Sometimes Presidents have to make tough decisions. Sending young soldiers into dangerous places is one of the toughest. Last week President Bill Clinton appeared on national TV to explain why he had decided to send 20,000 U.S. soldiers to Bosnia.
"We will have the chance to stop the killing of innocent civilians, especially children," said the President. "It is the right thing to do."
The President knew that not everyone would agree. Many people in Congress and many ordinary citizens question whether U.S. soldiers should be sent on a dangerous mission in a faraway land.
A Shaky Peace Treaty
The President pointed out that the soldiers are not going to Bosnia to fight a war but to protect the peace. Two weeks ago, in Dayton, Ohio, Croatian, Serbian and Muslim leaders put their initials on a peace treaty. The treaty ended nearly four years of a war that left thousands dead and millions homeless.
The peace agreement brought relief to many Bosnians but anger to some. "Nobody can stop me from fighting for my land," said a Muslim refugee in northeastern Bosnia.
In the capital city of Sarajevo, thousands of Serbs filled the streets to protest the treaty. Sarajevo is divided into Muslim and Serbian areas. The treaty calls for Sarajevo to be a unified city, governed by Muslims. Many Serbs want Sarajevo to remain divided. They fear they will not be safe if the Muslims are in charge.
The Soldiers' Mission
Still, many Bosnians welcome the peace and the soldiers whose job it is to protect it. Peacekeepers from as many as 25 different nations will join U.S. troops. Their mission is to separate the enemies, enforce new borders and make sure the shooting stops.
It won't be easy. Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has warned that Bosnia is "going to bleed for decades."
U.S. troops will be sent to the city of Tuzla. The first few soldiers arrived last week. The area is full of dangerous explosives called land mines. United Nations experts have been working to remove them.
Just two days after his speech, President Clinton left on a trip to Europe. In Germany, he will talk to U.S. soldiers headed for Bosnia. The President has called their mission to wage peace "heroic."