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Retorspective on the Bosnian war
- Thread starter FluffyMcDeath
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That's a gross over simplification of history there. We're talking about a region that has had conflict for hundreds of years dating back to the Ottoman Empire, pinning it on any one event or any one person is beyond ridiculous. The fact is that ultra-nationalism was the only thing people had in common throughout the former republic. There was a referendum in Bosnia less than a month before the Zimmerman meeting where over 90% of the voters voted for independence - with of course the Serbian minority boycotting. Personally, I think the Lisbon agreement had no real chance of lasting under such conditions, the hate was already there. The only way to prevent that war would have been through strong intervention, and even then probably not.
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We will never know, but there was a basis for further talks and it could have defused the situation.
But there was strong intervention. The Americans told one side to renege on the agreement and the US would fully back them. That emboldened one side to start firing on the other.
(Same game plan as Libya - many of the same players too according to my sources).
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If Izetbegović was serious about peace he would have never held a referendum. It makes no sense to hold a referendum, have an overwhelming vote and then completely ignore it. How do you think the Quebecers would have reacted if 90%+ of voters voted to separate from Canada and the provincial government ignored it and decided to stay in the union? In such a situation the government itself would be at risk. Most likely scenario: Izetbegović railroaded himself into war.
Actually, you have no idea what the US said to Izetbegović. I'm not sure if we even know exactly what Zimmerman said. And regardless of what Zimmerman did say, we don't know if he was in fact representing US policy or his own personal views. And if I were to go to war and depended on a foreign power, I wouldn't talk to ambassadors. I'd talk to the very top. You know, sorta like this guy.
And I also wouldn't place too much weight on what Serbians say about it either. Personally, I'd take everything from anyone in that entire region with a bucket load of salt - truth is the first casualty of war.