War photographer Wade Goddard discusses his experiences covering the conflicts in the Balkans, including taking what is believed to be the first photograph of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) published in foreign media. He also shares his unique perspective on the key differences between the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo.
The Story Behind the KLA’s First Photo
Goddard recounts that when the armed resistance and the formation of the KLA began, many of his colleagues in Belgrade considered the group a “terrorist force.” He remembers taking a photograph of three small children on the side of a road, raising their fists in a salute. Just a few days later, the KLA stopped using that specific gesture and adopted a more traditional salute.
Goddard noted that his colleagues, especially in Belgrade, accused him of fabricating the entire story, convinced that the KLA did not exist.
Contrasting the Conflicts
When asked about the difference between the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, Goddard said the key distinction was the control of territory. In Bosnia, there were clear front lines, controlled zones, and “no man’s land” between them. In Kosovo, however, the situation was “completely fluid.”
Goddard explained that while Serbian checkpoints were everywhere, KLA checkpoints would appear and disappear. He said you could drive past a KLA checkpoint in the morning, only to find it gone on the return trip in the afternoon. The lack of stable control zones was, in his view, the main difference between the two conflicts.
