A Noble Cause

July 11 1995: The White House.

Bill Clinton was in his office, when a CIA agent came in:

"Sir. Take a look at this."

Clinton replied "what is it?" and opened the letter. They were pictures of Ratko Mladic's Scorpions massacring Bosniak Men and Boys in Srebrenica. "how old are these?"

"about a few hours. Satellites caught 'em. What do you want to do?"

Clinton was dumbstruck by this atrocity. He wasn't sure on what to do. On one hand, Osama Bin Laden was Still out there. On the other, there was re-election to worry about. He didn't want to lose to the GOP, and pulling a vietnam was political suicide, even with this going on

So Cinton summoned Colin Powell, Chairman of the JCS, for advice.

After a long discussion, Powell outlined four options:

1. do nothing like in Rwanda

2. get involved in negotiations

3. Launch an airstrike on Mladic's last known position

4. Invade Bosnia.

Clinton realised the ineffectiveness of the UN, after Rwanda, with Oil for food. There was no way he would trust the UN this time. And negotiations risked failure. Assassinating Mladic was going to escalate the genocide, so Invasion was the only option.

"Powell, do we have any Us military presence close to the region?"

"Yes, mainly in Bavaria. Why?"

"Because, over the next 3 weeks, i want you to assemble a force with NATO for a possible intervention. Talk to Downing Street and Berlin about this. I will make a case at the UN"
 
well, the 1st Armd Div based in Germany would be the 1st US combat force to roll in, in support ot the NATO RRF outside Sarajevo- with overwhelming NATO airpower under Op DELIBERATE FORCE, the VRS will have the crap kicked out of em- maybe now, the US would've had a greater stake at the peace table instead of what occurred OTL at dayton ?

oh, btw, on a technicality, Powell in 1995 was no longer Chairman JCS- that was Shalikashvili...
 

Hendryk

Banned
He wasn't sure on what to do. On one hand, Osama Bin Laden was Still out there.
OBL wasn't a priority target in 1995. He only started to openly call for strikes against US assets the following year, though he was suspected of ties to various Islamist cells involved in terrorist acts.

Talk to Downing Street and Berlin about this. I will make a case at the UN"
In 1995, the German government was still in Bonn. The move to Berlin took place four years later.
 
In 1995, the German government was still in Bonn. The move to Berlin took place four years later.
Well, the process of moving the government to Berlin had begun, and officially the capital was Berlin- they just hadn't finished the move yet.
 
14 July 1995, New York City

Bill Clinton was giving a presentation at the United Nations. He was speaking at the podium,

"ladies and Gentlemen, today we have a major issue that hasn't reached Europe since World War 2. Genocide is occuring right now in Bosnia, under the guise of "ethnic cleansing". I have these photos that our satellites caught on the day Srebrenica was stormed by Ratko Mladic and his forces. Have a look at the photos on powerpoint. I must warn you they are very shocking"

(the pictures show massacres while they happened, with so many gasps)

"Forgive me for the sickening photos, but i am only emphasising my point that there is genocide going on. In My opinion, the UN peacekeepers did nothing to stop it. Like in Rwanda, several years ago. If those were US soldiers, there would be an inquiry immeidately. In my experience, i feel that Nato should intervene and do something about this. This is probably the tip of the iceberg with the genocide."

The UN decides to vote on a resolution for military action.

For Bill Clinton, and the UN, it was a fork in the road.
 
The UN is chock full of petty dictators who have committed crimes like this or plan to (or at least want to keep their options open). Voting to allow this sort of thing sets a bad precedent; the resolution fails.

In the Security Council, on the other hand...

Honestly, I think this is better handled through NATO than the UN.

Also note that Clinton wouldn't give the presentation to the UN General Assembly himself; he has better things to do (like govern the most powerful country in the world)
 
Well Bush tried for Iraq and look how that turned out!

14 July

The UN voted 100-93 on no authorisation for military intervention. Bill Clinton told them "so be it. This has proven that the UN is useless, it is bureaucratic and has been an accessory to two genocides." and left NYC

Washington DC

Later that day, Bill Clinton was talking to Colin powell, who asked "do we get the go-ahead?"
 

Hendryk

Banned
Bill Clinton told them "so be it. This has proven that the UN is useless, it is bureaucratic and has been an accessory to two genocides." and left NYC
I'm going to henceforth refer to ideological wish fulfilment as IWF, it'll save me precious time whenever I have to comment one of your threads.

This is about as likely as Clinton saying circa 1995, "so be it. This has proven that congress is useless. The federal executive is leaving the current US government and setting up a newer, more efficient one."
 
I'm going to henceforth refer to ideological wish fulfilment as IWF, it'll save me precious time whenever I have to comment one of your threads.

This is about as likely as Clinton saying circa 1995, "so be it. This has proven that congress is useless. The federal executive is leaving the current US government and setting up a newer, more efficient one."

Not that I agree with him, and I don't, but isn't most ALT-Hist wish fullfilment int some way? I say only Britwank Empire and all that.
 
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