbian population, seeks entry into the EU, whereas Nikolic's and other nationalist parties do not. In May's parliamentary elections, however, the Serbian progressive and nationalist coalitions reached a stalemate that favored Tadić's pro-EU party. And scant weeks after that political impasse, Karadžić showed up.

In context, then, is it really so surprising that Karadžić has suddenly been captured? He was disguised for years, working as a doctor of alternative medicine and writing for health magazines. He was barely recognizable and impossible to find for over a decade and yet, when the timing was right, he was captured.

In a way, the capture is monumental: it is the breakdown of the iconic significance of Karadžić's freedom and the end of a chapter wherein entire networks of military, intelligence and political agents pulled the strings behind Serb policy. When Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić turned over Milosevic in 2002, he was assassinated less than a year later, ostensibly by these Milosevic-era networks. Tadić, at least, seems to be functioning with a bit more support—though, judging by the riots in Belgrade, the Serbian people still worship their old president.

This week, the pressure has been on Serbia to capture Mladic. Serbia has also just announced that it will be re-instating its ambassadors in EU nations that recognized Kosovo—a major concession that will no doubt expedite its entry into the union.

Given the circumstances surrounding Karadžić's arrest, then, it hardly seems appropriate to call the capture "justice" when, until this point, all evidence pointed to the harboring of fugitives by a taciturn Serbian government and authorities. "How can the most powerful alliance in the world tell us that they can't find two Serbs?" said Jacques Klein six years ago, as coordinator of the UN mission to Bosnia. Clearly, the search was only in earnest when a pro-EU government decided that admission into the European Union was worth sacrificing the man whom so many Serbs still consider a nationalist hero.

So why the lofty ideas of justice floating around? Why the tossing about of this word, heavy with import; why the praise heaped upon Serbia, a country that, in essence, turned over a war criminal when she found it in her best interest? Surely we jest. The leveraging of Karadžić's capture to gain entry into the EU is not justice; it's politics. But perhaps the bell-ringing and back-patting is the result of what had been, until a few days ago, an embarrassment to an international community that remained impotent during the Bosnian war—an international community that now seeks to atone for its malfeasance by burying the hatchet beneath feel-good concepts like "justice," "truth" and "reconciliation."

The conflict between Serbia and Bosnia, like so many, is portrayed in rigid terms that undermine the complexity of the decisions made in both Sarajevo and Belgrade. Yes, the Bosnian Muslims were aware that they would suffer casualties under their plan for armed secession; they were warned by Karadžić several times that their fate would be "one hundred times worse [than that of Croatia]" and would "bring about the disappearance of the Muslim nation". But the brutality that took place in Srebrenica, the ongoing terror presided over by Karadžić and Mladić, was completely unexpected.

The idea of sympathetic intervention was not irrational. After all, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, President George H.W. Bush decreed that "aggression would not stand" in the "new world order." A UN-authorized military force then expelled Iraqi forces, lending credibility to Bush's claim. When, in April 1991, a Kurd rebellion prompted a genocidal attack by Iraq, the United States deployed a humanitarian military intervention into Iraq to protect the Kurds and, indeed, help them acquire autonomy.

In 1992, a UN Protection Force for Croatia was stationed in Sarajevo. Most significantly, the US encouraged the European Community to recognize Bosnia's independence regardless of whether Bosnian leadership accepted the soft partition plan, even going so far as to encourage the relatively defenseless Muslims to reject the plan. So even in 1993, when international mediators drafted a peace accord that granted concessions all around, the Bosnian leadership rejected it, positive that the United States and the United Nations would yet come to their aid.

In reality, it was a bluff — an attempt by the United States to gather Bosnian backing and prevent Serb aggression — and it failed at great cost. As the European Community's negotiator, Jose Cutileiro, said "President Izetbegović and his aides were encouraged to scupper that [cantonization] deal and to fight for a unitary Bosnian state by well-meaning outsiders who thought they knew better." Despite the questionable decisions on all sides, the fact remains that the United States and the United Nations were instrumental in the Bosnian decision to reject the peaceful Belgrade Initiative and victimize its civilians.

