Speech #1050044923

The problem with the Dayton Accords was that they provided for precisely the result that so many of us had feareda massive United States military intervention in Bosnia. Many of us predicted that if our forces faithfully carried out their mandate under the Dayton Accords. they would end up in armed conflict with the parties and likely sustain significant casualties. This prediction was never tested because in fact our forces never carried out those portions of their mandate that could have led to conflict with the parties. such as arresting war criminals and facilitating the return of refugees. Indeed. the failure to do these things. and similar things collectively referred to as "civilian implementation" of the Dayton Accords. is one of the main reasons why we are told that we cannot bring our forces home from Bosnia today. Of course. many of us predicted at the time that once our forces went into Bosnia they would never get out.