This monograph begins by reviewing the current strategic situation in Bosnia. President Clinton's security strategy, A National Security Strategy of Engagenient and Enlargement provides the means to analyze how the United States developed its policy to stop the Bosnian Civil War. The fundamental research goal is to determine if it is in the vital security interests of the United States to deploy forces to the former Yugoslavian region of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The study reveals the significant impact Bosnia's past plays while developing America's strategic concepts to establish peace and stability in the region. There is also analysis of the three former warring factions exposing the problems of shared history but an incompatible perception of the past. This author concludes the current deployment of troops to Bosnia is not in our vital interests because America's survival is not at risk. However, there certainly remains interest at risk for the United States that validate the President's decision to commit America's national power to end the war. A lack of American leadership in stopping the Bosnian conflict could ultimately unravel the new American three-fold strategy for Europe.

ADA 331263 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)