Breaking up

After 15 years and at least three wars, the breakup of Yugoslavia is nearly complete.

Montenegro voted this week to separate from Serbia, a step already taken but through battles not ballots, by Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovinia and Kosovo.

While all of Europe is moving toward consolidating, we are breaking apart, one Serbian resident in Belgrade told reporters. Yugoslavs always were out of step with neighbors.

The profound splits make me think of the enormity of the task Tito accomplished pulling these six entities into one union. Where is the leader thinking now like he did that united they might accomplish a lot more economically at least. While Slovenia and Croatis are thriving and will be the first into the European Union and Serbia is likely to get enough aid to reach that status eventually, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo and the newest ex-Yugo state of Montenegro seem likely to be foreign aid dependent for years. Very sad.