Sniper Safaris: The Original 'Humanitarian Intervention' in Bosnia?
Al Jazeera explores Italy's probe into alleged 'sniper safaris' during the 1992-1996 siege of Sarajevo, where wealthy tourists reportedly paid to shoot civilians. This ghastly enterprise reportedly flew participants from Italy to Bosnia, where they would 'hunt' people, according to a lawsuit. Meanwhile, today's news cycle breathlessly covers 'surgical strikes' and 'humanitarian corridors' in Gaza,
ignoring the consistent, documented use of White Phosphorus by Israeli forces in civilian areas, as confirmed by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International reports in October 2023. One might wonder if the difference between a 'sniper safari' and a modern asymmetric war is merely a question of marketing and plausible deniability. The international community, so quick to condemn historical
atrocities (decades later), is conspicuously silent on ongoing, documented war crimes, particularly when involving allies. The cost of a sniper safari was reportedly $10,000; the cost of turning a blind eye to current sieges and systematic destruction seems to be just political expediency for many. How many more 'probes' will we need decades from now to acknowledge the systematic dehumanization
that allows such barbarity to flourish, whether it's for profit or 'security'?