Be Not Afraid, for You Have Sons in America

by Stacy Sullivan

Florin Krasniqi immigrated to the United States from Kosovo in 1988 by sneaking across the Mexican border in the trunk of a white Cadillac. Once in America, he started his own business, fell in love, married, and bought a house. But he did not forget the country he left behind. In 1996, when one of his cousins helped start the Kosovo Liberation Army in the hope of securing Kosovo's independence, Florin chipped in to help. Over the next two years, Florin helped direct a network of Albanian émigrés across the U.S., raising millions of dollars for the rebel force. Soon he began visiting gun shows across America and running weapons and other supplies to the rebels. All the while he was also lobbying some of Washington's most powerful politicians. Eventually he helped recruit American volunteers, some of whom left schools and colleges in the New York area to fight for a homeland they hardly knew. Be Not Afraid, For You Have Sons in America tells the remarkable story of how a small group of young men in Kosovo backed by a network of émigrés in the United States started a guerrilla army that lured the world's most powerful military alliance into fighting their war and changed the course of history in the Balkans forever.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2004

Reviews

[Bardhyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fascinating story of how the U.S.-based Albanian diaspora helped finance and arm Kosovo Liberation Army during the War 1997-1999.

[Brendan Koerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly epic feat of reporting, but also a subtle meditation on the conflict between ancient hatreds and modern statehood. Sullivan does an admirable job of tracing Florin Krasniqi's American journey, from the trunk of a car crossing the Mexican border to millionaire roofer-cum-arms-smuggler. She interweaves this central narrative with that of Kosovo's Albanian majority, who endured centuries of brutality only to become brutalizers themselves.

Essential reading for students of contemporary European affairs, especially in light of Kosovo's recent move toward full-fledged independence.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot from reading this book.

I ended up teaching a unit on the former Yugoslavia in a human geography class. reading this book helped me understand the Kosovo rebellion a little bit better.

the author had a good op ed column called "shopping for sniper rifles" during the "beltway sniper" panic. She said while researching this book she would see UCK/KLA guys frequenting gun shows (say, in PA or VA)to buy up good rifles for their relatives back home...

[Claire Croxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Sullivan follows the story of Florin Krasniqi, an Albanian national, who emigrated, illegally, to the US through Mexico. He was a strong supporter of the Kosovo Liberation Army and personally provided weapons and tactical support to assist them in their fight against Serbian leader, Slobadan Milosevic. The stories of the many ways Krasniqi smuggled arms to the KLA are captivating. The ease in which he was able to do this is most troubling.

[Jina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating look at an unexpected story: how an immigrant in the Bronx helped arm the KLA with weapons sold as U.S. gun shows. Cleverly woven into that story is a look at the war in Kosovo, from a journalist who covered it.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absorbing account of one man's unique ties to the war in Kosovo. A great read.

[Katya Cengel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scary look at how wars are made.