Re:hum (Score 3, Interesting)

Yes, the mission was poorly planned and organized, and far outside the capabilities of the DUTCHBAT. But it's not as though they even "did what they could." Many soldiers surrendered their positions and (unfired) weapons to the Serbians when asked and walked back to their base unarmed. Those who didn't abandon their posts stood idly by to watch as civilians were raped, maimed, and murdered (OK, a few had the foresight to make photographs or video recordings, which helped get countries such as the US involved and eventually settle the conflict.) The commander of the Dutch mission had been videotaped enjoying coffee and chitchat with Serbian militia leaders the previous day. None of this gels with the Dutch self-image as a bastion of human rights and respect for international law, however, so no one in the Netherlands likes to talk about it and I'm not surprised that you're so poorly informed.