Western Provocateurs in Serbia?

That's the first thing that comes to mind when I read about "masked men."

"Protesters Attack U.S. Embassy in Belgrade"

"Demonstrators attacked the United States Embassy and set part of it ablaze on Thursday as tens of thousands of angry Serbs took to the streets of Belgrade to protest Kosovo's declaration of independence....

Witnesses said that at least 100 people broke into the embassy, which was closed, and burned some of its rooms. One protester ripped the American flag from the facade of the building. An estimated 1,000 demonstrators cheered as the vandals, some wearing masks, jumped onto the building’s balcony waving a Serbian flag and chanting “Serbia, Serbia!” the witnesses said. A police convoy firing tear gas dispersed the crowd.

The Associated Press reported that the small fires at the embassy were quickly extinguished.

Serbian television reported that the Croatian Embassy had also been attacked, and the state news agency said that the Bosnian and Turkish Embassies were also targets. The police said at least 140 people had been injured in the incidents, 32 of them police officers. Security sources estimated that 150,000 people joined the protests.

Groups also broke into a McDonald’s in central Belgrade and destroyed its interior. Witnesses said vandals were attacking foreign-owned shops, including a Nike store, and were seen carrying off shoes and other goods as the Serbian police looked on...."

A STATE-APPROVED riot?

"Serbs break into US Embassy, set fire"

"by Slobodan Lekic, Associated Press Writer | February 21, 2008

BELGRADE, Serbia --Angry Serbs broke into the U.S. Embassy and set fire to an office Thursday night as rioters rampaged through Belgrade's streets, putting an exclamation point of violence to a day of mass protest against Western support for an independent Kosovo.

At least 150,000 people rallied in Belgrade, waving Serbian flags and signs proclaiming "Stop USA terror," to denounce the bid by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority to create their own state out of what Serbs consider the ancient heartland of their culture.

Protesters burned American flags and the mob that attacked the embassy tore down the U.S. flag there. Crowds also ransacked a McDonald's, looted stores and fought with police in front of other diplomatic compounds in a display of the resentment seething in Serbia over the secession of what has been its southernmost province.

A burned body was found in the U.S. Embassy after the fire was put out, but all staff were accounted for, embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris said. Belgrade's Pink TV said the body appeared to be that of a rioter.

White House spokesman Dana Perino said the embassy "was attacked by thugs" and Serb police didn't do enough to stop it.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the U.S. warned Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic that it would hold them personally responsible for further damage....

Gee, that sure sounds like setting the stage for further conflict and maybe WAR with RUSSIA!!!!

And CUI BONO, readers?

And didn't I tell you the violence was going to get worse?

No police were guarding the U.S. Embassy compound even though it had been targeted previously. American officials said the offices had been closed at midday because of security concerns. There were no US staff members in the building at the time of the attack....

Oh, so this was all a STAGED PRODUCTION for the BREAKING NEWS!!!!

Offices were ALREADY CLOSED, huh?

Wow, is this "incident" ever starting to STINKOLA!!!!!

Masked men smashed their way inside the compound's consular building, tore down the U.S. flag and tried to throw furniture from an office. They set fire to the office and flames shot up the side of the building.

Police arrived about 45 minutes after the blaze broke out, and after the rioters left the building. A half dozen fire trucks also appeared and quickly doused the flames, leaving the front facade and two police guard posts on the sidewalk smoldering.

Officers from an elite paramilitary police unit drove armored jeeps outside the embassy and fired dozens of tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. Rioters wheeled out large garbage bins in an unsuccessful attempt to block the police vehicles. Thick clouds of tear gas obscured hung in the street as officers chased rioters into nearby side streets.

Doctors at Belgrade's emergency clinic reported treating 96 injured, 32 of them policemen. All were lightly injured, said Dusan Jovanovic, deputy chief of the clinic. He added that most of the injured protesters were "extremely drunk."

Oh, that EXPLAINS EVERYTHING!!

Ever try to organize a bunch of drunks?

.... The government went all out to make the mass demonstration outside the parliament a success. Schools were closed and the state railway offered free rides to bring people to Belgrade.

So it WAS State-backed!!

It was the first attack on a U.S. Embassy since Sept. 12, 2006, when Syrian security guards stopped an attempt to blow up the compound. The last time a mob broke into one was the Iranians' seizure of the U.S. Embassy on Nov. 4, 1979, taking the American staffers hostage.

Always gotta work the Iranians in, huh?

Pfffftttt!!

And what about bin Laden attacking our embassies in Africa?

Why did "Al-CIA-Duh" not merit a mention?

That's strange, isn't it, readers?

Critics of the prime minister accused his nationalistic government of tolerating the violence over Kosovo, perhaps as an excuse to crack down on pro-Western forces in the country.

"I cannot tell if the authorities are going to allow this to escalate, and how long they will let this go on, but it is absolutely clear that it is all under their control," said Vesna Pesic from the pro-Western Liberal Democratic Party whose offices also have been attacked.

The same group of protesters that attacked the U.S. Embassy also targeted the neighboring Croatian Embassy. Smaller groups assaulted police posts outside the Turkish and British embassies in another part of the city but were beaten back.

Rioters broke into a McDonald's restaurant and demolished it. Other shops also were ransacked and people were seen carrying off running shoes, track suits and other sporting goods from a department store.

Police chased small violent groups in areas near the national parliament, where the huge protest rally was held earlier in the afternoon.

The U.N. Security Council condemned "in the strongest terms the mob attacks," saying host governments like Belgrade must honor their obligation to protect diplomatic premises.

European Union spokeswoman Cristina Gallach in Brussels called the violence "totally unacceptable." She urged all to show "restraint and responsibility."

I get tired of western hypocrisy, readers.

And who went pell-mell to invade Iraq?

Police also were guarding the independent B92 television station -- viewed by nationalists as pro-Western -- as youths started gathering nearby."