Air Strikes

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic issued a veiled warning last night that no foreigners would be safe in Bosnia if the North Atlantic Treaty Organization launches air strikes against his positions in and around Sarajevo.In a televised interview from his stronghold of Pale, Mr. Karadzic said Bosnian Serbs "would defend ourselves with all means."But, he added, "I do think that, if there would be any air strikes, we would partially lose control. And in the ensuing chaos, anything is possible.

Brussels -- When the NATO Council meets tomorrow to discuss U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's call for authorization for air strikes in Bosnia, it will be in the firm knowledge that such a call could be answered "in a maximum of 30 minutes."More than 140 fighters and bombers under NATO command are deployed at Italian bases and on aircraft carriers close to the Bosnian coast ready for the order to strike.Hundreds of shells fall on Sarajevo each day from the estimated 230 artillery pieces and T-55 tanks ringing Sarajevo.

Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher was in PARIS to meet French leaders, who want the United States to intervene militarily in Bosnia. In WASHINGTON, President Clinton remained cautious, saying that there were limits to how much the international community could do to halt bloodshed and that there was no consensus among NATO leaders for air strikes.Only swift, retaliatory air strikes will end aggression by the warring factions, Lt. Gen. Francis Briquemont of Belgium said in SARAJEVO, where his command of U.N. peacekeepers was transfered Lt. Gen. Sir Michael Rose of Britain.

Embarrassed by a record of empty bombast, NATO continues to trip over itself in dealing with the murderous civil war in Bosnia. By renewing its threat to launch aerial strikes at Bosnian Serb forces hindering United Nations relief operations, it once again faces the risk of ending up doing nothing or getting entangled in a conflict practically of all its members would rather avoid.President Clinton has demonstrated American clout by bringing Britain and France into line behind long-held U.S. offers to use its air power to end the "strangulation" of Sarajevo and (this is new)

Bill threatens the Bosnian Serbs with air strikes so often, even he doesn't take it seriously.President Chamorro will boot General Ortega from command of Nicaragua's army, so she says.What can you do with a league that considers Green Bay, Wis., a major league town?

WASHINGTON -- With a single call to NATO headquarters, United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali can set into motion an air assault against Bosnian Serb targets by the largest collection of allied military power in Europe since World War II.About 65 North Atlantic Treaty Organization warplanes, more than 30 from the United States alone, were poised yesterday to launch air strikes of varying intensity in and around Sarajevo if Mr. Boutros-Ghali decides...

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton played down assertions yesterday that U.S. warplanes would act alone to stop the Bosnian Serb onslaught in Sarajevo, predicting confidently that European allies will back his initiative for tougher military action to stop the bloodshed.As NATO ambassadors met in Brussels to consider U.S. proposals for greater Western military intervention in Bosnia, Mr. Clinton told reporters here: "We are working with the allies. We believe we will be able to work through to a common position."

Making foreign policy becomes very difficult for an American administration when moral values are in conflict with other national interests. This is the situation that President Clinton confronts as he makes decisions regarding Bosnia and China.Should the administration use force to save Bosnian Muslims from destruction in spite of the uncertainties that almost inevitably accompany the use of force? Can Mr. Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher stand passively by while another people is destroyed in the heart of Europe?