Fifteen years later, a hearing at an international court in the Netherlands hardly constitutes justice — neither on the part of Serbian military and political authorities, nor on the part of the international community. At best, it may be a start. Radovan Karadžić is a man indicted for crimes against humanity and genocide, and while his capture, however belated, may be a step forward, implying that it signifies justice is an insult to lives lost. It would serve us well to remember that justice is rarely ever a mere legal term; it is largely a moral term and an issue of compunction on the parts of all actors. And given the political atmosphere in Serbia and abroad, it is nowhere near being served.

Author,
What exactly is your point? And what did you need to happen to make you feel "Justice" was done? If you expected the Serbs people to hand him over voluntarily and stone him to death, you are being naive. Whether you and I like it or not, there is deep hatred in Serbia and the Serbs viscerally hate Muslims - even today - and they consider Milosevic and Karadic (spelling errors) to be heroes. Given that reality the fact that some of the serbs had the courage to arrest him speaks volumes. Why do you think it was so hard to catch Saddam? And by the way, how do you feel about a butcher and cannibal like Idi Amin being given shelter in the 'Holyland of Arabia' by the keeper of the two mosques?

Weisskopf I think its obvious what the point of this piece is. Is it the hands of justice or the hands of opportunism that caught him? Probably the latter. It's a well written piece Sara.

Weissputz, you're a nuisance, even by Kahanist standards. The Serbs handed him over to improve relations with the West, with the hope of entry into the EU.
As for Idi Amin, Saddam and the Saudis...who put them in power? Israel contains the highest concentration of criminals, thugs, gangsters and terrorists, including all its leaders. Whats their excuse? Living 5000 years in the past high on the khazar kool aid...

UncleWali, I agree - it was a political move. That is exactly my point that only political considerations will make people hand over such 'leaders'. On the same note my point was that the so called keeprs of the two holy mosques should have been above political and economic considerations because they could afford to be so - unlike the poor Israelis who need to be opportunistic and clever.

Yet the 'cleaner and keeper' decided to give shelter to hideous people like Amin and allowed him to die peacefully in the King Faisal hospital. Even more recently they were hosting another highly corrupt individual named Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan who was being pursued by international courts.

At least the serbs did this much and hunted the two 'witches' and are still hunting the third. What have the Muslim leaders done to bring evil people to justice? Other than stone poor helpless adulterers(or accused of adultery) to death, I don't see any great movement of the conscience anywhere in the Islamic world. Apart from Amin, the list is endless - Abacha, Qaddafi, Omar Bashir, Mubarrak, Musharraf, the Iraninan Mullah squad...just to name a few who have caused untold misery to thier own people - some even conducting the dreaded 'G' word- 'Genocide'! Yet all we see is a sneaking admiration for murderers in the Muslim world!

To blame the Jews in America and Israel and to say that Americans put them in place is no excuse - in fact that is a pathetic admission of how stupid the vast population of Muslims across the world must be if they cannot even get one good nation going with all the wealth they have!

>To blame the Jews in America and Israel and to say that Americans put them in place is no excuse - in fact that is a pathetic admission of how stupid the vast population of Muslims across the world must be if they cannot even get one good nation going with all the wealth they have!<

As opposed to askheNAZI troll like you who deliberately try's to hijack every article with froth filled anti-Muslim rants which have nothing to do with the topic. Who brought up Idi Amin, and Saddam Hussein into the picture? You did, weissputz. Must the pathology which comes with living 5000 years in the past for a bunch of East European terrorists who think God is their real estate agent.
Israel is nothing more then a failed colonial implant in the Middle East, living of US tax payer dollars like a parasite(lets not forget the endless shakedown of Europe). I guess they'll start asking for hand outs in Euros now.

