The War in the Former Yugoslavia in Retrospect

If I could choose two people from the war in the former Yugoslavia to bring back to life to get drunk with, I would choose Gojko Šušak from the Croatian side and Željko Ražnatović (better know as Arkan) from the Serbs.

Why would I choose Arkan from the Serbian side? Because singularly he was the most dangerous individual Serbia had to offer. His life's achievements; fathering nine children; revitalizing the Serbian Orthodox Church; but most of all having the ICTY cower before him would make him a hoot to get drunk with. Would I fear him? In a strange way I would have to say no. Several times when he was imprisoned his gang busted him out. If he was a complete asshole, rational individuals acting in their own self interests would not have risked their lives to spring him free.

Why would I choose Gojko Šušak from the Croatian side? Because singularily he was the most dangerous individual Croatia had to offer. His life achievements; depriving Slobodan Milošević of the chance for sainthood; creating Franjo Tudman, but most of all being the one individual whose efforts when magnified led to the destruction of Tito's Yugoslavia would have made him a hoot to get cranked on Turkish coffee and jacked on nicotine with. Somehow I suspect he was able to conceptualize a bigger picture than any of the other participants in the war. He had Milošević figured out as well as Professor Goodall understood Frodo the Chimpanzee. The one question I would have to ask him is "has the game ended or is there still some more final acts to play out?"

Ultimately Šušak & Arkan have given me the inspiration to embark on another adventure. This time Široki Brijeg & Belgrade. I will be visiting Siroki Brijeg to get some inspiration for the development of a new written Composite Charachter that I will be creating, Četko the Hercegovac. I will be visiting Belgrade for some much needed therapy, attending the climbing gym and trusting my life in the hands of a random Serb. Most of all 2010 should teach me when offering someone a truth or a dare. Always choose the dare.