Blasé is not what Bosnia needs

Amar Causevic, a young Bosniak friend studying at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Bologna, writes

US Embassy in Sarajevo has been attacked!…The attacker was a Wahabi follower of Bosniak origin from Novi Pazar [Serbia]…There are no words with which I can describe my anger at this moment. I feel so ashamed and disappointed as a citizen of Bosnia and dweller of Sarajevo. Americans are great friends of Bosnia-Herzegovina and if it was not for them God knows what would happen to us. Sorry if this email caused any inconveniences, but I simply wanted to share my frustration with you.

I’m glad he did share his frustration, as it illustrates well an attitude that is much more common among Muslims in Bosnia than the extremist Wahabi one, which will naturally grab a headline or two in the next 24 hours.

The Bosnian government has denounced the attack.  Media are reporting that a policeman and the attacker were wounded.  Embassy personnel are safe.

Sarajevo these days is about as quiet and relaxed as any city in Europe.  But I confess to concern that radicalization of all sorts could ensue if Bosnia’s current political problems are not resolved.  The country is going on a year without installing a government after the last elections.  The financial situation is deteriorating.  People are increasingly frustrated and annoyed.  The passions are not readily contained within any given country’s borders. The potential for instability is real.

I don’t know which of Bosnia’s tripod of nationalisms will in the end cause an upheaval, but it would be unwise for the international community to continue its blasé attitude.