Air strikes shifting balance of power

September 13, 1995
Web posted at: 7:50 p.m. EDT (2350 GMT)

From Correspondent Jim Clancy

NAPLES, Italy (CNN) -- While Russia condemns the air strikes against the Bosnian Serbs as genocide, NATO is limiting the scope of the air campaign to avoid upsetting the balance of power along the front lines.

There is ample evidence that the air campaign is hitting its targets, homing in on ammunition dumps, communication links and logistics.

Analysts say that even though NATO is hitting the Serbs behind the front lines, the powerful and accurate air strikes are toppling the balance of power. This is forcing the Serb's military commander, Gen. Radko Mladic, up against the wall. "General Mladic is putting a brave face on a losing military situation," said analyst Spyros Economides of the London School of Economics. "He cannot take on the might of NATO but at the same time, NATO is faced with the problem it may tilt the balance completely and force the Bosnian Serbs to act militarily when they don't them want to."

The tilting balance may be evident in Western Bosnia, where combined Croat and Muslim forces succeeded in pushing the Serbs back from around the key city of Donji Vakuf. The Serbs had held the city since late 1992. Bosnian Government forces also captured an important road linking Tuzla and the city of Zenica to the north.

The view at the headquarters of the NATO allies in southern Europe hasn't changed: Ending the air strikes is up to General Mladic and the Bosnian Serbs. "The strikes will affect his military capabilities," said Adm. Leighton Smith. "It is up to him to decide how much of that he's willing to stand. It is up to him to decide when he wants to quit. When he comes across to the conditions that have been laid on the table, as far as I can determine, it will stop."

The Bosnian Serbs have rejected NATO's conditions, arguing they need heavy artillery to offset the Bosnian government's superior numbers along the front lines around Sarajevo. The Serbs are relying on their supporters in Russia to derail the air campaign diplomatically. But so far, the fighter attack planes are still in the skies.

NATO categorically rejects Russian claims the offensive is causing large numbers of civilian casualties. "I've just not seen that evidence," Smith said. "And I think if it were, in fact, true, there were large numbers of civilian casualties, you would not be here. You would be invited, with your camera crews, and take pictures."

NATO sources said that despite diplomatic maneuvering this week, Operation Deliberate Force will go ahead, taking aim at a wider range of targets all across Bosnian Serb territory.

Air strikes shifting balance of power

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