November 22, 1995:
President Clinton does not need Congress' approval to send U.S. troops to Bosnia, but the stakes are high if he does not have any public support. Jim Whooten reports from D.C. about President Clinton's immediate task of explaining and defending his decision to deploy 20,000 U.S. troops in Bosnia. The report outlines President Clinton's strategy for winning the approval of the American people, beginning with a national radio address and ending with the signing of the Peace Treaty in Paris. Of 60,000 NATO troops, 20,000 will move into Bosnia with or without the support of republican leaders. Statements are made by President Clinton, Senator Bob Dole, and Senator Phil Gramm. Footage includes President Clinton serving food at a homeless shelter, U.S. Army Survey Team soldiers, and President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright getting off a plane. Ron Allen reports from Sarajevo on the return of the Bosnian government delegation from Paris. Stating that negotiators have done the best they could, President Alija Izetbegovic returned from the Paris Peace signing. His Prime Minister, Haris Silajdzic, stresses the importance of the implementation which follows the signing of the treaty. Discussed are some of the provisions of the peace agreement which many Bosnians feel very skeptic about. Indicted war criminals, particularly indicted Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and his General Ratko Mladic are to be banned from power. Nikola Koljevic, Karadzic's deputy, said that the plan was a big mistake and that no one had the right to sign it on the Bosnian Serbs' behalf . The general feeling among Bosnian Serbs is that of betrayal. Sarajevo is to be an open and unified city. Both sides will have to remove barricades and troops situated along the front lines. The one million refugees will have the right to reclaim their homes or receive compensation. To many Bosnian Muslim refugees it seems impossible to live on Bosnian Serb territory. A Bosnian Serb and a Bosnian Muslim refugee woman comment on the peace treaty. Footage features crowds welcoming the Bosnian government delegation in Sarajevo, Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic greeting General Ratko Mladic, Serb civilians walking around Ilidza, barriers around the city of Sarajevo, a barricade being removed in Sarajevo, images of Sarajevo's suburb Grbavica, Bosnian Muslim refugee women, a Bosnian Muslim woman carrying a blanket during winter time, and Bosnian Serb TV footage of a Bosnian Serb woman in Ilidza commenting on the peace agreement. In return for the Bosnian Serb signing of the treaty, the UN voted to suspend economic sanctions against Serbia, and to ease the arms embargo of the Bosnian government.
November 23, 1995:
The leader of the Bosnian Serbs has accepted the U.S.-brokered peace agreement to end the four-year long war in Bosnia, despite opposition by some Bosnian Serb officials. Jim Bidderman reports from Bad Kreuznach in Germany where U.S. troops are stationed. Several U.S. soldiers comment on their possible deployment in Bosnia. Statements are made by 1st Armored Division Specialist Anthony Mitchell, 1st Brigade Commander Colonel Gregory Fontenot, Communications Officer Mike Pedrosa (sp.?), and his wife Debbie. Footage includes a U.S. soldier and his family praying over a thanksgiving dinner, a thanksgiving church service, and the Pedrosa family thanksgiving dinner.
Tony Birtley reports from Tuzla air base in northeast Bosnia, the future air base for the American troops in Bosnia. The airbase has been a target of Bosnian government soldiers frequently raiding the place for food and equipment, and Bosnian Serb shelling which it was subjected to before the cease-fire. There is also an abundance of abandoned land mines and unexploded bombs which are strewn all over the area. Aside from Tuzla airport, U.S. troops will be covering a mountainous area of around 2,000 square miles where the front line between the Bosnian Serb and Bosnian government forces lies. Anti-American sentiments are high among Bosnian Serbs in Tuzla. Tuzla is also home to 60,000 Bosnian Muslim refugees who fled Srebrenica after it was overrun by Bosnian Serb forces. Two Bosnian Serb young men comment on the arrival of U.S. troops. UN spokesman Lt. Col. Chris Vernon and Sead Avdic, Deputy Mayor of Tuzla make a brief statement. Footage includes a helicopter landing in Tuzla air base, Bosnian Serb tank fire, an unexploded bomb, the UN checkpoint at Tuzla airport, soldiers (which army?) along the front line in Northern Bosnia, and Bosnian Muslim refugees. Ron Allen reports from Sarajevo on the results of the peace negotiations in Serbia. Serbian television reported that Serbian president Milosevic convinced Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to implement the peace plan in its entirety. This means that Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic would have to step down from their positions because they have been indicted for crimes against humanity. According to Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic, this move is important, as it will help to implement peace in Bosnia. There is concern that the Bosnian Serbs and their army would attempt to destroy the deal. Statements are made by former European Union Mediator Lord Owen, and a Bosnian Serb soldier. Footage includes Serbian TV footage of their (whose?) opening credits, Karadzic speaking at a Bosnian Serb parliament meeting, General Mladic greeting UN soldiers, Bosnian Serb soldiers, Bosnian Serb TV interviewing a Bosnian Serb soldier, street life in the Serb enclave of Sarajevo.
November 28, 1995:
The issue of the deployment of U.S. troops in Bosnia has brought into question U.S. credibility in international affairs. John McWethy reports on President Clinton's efforts to gather support for his Bosnia policy. President Clinton lobbied in Congress and then brought both party leaders for a question-answer session at the White House. He emphasized that the values, the interests of the American people, the leadership of the country, and the partnership with U.S. allies is at stake. Highlighted is also the split between Republican party members, particularly Senator Bob Dole and Senator Phil Gramm. The Senate Arms Committee concluded that the President must be supported on this issue. Statements are made by Senator Bob Dole, Senator Phil Gramm, Senator Mitch McConnell, former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, and former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger. Footage includes U.S. soldiers in training, U.S. soldiers boarding a helicopter, and a UN helicopter taking off from Tuzla airport. President Clinton is determined to send troops to Bosnia with or without the approval of Congress. According to a survey, the majority of the American public opposes the sending of U.S. troops to Bosnia. Some Republicans claim that President Clinton is more likely to gain support for his Bosnia policy if he is flexible regarding the budget negotiations.
Brit Hume reports on President Clinton's visit to Britain, where he is to participate in the Ireland peace talks. In regards to the Bosnia peace agreement, British Prime Minister John Major hailed the brokered peace agreement as a breakthrough deserving the military support of both countries. President Clinton later addressed both houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. Footage includes President Clinton shaking hands with Prime Minister John Major, President Clinton speaking in Westminster Hall, President Clinton and Hillary Clinton greeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, and the American soldiers whose duty it is to prepare the air base in Tuzla. Thousands of Serbs demonstrated in Iladja (a suburb of Sarajevo) against losing three Sarajevo suburbs to the Bosnian government.
Unidentified date: Ever since the plan for sending U.S. troops to Bosnia was announced, many Republicans in Congress have been critical. John McWethy reports on the congressional turnaround in supporting the President's decision to send troops to Bosnia. This report is cut off.