In a story the mainstream media has ignored for some time , The Southeast European Times relates how the termination of the Bosnia mission has been publicized since at least last March.  In a very informative question and answer session, Major General Virgil Packett, Stabilization Force (SFOR) Commander, notes that the mission will be transferred to the EU, but that a US—led NATO headquarters contingent of 200—250 personnel will remain in Bosnia. 
 
Updating information in the article, Maj. Gen. Packett, in testimony before Congress yesterday, stated that this NATO headquarters has already been downsized to about 150.  He also faced some tough questions concerning a problem of weapons smuggling to the Middle East.  In a strange twist of fate, rather than being the recipient of arms smuggled into the country from the Mid—East during the 92—95 war, Bosnia is now the point of origin of weapons headed in the opposite direction.

The major media's singular disinterest in this story betrays their desire to cover up their role in encouraging intervention in the Balkan nation nine years ago.  If one does manage to read any accounts of the mission termination, it always couched in terms of a "transfer from NATO to the EU," never, "US withdraws from Bosnia after nine years."   Being associated with a quagmire is apparently not high on their list.

Posted by Doug  07 14 04