Dutch speak out against homophobic statements of U.S. retired general.

[BlackCat]

I agree with the General's overall point, that the Eurpeans don't design or allow their armed forces to fight anymore (this has changed since Iraq/Afghanistan) and that led directly to what happened in Bosnia.

http://www.milhist.dk/post45/boellebank/boellebank_uk.htm

[Wezil]

It would be a failing of both. Can you honstely say you can imagine and American or British unit basically surrendering and and allowing themselves to be held prisoner for all intents and purposes besides letting what went down go down?

There was a failure of the UN to address the deteriorating security situation in S- in the months leading up to the massacre that allowed it to happen. The Dutch soldiers were cut off, under supplied and under manned (soldiers returning from leave were refused permission to reenter the enclave). The 400 remaining soldiers in S- were powerless to do anything about this larger problem.

The prevention was for the international community to grow some balls and make it clear that a truly neutral zone (the Bosnians were no angels in the whole affair using S- as a base of operations) would be enforced - no matter what. This was not done.

I don't blame the Dutch in that situation for recognising the international community was not prepared to act. I guess they could have sacrificed themselves as well. I'm not crazy about senseless martyrdom, others feel differently.

Would the same happen with Brits and/or Americans you ask? Unlikely, for a couple reasons. First, you (and probably the Brits) have better sense than to put yourself in that position and secondly, if you were to find yourself there you'd make damn sure the international community did pay attention. Sadly for the Dutch (and Canada in Rwanda) they don't carry that much political sway.

[DinoDoc]

I always thought the primary fault for the Srebrenica massacre laid with the French forces in command rather than the Dutch.

[Patroklos]

http://www.milhist.dk/post45/boelleb...llebank_uk.htm

This incident had a great impact in the public opinion in the Netherlands. An official investigation of the incident on the part of the Institute of Military Documentation of the Netherlands (NIOD), published on April 10, 2002, later cost the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Wim Kok within six days.

The 3,400-page report criticized the political and military High Commands of the Netherlands as being guilty of criminal negligence, for not preventing the massacre.

Their conclusions were devastating:

The mission was not suitably prepared.
There was no synchronization between the Ministry of Defence (under Joris Voorhoeve) and of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (under Hans van Mierlo).
The contingent did not receive sufficient means to accomplish a mission, without adequate firepower or self-defence.
The people in charge of the air support refused to give the aid as requested by Karremans.
The Dutch state and the UN did not perform their duty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutchbat

Thats the Dutch themselves talking. And those tanks were not part of the unit in question.

[Patroklos]

In any case are we all agreed it was not the fault of of teh gayz?

[Wezil]

Yeah, I think so.

[MrFun]

Homophobic used to mean people who were scared of homsexuals, however you drop so liberally it really has no meaning whatsoever. Nothing the General said was homophobic, even if it was discriminatory.

Yes, if you take the more narrow definition of homophobia, it simply means fear of gays. But I also use the word to discuss hatred of gays. I suppose another choice would be anti-gay but what other word would you suggest then, in replacement of homophobic?

[MrFun]

In any case are we all agreed it was not the fault of of teh gayz?

amen

[DinoDoc]

In any case are we all agreed it was not the fault of of teh gayz?

Well there were Greek volunteers forming a portion of the Serb forces.

[MrFun]

I guess in order for Republicans who favor discrimination and degradation of gays to be more consistent, they should immeidately withdraw their support of Israel, since that country allows gays and lesbians to serve in their military.

[MrFun]

Well there were Greek volunteers forming a portion of the Serb forces.

ha, ha

[Ecofarm]

It could be the/a/teh gays' fault. We haven't completely investigated.

Have the gays responded to this accusation? Hmm??


/glenn beck



At any rate, there is probably someone(s) hiding information. All we can say is that we don't know for sure.


/HL

[Brundlefly]

At any rate, there is probably someone(s) hiding information. All we can say is that we don't know for sure.


/HL

and that information is probably hidden in a place where i dont want to look for it

[BlackCat]

In any case are we all agreed it was not the fault of of teh gayz?

Yeah, though, if certain gay posters here at poly had been there, then I might disagree

[MrFun]

Ha! I never claimed I personally would be a good fighter, BC.