Delayed Response to NATO Air Strike Request Sparks Debate

Strategic Insights -

Tensions rose in the Balkans after a critical delay in approving a NATO air strike against Serbian guns, which put the lives of French peacekeepers at risk. Yasuski Akashi, the top United Nations official overseeing peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Croatia, attempted to warn Serbian leaders to move their artillery, but his efforts were unsuccessful. The delay has sparked a heated debate over the United Nations' command procedures for using air strikes to protect peacekeeping troops, with some Western diplomats accusing the UN of being too slow to act.

Key Takeaways:

  • The delay in approving the NATO air strike request lasted over three hours, allowing Serbian forces to withdraw and avoiding American gunships from firing.
  • Yasuski Akashi, the UN representative, attempted to call Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to warn them about the impending attack.
  • The UN official claimed that the delay was primarily due to the time it took for military commanders to forward the request to Akashi, but others criticized Akashi's efforts for contributing to the delay.
  • The French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, has been critical of the slow response, and Secretary of State Warren Christopher described the delay as "unacceptable."
  • The United Nations is reviewing its procedures, with Christopher stating that troops need air cover "right away" and that the UN's command procedures for requesting air strikes were not well worked out.

Statistics:

  • The delay in approving the NATO air strike request lasted over three hours.
  • The US had pledged to send American troops to enforce a peace settlement in Bosnia.
  • The United Nations has acknowledged that the delay was too long.
  • The procedures for requesting air strikes were not well worked out.

Sources:

  • "The New York Times"
  • Western diplomats and United Nations officials (as indicated in the text)
  • The French Foreign Ministry
  • The office of Secretary of State Warren Christopher