Carl Winters of Boston, MA asks:

There have been media reports profiling Mr. Poplasen as everything from an ultra-nationalist bent on pan-Serbian unity to a pragmatist who will work with the situation he is given. How clear a picture do we have of him and where do you think he falls along this scale?

Steven Walker responds:

Poplasen's record is fairly clear. He is a staunch ultranationalist allied with some of the more brutal Serb ultranationalists who committed some of the most heinous crimes during the war. His involvement in the ultranationalist paramilitary during the war was a major reason why his election sent shivers down the spines of many observers when he was elected. The head of his party in Belgrade is Vojislav Seselj, one of the most notorious and dangerous politicians in Serbia.

Does that mean he is not an opportunist? Not necessarily. Plavsic, to some degree, demonstrated that some of the worst elements of the Bosnians Serb wartime leadership could seek a different path under Dayton. As with Plavsic, however, even if Poplasen begins to say nice things about Dayton and cooperation with the West, until he is compelled to demonstrate his commitment to Dayton and Bosnian unity by facilitating serious refugee returns, he cannot be trusted. If he maintains his commitment to his nationalist ideology, obstructs Dayton, and seeks unity with Serbia, he must be ousted.

Based on his record and allies, however, Poplasen is unlikely to change his spots any time soon.