I have read the links you provided and it is quite simply unbelievably sad. I cannot understand why this could happen. Where is the upside? For whom? These events just provide justification for extremists and their actions.


>Thank you for your viewpoint Peter. I think I agree with you on many things - especially the fact that most of the soldiers were victims as well. Any soldier (or ex-soldier) knows that a soldier cannot take action without most importantly, the authority to do so. In this case, I really believe that for whatever reason, that order was never given. There may have been a few soldiers who had their own personal opinion as to which side they favored or which leaders they most respected or even 1 or 2 who had personal racist beliefs, regardless, a soldier follows orders and if they were given the order to act, they would have. They were basically there with their hands tied behind their backs. That is the case in many events where UN troops are deployed. Too often they are only there for show.
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>>Walter, where are you... Well then, let me say some things about it then. Afterall, it was the main topic on my own weblog yesterday.
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>>About the Dutch people... We have a daily poll on the radio. Yesterday's item was whether we, the citizens, agree that the Dutchbatters get that award. Out of the 7008 respondents, 60 percent approved that the Dutchbatters got the award. The other 40 percent disapproved. So, no, we are not all amazed. Neither am I.
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>>While I think I understand the emotions of the 'real victims' (the muslim community in Bosnia), I also understand the emotions of these (often former) soldiers. Their situation was hopeless. They amply had weaponry to defend the muslims. The weaponry of the Serbs was superior. Their mandate was restricted.
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>>Metin's argument that it would not have happened if it would have been Turkish troops is probably not valid. How would a Turkish force have stopped it without adequate weaponry?? Sure, the Dutch are not really Warriors, but the Dutch cannot bear the idea that they are responsible for the death of other people, no matter whether that are christians or muslims. Metin's understanding of the morale of the Dutch is wrong, it is a prejudice.
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>>Each war has had battles that were won and battles that were lost. AND it had battles that were never fought. It were the moments where tactics, strategy or mismanagement or misinformation or human error caused bataljons to NOT act, for the moment. The main difference, as I see it, between those soldiers (for example in WWII) and the Dutchbatters in Srebrenica is that the Dutch soldiers never got the chance in another battle to prove that they are okay after all.
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>>The award is not for having acted as a hero, but one way of compensating for having been in a dillematic situation, trying to do the best, having failed, having seen how men were led away, having had nightmares and having been derogated during 10 years. The award is a recognition that these men too are victims, sure of another category, but victims nevertheless.
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>>>Yes, I see that Metin. I think the Dutch people (in general) are amazed just as you are... Wish Walter were here to respond... My personal viewpoint (and it may be completely wrong) is that a couple of the contributing factores are much like any military situation gone wrong (1-3):
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>>>1. You have a commander giving directives (to do or not to do) which soldiers must obey
>>>2. Whether the commander's orders are correct or lawful, the soldiers are guilty based on what they do
>>>3. A few soldiers (as in any population) may actually be criminals, racists, or just plain evil
>>>4. Meeting between the leaders before the event occurred
>>>5. Fleeing of Bosnian troops before the event occurred
>>>6. Serbs actually committed the crimes with UN soldiers turning their backs to it
>>>7. The world (especially the West and the U.S.) either silently condoned it or turned a blind eye to it.
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>>>1-3 are contributing factors to the atrocity, 4 & 5 guarantee it. Item 7 is despicable.
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>>>>In that article (which I put at the beginning of this thread) writes they will be awarded...
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>>>>Actually they awarded, but I cannot find the english version...