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Published: 1996

Total Pages: 33

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The Balkan crisis is the premier challenge to post Cold War involvement of the US military. While there have been other Operations Other Than War (OOTW), none have been to the extent of current involvement in Bosnia. Both the Congress and the American people have mixed reactions regarding the deployment of US forces to the region. The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War have changed the attitude of the American public and its Congress. Emphasis has shifted to a focus on domestic problems of the budget, health care reform and entitlements. Budgets across the federal government are being slashed while we proceed to engage in a costly peacekeeping operation which some claim has no bearing on US national interests. The purpose of this paper is to present an objective view of our involvement in Bosnia, (both pros and cons) and discuss the impact the Balkan crisis has had on US foreign policy. I'll try to convince the reader, that in spite of rational arguments for not participating, the cost of non-involvement could be far greater than we're presently incurring. Near-term domestic concerns cannot and should not be ignored, but strategic thinking requires looking past the present to the long range interests of the country. I hope to make it clear that no nation can serve as the world's policeman yet, the US must 'selectively engage' when it is in our best interests to do so. Bosnia is such a challenge.