Friday marked the anniversary of a tragic failure by the United Nations. On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb forces attacked Srebrenica, a U.N. protected zone, and killed as many as 8,000 Muslims.

The dead were hidden in mass graves throughout the countryside. To date, 5,000 bodies have been exhumed.

Serbian leaders Radovan Karadzic and Rotako Mladic remain at large despite international efforts to find them and prosecute them on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

The memory of Srebrenica is important as we examine circumstances in Iraq and Africa. U.N. participation in peacekeeping missions is by no means a guarantee of success. And allowing an accused war criminal to escape for short-term gains could delay justice and peace indefinitely.

Liberian President Charles Taylor has said he would step down if the United States commits troops to a mission in his country. Rebels, who have the capital surrounded, said Friday they would fight any peacekeepers who arrive before Taylor relinquishes power. Any deployment before Taylor leaves, the rebels maintain, would allow the president to maintain his grasp on authority. Taylor has been indicted by a war crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone.

Compelling appeals from the citizens of Liberia and neighboring countries urge U.S. involvement in any United Nations action. The history of this conflict offers not a hint that the country will be easily calmed. Building peace in Liberia will take time and patience. There are no assurances that American guns can secure peace, despite our military’s training and proficiency.

The Bush administration is justified in its deliberate consideration of committing American forces to this war-ravaged country.
Mixed messages
Town officials in Clinton are considering an agreement to lease brand new police cars for just $1. That sounds like a great deal. The catch is that the company providing the cars gets to sell advertising that would appear on the vehicles.

Cash-strapped municipalities are looking for every available means to ease budget demands. And the idea of new equipment at virtually no cost is appealing. Government Acquisitions Inc., which supplies the squad cars, does not allow ads for guns, liquor, gambling or tobacco and can limit other ads that it deems inappropriate.

Seeking new public safety equipment is a worthy goal, but we can’t support selling advertising on police cars. Police officers should not be used as rolling billboards.

Government should limit the message on cruisers to something more akin to the police department’s core responsibilities: To serve and protect.


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