If you’ve been following along then you already know I have gotten into a bit of a squabble with an iReporter on CNN. I didn’t like some of the points he made in his article and he took offence to me pointing this out. This is now the second comment I am making on his article. I should mention that he has throw some weird little snippy comments in between his last comment and this one of mine. I think he may be working himself up into a lather which of course makes me positively giddy.
His last response was this and here is what I have to say about it:
The question of bodies is one that we can argue until the cows come home and never get an answer to. Until all of the remains found are tested for DNA there is now way to tell whether many of the bodies are Bosniak or Serb. Even then, unless they are matched to family members either side can claim them.
The Dutchbat survived on their rations. They were well enough stocked and were able to get some supplies through the pipeline, though I have read many reports that even that was difficult at times.
As far as Oric and the raids on villages, it’s like thinking which came first, the chicken or the egg. Did Oric attack the villages in response to having the food and aid cut off or did the food and aid get cut off because he raided the villages. I am inclined to think it was the former rather than the latter, it simply makes more sense that way.
The hypocritical comment was made in response to the comment: “But basic honesty and respect for users of the Atlas require that it be duly noted…” I read that to be a comment made by you not the Atlas itself. I’m sorry if I misunderstood that.
I can’t say I am a big believer in The Hague and neither am I a fan of NATO, I’d eagerly throw the UN to the wolves as well for that matter. There were many dimensions to all that happened in the early-mid 90’s in Bosnia. I think that the US played every side against the middle and as usual managed to come out smelling like a rose. I don’t think that convicting Naser Oric would have brought a lawsuit to any military actions because there is no one to police these actions.
The fact that the Dutchbat left Srebrenica at all is disgraceful. Absolutely shameful. I like the way you put it “gave up protecting butchers from Srebrenica, and let Bosnian Serbs do their revenge” what a proud day for the UN. Just let people slaughter the guilty and the innocent alike. No taking names, just round them up, bind them and throw them into a warehouse so that the Serbs can lob grenades and keep shooting until no one is left moving and the floor is thick and running with blood, the walls pockmarked and burnt. I’ve seen the pictures and I know you have too. I’ve seen the videos of the men tied and waiting at the white house. I think it’s safe to say the Serbs didn’t have much going in the way of mercy either.
There is no way you can say no women or children were killed when Srebrenica fell. They may not have been main targets but some of the boys I’ve seen in the videos are young. And there is nothing crueler than angry, revenge filled mobs and rape is always a byproduct of circumstances like these.
One more quick point I think is important to note. There were thousands of refugees in Srebrenica. What reason do you give for them being there? For them leaving their homes behind? They accumulated there because the Serbs left them no option. The conditions were terrible but they knew there was a good chance they would be killed if they left.
You and the Serbs say they didn’t kill children, the elderly and women, the Muslims say that’s not true. The Muslims say they didn’t kill children, the elderly and women, the Serbs say that’s not true. He said she said.
No death is acceptable. Not one. But acceptable and understandable are two very different things.
