The creation of a multiethnic state should be left to negotiations among the partieswelcomed by America if it happens but not pursued at the risk of American lives." The administration has compounded the difficulty of a confused. evolving mission in Bosnia by the lack of a clear exit strategy. This problem became very evident during the Senates hearing to confirm General Henry Shelton as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on September 9. 1997. when General Shelton admitted that he had not been informed of the exit strategy for Bosnia. It is likely that to the extent an exit strategy exists. it is so firmly tied to hazily defined future political events that there is always sufficient reason to leave U.S. troops in place: there is always one more local election. always one more arbitration. always one more refugee transfer that would. in the administrations opinion. require the presence of U.S. troops. Making our departure a hostage to these events is a virtual guarantee that U.S. troops will be in Bosnia for a long time to come. Finally. our mission in Bosnia raises troubling questions about allied burdensharing.