Srebrenica revisited

[unixronin]

Der Spiegel discusses the failure of UN peacekeepers to prevent the Srebrenica atrocity.  Reading this, I can't help but think that the reason they failed is because they knew they had to all practical purposes been abandoned, and would not be supported if they attempted to make a stand.  Had they been, say, 370 US Marines, or 370 of the Aberdeen Regiment, or 370 Gurkhas, it's unthinkable that they would not have made a stand; and, had they been 370 US Marines, near-unthinkable that they would not have been supported in that stand -- and, if necessary, avenged -- by the full might of the US Sixth Fleet if needed.

But they were just 370 UN peacekeepers, left hanging out in the wind by the UN without support ... and as they blew in the wind, so blew 8,000 Bosnian Muslims.

Comments

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

"With the helmet on, I'm a UN Peacekeeper. With the helmet off I'm just an angry American with a machine gun. You sure you want me to take it off?"

"Motherfucker, you've got a sword and I have a rifle, and you aren't Philipino, so you should probably back up."

(Various responses I might feel compelled to give in a similar situation.)

-Ogre

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

"With the helmet on, I'm a UN Peacekeeper. With the helmet off I'm just an angry American with a machine gun. You sure you want me to take it off?"

*grin* I like that. :)

[olafthunderfoot.livejournal.com]

i love that!