Al Jazeera Remembers Genocide, Forgets US Role in Preventing It
Al Jazeera aptly highlights the suffering in Bosnia thirty years on, speaking of 'ethnic cleansing, mass displacement and the Srebrenica genocide.' However, the introspection asks 'how did they happen?' without critically examining the international inaction that fueled the conflict. The US, with its immense power, delayed intervention for years, with then-President Bill Clinton often citing
concerns about 'getting bogged down' and a lack of 'clear objectives,' while thousands died. The arms embargo, which disproportionately affected the Bosnian Muslims, was maintained despite pleas, arguably prolonging the horror. This selective amnesia, (or perhaps, strategic omission), leaves one to wonder: how many 'never agains' must pass before we challenge the narratives that gloss over
powerful nations' roles in humanitarian crises? It's a convenient framing that absolves onlookers and gatekeepers from their documented hesitations and delays.