>> ... unlike the poor Israelis who need to be opportunistic and clever.

You have to be clever and opportunistic with a "targetted" assassination or a messy cluster bomb. The practical reality is that the Palestinians live today the infliction of colonisation. Many nations that were colonised, or had rampant commercial slavery experience the same vicious class based violence. South America, the Southern American states, South Africa .. all regions in the world where this type of fascism has played out and are mired by this perpetual struggle exhascerbated by poverty.

Unfortunately, the Muslim world won't let this overclass emerge in the middle east that will dictate the regions politics/ecoonomics in its own favour.

>> Yet the 'cleaner and keeper' decided to give shelter to hideous people like Amin and allowed him to die peacefully in the King Faisal hospital.

Amin was given asylum, but the end result was that his country could move on. A practical less bloody solution than .. sanctions, or bombing the entire nations infrastructure and enflaming ethnic tensions. Don't count your economic progress as sign of your civility. There are very few public sites where Islam and Muslims aren't happily slurred by sizeable minorities.

>> At least the serbs did this much and hunted the two 'witches' and are still hunting the third.

You're kidding right? His location has been known for a while. He's had the protection of the vast majority of his countrymen. Most Serbs would admit that he wasn't as much found as he was handed over.

>> What have the Muslim leaders done to bring evil people to justice?

Unfortunately, I can't help someone who knows nothing of the Muslim worlds struggles for justice in the past hundred years. Because people like yourself are willfully ignorant of history, you'd think that the entire post colonial struggle was a myth and that it isn't being played out right now. Its when "informed" voices like yours lend legitimacy to the lack of Muslim action, while you know of your governments significant support in quelling/killing the Muslims who worked for action. Its not conspiracy, its historic fact. Like the diatribes about the American embassy Iranian hostage incident, people don't ever ask the reverse of the American presence there. Because its always the non-westerner who's uncivilised.

Weisskopf,

You remind me of a south Asian story of a boy and his father who go to town with their donkey. Because they only have one donkey, the boy and father ride the one. When people see this, they cry, look how inhuman those two are, burdening that wretched creature. Then the father gets off and the boy stays on, and the people cry. Look at that boy who let's his old father walk while he rides. Then the boy gets off and the father gets on. Again the people cry, look at that man who allows his young child to walk while he being strong rides. So now both walk while, next to the donkey, and yet again the people cry, look at those two fools, they have a donkey and yet neither of them use it.

Moral of the story, no matter what anyone writes, some people(WHO COULD I BE THINKING OF) just want a reason to complain.

Ghulam,

Your last point of the West's willful ignorance of history was well put.

Why, because before you suppress, attack, dominate a people you have to strip them of their history, humanity, identity, and respectability. African Americans, Native Americans, Japanese, Germans, etc...the process is the same-->Dehumanize them then attack them.

Talk all you want about donkeys and monkeys and foolish muslims who ride them or not, but you are not answering simple questions like 'why did the Muslims not apply the Sahriah to bring assholes like Idi Amin to justice instead of coddling him?' Or 'why are the Muslims still sheltering Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan?' And here you are complaining against people who actually had the guts to bring to justice an immensely popular asshole like Radovan Karadzic!

To say that Cleaners and Keepers of the Holy mosques allowed Idi Amin to live because it would have caused blood shed if they brought him to justice is pathetic. As pathetic as it would sound if the Serbs said the same thing and let Radovan Karadzic go free!

I will begin to believe in all the glorious things about Islam when I can see practical proof of its application to the rulers and kings and all kinds of despots who manage to rule every nation that proclaims itself to be enlightened with the 'religion of peace'!

Until then I am sure I will be entertained by the monkeys and donkeys who rule your nations.

Thanks Sara for your piece. Being subjected to the revisionist versions of history asserted by Richard Holbrooke and the likes- my american-centric mind didn't consider the larger issues at play.
I liked the donkey stroy UncleWali.

