EmergencyNet News Service
8/4/96 -- 13:50CDT
British Allies Criticize Plan to Capture Karadzic
By Steve Macko, ENN Editor
LONDON (ENN) - A British newspaper on Sunday said that the U.S. has made plans to grab Bosnian Serb
leader Radovan Karadzic in a high-risk commando raid. The British government, on the other hand, believes
that such a move at this time could prove to be counter-productive.
Citing intelligence sources in both the United States and in Great Britain, the Sunday Times said that the U.S. is
planning upon seizing Karadzic in a daring airborne raid in the mountain resort of Pale, where Karadzic is
believed to be staying. In its report, the Times said that it believes that U.S. "intelligence assets," which include
undercover agents and operatives and equipment that are already in place for the mission.
If asked, the British government will not allow the use of its elite Special Air Service Regiment. The newspaper
said, "The British government fears that any effort to seize Karadzic could lead to reprisals against NATO
troops in Bosnia and risks re-igniting the war." Karadzic and Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic
have been indicted by the United Nations war crimes tribunal in the Hague for being responsible for the mass
murders of thousands of people.
The U.S. State Department is asked usually on a daily basis if there are any plans for NATO forces to arrest
the two wanted men. The answer has always been no. If true, a capture attempt on Karadzic would be change
in U.S. policy. A few weeks ago, Karadzic was forced to resign his official position and was exiled to staying
out of and influencing the upcoming elections that are to take place in September. But it appears, now, the U.S.
fears that Karaczic cannot be trusted.
The Sunday Times said, "Britain and other NATO allies believe that any raid will produce high casualties among
Karadzic's fiercely loyal 2,000-strong bodyguard and reprisals against NATO's 60,000 troops sent to Bosnia
to implement the Dayton peace pact. Britain, which has 13,000 troops in Bosnia, fears further that capturing
Karadzic risks derailing the Bosnian elections, considered the cornerstone of the peace agreement."
Speculation centers on a plan that would probably be carried out by elite U.S. Delta Force operatives, who would rapidly arrive in a strike
group of helicopter gunships. A possible plan would then involve operatives who would then slide down ropes, overcome any resistance by guards,
and carry off Karadzic into custody. Eventually, Karadzic would be turned over to the International Court in the Hague for prosecution on charges of war crimes.
In a report that was reportedly compiled by Great Britain's Joint Intelligence Committee, it was said that there
was not enough "hard intelligence" currently available to pinpoint Karadzic's exact position, to allow American
troops to launch a successful strike.
ENN will be closely monitoring this situation and provide updates as the information becomes available.
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