Hey Dan, here’s another famous quote to add to your apparently inexhaustible supply:War is hell, spoken by a man who would know firsthand, William Tecumseh Sherman. This state of hell is exactly what Bosnians have been living in for the past three years, and which will continue without American intervention. It amazes me how so many people were quick to risk American lives for Kuwaiti oil but so slow/reluctant to support the use of our all-volunteer forces to put a stop to ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

Senators Dole (R- KS) and McCain (A-Az and Vietnam POW) have recently given their conditional support to the mission and found President Clinton’s rationale for sending the troops to be clear and justified. That rationale is less about national security and more about sustaining America’s role as the leader of NATO and its obligation to help war-weary nations achieve peace. The only confusion I have found is in Dan’s own perception of this peacekeeping mission. this will be a NATO (not United Nations.) run mission led by an American commander. Unlike the UN forces, NATO will also have the armaments to back up that authority.

And since when did Carl von Clausewitz (?) become the reference point for judging leadership capabilities? President Clinton ought to be commended for the leadership he has shown on this politically-risky issue while others hold their fingers in the air waiting to see which way the political winds blow. And I’d think twice next time before quoting Napoleon to second-guess Bill Clinton’s foreign policy. Napoleon’s military blunders (Russian and Waterloo campaigns) are legendary!

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The Bosnian mission is not without its risks and Dan’s concern for the welfare of American troops is understandable. But we cannot let the past losses (Vietnam) or political posturing for the 96 election misdirect us from our responsibility as the world’s leader and push us back in to the isolationist mindset which preceded World Wars I and II.