It's hard to keep track of the Balkans, with all those disputed borders, ethnic hatreds and separatist movements. But the Feb. 17 declaration of independence by Kosovo--an impoverished province smaller than Connecticut--has become a global Rorschach test.
The bipolar reaction to Kosovo's break from Serbia had a bit of a cold war feel. President George W. Bush declared a victory for freedom and most of the West recognized the new nation, while Russia exploded in outrage and China expressed "grave concern." But this wasn't a new clash of civilizations. Russia and China were just rejecting the legitimacy of independence movements before...
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