Whitehead, I always have to wonder how big a masochist you are to willingly come and bait people- waiting in shivering anticipation of some abuse.

it reminds me of that joke-
the Masochist says to the Sadist-
"Whip me, beat me, teach me love"

The Sadist smiles maliciously and says, "No."

Now,now, Mrs.A, careful! You are giving away a lot of your own personality by making such comments about Sado-Masochism - are we to conclude that you are well versed in this business of S&M;? Chains whips and All? Seems like you know a lot of details...Very clearly you have also voluntarily taken the role of the Sadist in this fantasy of yours where you think I am being hurt.

The stupidity of your comments is what amuses me - not the hurt you think you are inflicting! Ditto for the rest you who think I am being hurt by the visceral antisemitism that is evident in you comments.

If you notice, it is always the 'people of peace' who are frothing at the mouth assuming I am a zionist and AshkaNAZI and what not!

What I come here to do is hold up your own bigotry for yourselves to see - but I know it is a lost cause. You are too wrapped up in your burqas and turbans and beards to even realize how bigoted and hateful you are, even you, the so called moderate muslims! What then can one say about the al qaeda types!

I wasn't trying to hurt you Whitey- and if I did- I really apologize.

No offense taken Burka-girl; I know you must be hurting from the 'idribuhun' - beatings with the wet noodle, that you must be getting from your man. To his credit, exactly as the Quran dictated him to! But funnily enough the wet noodle they meant in the quran was actually a wet noodle as opposed to the limp appendage you must be contending with if you are into S&M;so heavily!

What an ugly response to a sincere sentiment.

Despite that Whitey- I have no animosity towards you-

for the record-
some consistency in your logic again-
you said-

1) "Very clearly you have also voluntarily taken the role of the Sadist in this fantasy"

2)"I know you must be hurting from the 'idribuhun' - beatings with the wet noodle, that you must be getting from your man."

If, by your estimation, I were the sadist in any scenario- (and it was a joke ,son, you're supposed to laugh-foghorn leghorn)
why would you be confused to put me in the role of masochist?

a wet noodle as opposed to the limp appendage-

if a wet noodle were in opposition to anything- it would , by it's limpness- be opposite of firmness.

Well, I have too much time today- and am bored-
Sorry I cannot help you with your desire for heaps of vitriol upon your being- I keep hoping that you'll rise above these petty feelings and come to the light-
if only you could use your prodigious energies for good...

Mrs. A,
Here is an eye opener for you if you care. If you want to make a statement of goodwill, don't begin it with a racial slur. For example, instead of 'Friends, Romans and Countrymen...' if Mark Antony's speech opened with 'Dagos, Kikes and Greaseballs,...' the effect would have been different, don't you think?

By the way, the last post from you was totally incoherent. No idea what you meant to say - either you are at your wits end or in the middle of an S&M;session and typing with one hand while wielding the whip with the other - no idea what's going on in that burka!

YOUR
NAME
MEANS
WHITE=WEISS
HEAD=KOPF
IN
GERMAN
YOU
DUMKOPF

So, Burkagirl, it is ok to call Gen.Schwarzkopf 'Hey Negro-head' because 'Schwartz' means Black and so does 'Negro'?

So it was not a racial slur. I'm happy to assist you in learning more about yourself-
Names are the most primary way we define ourselves-
The fact that you have never had the intellectual curiosity to even find out what your own name means speaks volumes about you. So now you know. Isn't learning fun?

I, and spanish for head is cabeza- you're mixing up languages...again.
I haven't been a girl for many years, so thanks for making me feel young.

So, Burkha-clad-old-woman, no idea why you are bringing up Spanish, but I am putting it down general dementia, with, of course the usual handicap of the burka and the S&M;gear...

Whitey is just a name to you huh? If you are not American, i can excuse that...but if you are American and still don't know that whitey is a racial slur, either you are just mentally challenged or the dementia is advancing into Alzheimers...get yourself checked..and remove the burka this time when you go to visit the doctor!

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