Where I Stand—Mike O’Callaghan: There’s more trouble than cheer for U.S. in Bosnia

Monday, Dec. 22, 1997 | 11:10 a.m.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON is in Bosnia today visiting U.S. troops prior to Christmas . This is as it should be, and plans for him for the holidays next year should include the Americans along Korea's DMZ. That's if something hasn't happened to further disturb the already shaky armistice that has existed there for 44 years.

In addition to his visiting our troops, there is expectation that the chief executive will express some policy views. The Wall Street Journal predicts that "@a speech in Sarajevo's restored Opera House, he will give a multi-ethnic Bosnian audience a tough-love message on their need to take responsibility for their future. The message he will send back home, say White House officials, is twofold: first, that Bosnia is getting back to normal; second, that we aren't going to solve all its problems for them."

Before leaving for Bosnia, Clinton made clear that he doesn't expect our troops to be withdrawn from that area next June 30 when the NATO mandate expires. He made this announcement last Thursday and surprised nobody by making it. If the international military units were withdrawn from Bosnia today, the blood would be flowing in the streets before 1998.

The Los Angeles Times points out that the president will have a selling job to do if our troops and NATO's are to remain in Bosnia. The Times says: "Through the NATO force and U.S. diplomats and civilian advisers, this nation has played a significant role in Bosnia's postwar change. But it has not been able to make the Serbs do what they choose not to. Nor has it been able to rid the Bosnian Muslim regime of Middle Eastern elements clearly inimical to NATO interests in Europe."

The problem with the Iranian-supported Muslims has not gone away. We shouldn't forget that the United States knew about the influx of arms from Iran as many as five years ago. With these arms came intelligence agents and military experts. The White House knew about this but refused to do anything to stop the flow of weapons. Despite a later agreement in Dayton, these agents and Muslim fighters have not left Bosnia. Two years ago, in this column, we discussed the problem the Iranians could and would cause in preventing any reasonable, peaceful settlement.

Mike O'Connor, a New York Times reporter, now tells us: "Iranian intelligence agents are mounting extensive operations in Bosnia and have infiltrated the American program to train the Bosnian Army, according to Western and Bosnian officials.

"The officials said they had identified more than 200 Iranian agents who, they believe, have quietly and methodically insinuated themselves into Bosnian Muslim political and social circles.

"Their aim appears to be both gathering information and thwarting Western interests in Bosnia. The officials said the American-supported military training program is a key target for subversion, because it aims to build an integrated Bosnian military in which Muslim and Croat forces work together under a joint command, an essential element in restoring political stability to the country and allowing NATO-led forces to withdraw."

No, the bad guys haven't kept their word and gone back to Iran. The United States can't continue to overlook this problem and pretend it will go away. We winked when the groundwork was laid five years ago, because we thought it would even the chances for the Muslims to defend themselves against the Serbs. Now the Iranian-trained Muslims are busy going about their devious business, waiting for NATO troops to leave. Then they will control another base for terrorism and also have the foothold they have long wanted in Europe.

All of this should come as no surprise to intelligent people watching the world. We are now at a point where some tough decisions must be made. Yes, tough decisions that should have been made five years ago when we closed our eyes to Iran's movement into Bosnia.