oh good, by dint of presidential fiat my country's military is being gutted today

[rcaf_777]

Originally Posted by ShadoWarrior

Anyone who's studied European history, particularly the history of the Balkans. I'm sure that there were quite a few CIA analysts, several War College professors, and plenty of historians both in the U.S. and in Europe who could have told anyone who asked what would happen once Tito's regime fell. That Europe would then fail to act to police the area was equally predictable, given the historical inability of the continental powers to ever collectively agree on anything, least of all anything involving force. Which, of course, leads to most everyone then looking to America to be the police. And why not? It's politically very expedient back home and it shifts costs, as well as blame for anything messy that might happen, somewhere else (to the Americans). It's a win-win for both the Europeans and the Americans. How so? The Europeans get to keep their hands from getting dirty, and the Americans get to once again preen about riding in to save the day. It's almost a cliche. And as I said, all quite predictable.

Actually American did'nt really get involed till the end of the conflict, and comitted a small ammount of troops given its size at the time, Most of European Nations were there trying to stop the War, but since it was under a UN mandate it was doomed to failure. American bigest move was getting the parties to table and talk and supply the air power to enforce Dayton accord I personally think most american were unware off what there forces did durring the entire period 1995-2001