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"