Dutch felt Srebrenica 'not worth sacrifice' (UN and the Dutch should be ICC material!)

BBC News ^ | December 6 2002 | Geraldine Coughlan

[knighthawk]

A former United Nations commander in Bosnia has told a Dutch parliamentary inquiry into the Srebrenica massacre that it was clear to him that Dutch authorities would not sacrifice its soldiers for the enclave.

About 7,000 Muslim men were killed after Serb forces took over Srebrenica in 1995, which was under the protection of Dutch peacekeepers.

Retired British General Rupert Smith was speaking during the last day of hearings in the inquiry at The Hague.

He said the impression he had received from Dutch authorities before the massacre was: "It is not worth dying for this."

If the inquiry's report shows that a lack of information between the Dutch army and the government could have prevented the slaughter, it may pave the way for claims for damages against the Netherlands.

Cover-up theory

Mr Smith is the highest former UN official to testify in the inquiry into the fall of Srebrenica, which was declared a safe haven by the UN.

He criticised the Netherlands for sending 200 lightly-armed peacekeepers to defend the enclave against Serb forces.

He also said that the UN could have done more to prevent the genocide, which has been described as Europe's worst atrocity since World War II.

In trying to determine the Dutch role in the tragedy, the inquiry is focusing on whether the army covered-up information about Serb atrocities after Srebrenica fell.

On Friday, Dutch military officials gave evidence about a photographic film taken by a lieutenant which turned out to be blank after it was developed at an army laboratory.

The photos had allegedly shown the bodies of Muslims, and Serbs separating the men from the women.

The report is due out on 27 January.

[ABrit]

Good, you accept the Serbs pulled the triggers. Step 2, accept that the motive was the creation of a greater Serbia.

[Hoplite]

In 1996 they uncovered 460 bodies. There are sources who say there were 3.000 missing, not 7.000.

And in 1994, they recovered no bodies whatsoever, showing that if you restrict your data to suit your needs, you can argue whatever you like, unfettered by the latest information.

How's about doing a little research before opening your mouth and proving your ignorance?

Thanks.

[smokegenerator]

Now its your turn to accept as fact being the Muslims shelled and killed their own people. The Muslims cleansed and burned the Serb homes down to set the chain of events in motion. Do you accept that accountability for the Muslimani? Of course, Serbs fought BACK in return to the aggression created by the wonton killing fields of Oric and his boys. The Serbian defensive units only retook what was theirs, do you have a problem with that?

[knighthawk]

Actualy I did find that number browsing.

Exhumations in 1996 recovered 460 bodies, but 7,500 others were still missing from the town of Srebrenica. Finding the others has been the goal of war-crimes investigators for more than two years.

(http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/kosovo_crisis/Sep_06/8.html)

That article also mentions the 3000 number on missing persons. I also saw that figure on other sites.

I also said: "So much information and disinformation". I do not know what to think about the number of dead/missing. Who to believe? If I believe the UN/CNN, I also must believe there were 500-800 people killed in Jenin.

Maybe you should show some facts, or shut up yourself.

No thanks.

[smokegenerator]

Ask NotBright/Hoplite how he defends Roy Gutmans "Bullshitzer Prize" for the Rape story, lets rehash the entire Rape incident with Notbright/Hoplite-in the pants, shall we?
His refusal to confront my posts is I do not need to Link any stories. He has a hard time dealing ground-pounding fact.

[Hoplite]

They've been at it for over 6 years, knighthawk, and they're still finding mass graves, most notably this summer in the village of Kamenica.

Don't post stupidity and I won't treat you as being stupid.

Simple.

And ignorance is no excuse.