Why Now In Bosnia? And Why So Late? Keep U.S. Out Clinton Waffling Ruined Credibility

Has anyone checked to see if President Clinton still intends to send American troops into Bosnia? It’s been 3-1/2 days since he officially committed us to this long-shot mission, and … well, he has a way of changing his mind.

In fact, Clinton decided only recently - after 44 months of “ethnic cleansing” - that America has a vital interest in the Balkans.

Something’s happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear. Is Clinton concerned about human-rights violations? People are being killed and tortured in dozens of wars around the world today. Why are Bosnians so special? Does Clinton want peace? The United States can’t foist its ideals on bitter enemies who don’t want them. World leadership? It’s time we made our freeloading European allies take responsibility for their own security problems.

Could President Clinton - who once demonstrated on foreign soil against our involvement in the Vietnam quagmire - be trying to find a backbone at the expense of someone else’s children? When brave young men and women return to our shores in body bags or are dragged through the streets of Sarajevo dead, will Clinton feel their parents’ pain and turn tail?

Incredibly, many Baby Boomers who joined Clinton in the streets 30 years ago are backing his dangerous play. They say there are no parallels with our miserable failures in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia. They’re dead wrong - though a better example could be the invasion of Afghanistan by the old Soviet Union.

In that conflict, ragtag Afghanistani troops, armed by the United States, demoralized and drove out a superior force with guerrilla tactics and snipers. You can bet down-but-not-out Russia would love to bedevil us through a ruthless and willing Balkan ally.

Clinton has no margin for error.

On three occasions, Congress has cast bipartisan votes against throwing U.S. ground troops into this Eastern Europe quicksand. The American public opposes Bosnian intervention, too.

Let’s hope President Clinton isn’t winging it this time.

, DataTimes MEMO: For opposing view, see headline: U.S. shouldn’t abdicate its duty

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