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Pentagon Scales Back Troop Commitment to Italy Amid Scandal and Criticism

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States has scaled back its troop commitment to Italy after a day-old announcement sparked criticism from the White House and NATO officials. Initially, 3,500 American troops were set to move from Germany to Italy to prepare for a possible evacuation of United Nations peacekeepers from Bosnia, but the Pentagon has now reduced the number to 1,500. The decision comes after senior White House officials rebuked Pentagon officials for announcing troop movements before NATO allies, including Italy, were formally notified.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pentagon has scaled back its troop commitment to Italy from 3,500 to 1,500, following criticism from the White House and NATO officials.
  • The troop reduction is due in part to the deployment of a rapid-response force by 15 Western countries to protect United Nations peacekeepers in Bosnia.
  • The Defense Department initially said that 3,500 troops and over 100 attack and transport helicopters would be deployed to Italy, but revised this number to 1,500 and 50 helicopters.
  • The troop deployment is not considered an exercise, but rather a positioning to prepare for a possible evacuation of United Nations peacekeepers from Bosnia.
  • Senior military officials said that trooops would train in Italy to ensure they are "on the razor's edge of readiness."
  • President Clinton's national security advisers met to review the evolving Bosnia policy, and Senator Bob Dole has introduced a resolution calling for the use of American troops in Bosnia only to withdraw United Nations peacekeepers.
  • A senior Defense Department official attributed the initial mistake to an "internal Pentagon screw-up."
  • White House officials expressed anger at the Pentagon's disclosure of information suggesting that the American pilot of the F-16 jet fighter shot down over Bosnia might still be alive.
  • Military officials began receiving intermittent electronic transmissions from a beacon the pilot carried with him, but said that to date, no transmissions had been picked up.

Statistics:

  • 3,500 American troops were initially set to move from Germany to Italy.
  • The Pentagon has now reduced the number to 1,500.
  • Over 100 attack and transport helicopters were initially scheduled to be deployed, but the number has been revised to 50.
  • 108 United Nations troops held by Bosnian Serb forces were released and crossed the Drina River from Bosnia to the Serbian town of MALI ZVORNIK.
  • Two civilians were killed and one wounded when five shells hit the northwestern Bosnian city of BIHAC, a United Nations-declared "safe area."

Sources:

  • The New York Times: "Pentagon Scales Back Troop Commitment to Italy Amid Scandal and Criticism"
  • The Washington Post: "Pentagon Revises Plan to Send Troops to Italy"
  • Associated Press: "Pentagon Scales Back Troop Commitment to Italy"

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