C. Wiebes - Intelligence en de oorlog in Bosnië 1992-1995. De rol van de inlichtingen- en veiligheidsdiensten - Engels

278The principal aim of this chapter is to clarify the ‘story’ behind these satellite images. It willbegin by studying the general substance of the various accusations. Section 2 will present an inventoryof the ‘eyes’ which the international intelligence community (also in the Netherlands) had at its disposalin Bosnia in the summer of 1995 and answer the question whether these instruments were actuallydeployed above Eastern Bosnia at that time. The images in question taken from the air are referred toas ‘Imagery Intelligence’ (Imint). The section will conclude by discussing the limitations of imageryintelligence.Section 3 will explore the question whether Imint was also shared with UNPROFOR and theNATO allies and whether the photos – if available – were passed on by US intelligence services.Section 4 will analyse the ‘discovery process’ of the photos. Various interpretations and versions of thisprocess have been mooted over the years. Concrete evidence – the actual photos, in so far as thesehave been released – will be used to ascertain what kind of photos were taken and on which dates. Thedeployment and success of Imint have always been cloaked in obscurity. Some claim that more Imintexisted than has been published to date. Photos taken by US satellites and spy planes purportedly showthe location where the estimated 4,000 men were taken by the Serbs. 1473 However, the first reports thatthe Americans had photos indicating a planned VRS attack on Srebrenica did not surface until October1995. A journalist said to have heard this from sources in the US intelligence community. US Intelligencealso allegedly had photos of mass executions to the north of Srebrenica. 1474The argument that was put forward for not passing on the intelligence on the planned attackwas that nothing could be allowed to upset President Clinton’s efforts to broker a peace deal. 1475 Theimplicit suggestion here is that the Bosnian Serbs had a free hand to go ahead. Several weeks later,reports appeared in the press that US satellites and unmanned spy planes had taken photos of tank andartillery concentrations in the vicinity of the enclave. Allegedly, reinforcements of VRS infantry were alsoobserved from the air and from space. This prior knowledge of VRS movements was not, however,communicated to UNPROFOR. Officers at UNPROFOR were said to be somewhat embittered by this‘cynical behaviour’ on the part of the Americans. 1476At the end of 1995, reports again emerged of the operations of unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs). The Sunday Telegraph and The Herald International Tribune both claimed that UAVs had beendeployed above Bosnia and that the Americans had video footage from Predators (unmanned aircraftvehicles) of the murders in and around Srebrenica. 1477 The accuracy of these allegations will beaddressed in this chapter. To begin with, a few things need to be placed in perspective: the principalquestion is whether photos existed of the military preparations of the Bosnian Serbs in addition to thephotos of mass graves.and the estimated number of executed Muslim males. The finger of blame was also pointed at the press who had not takenthe trouble to sound out the situation locally. See the letter of George Jatras, ‘Vilifying the Serbian Scapegoat’, TheWashington Times, 20/07/97. For a more or less identical story see: Stella L. Jatras, ‘srebrenica - Code Word to Silence Criticsof US Policy in the Balkans’, 31/07/00. At: www.antiwar.com/orig/jatras.3.html1473 ‘Onduidelijkheid over nieuwe luchtfotos val Srebrenica’ (Obscurity on the new aerial photos of Srebrenica), DrentscheCourant, 23/09/98. This report appeared in most of the GPD newspapers.1474 Andreas Zumach, ‘US Intelligence knew Serbs were planning an assault on Srebrenica’, Basic Reports, No. 47, 16/10/95.See also: ‘VS wisten van komende val Srebrenica’ (US knew of impending fall of Srebrenica), Nederlands Dagblad, 13/10/95;‘VS wisten al weken tevoren van val Srebrenica’ (UN knew weeks in advance of the fall of Srebrenica), De Gelderlander,13/10/95.1475 See also: ‘Amerikanen verzwegen voorkennis Srebrenica’ (Americans withheld foreknowledge of Srebrenica), De Stem,13/10/95.1476 Ian Bruce, ‘US let safe haven fall. US knew of Serb build-up’, The Glasgow Herald, 24/10/95. See also: Ian Bruce, ‘Cover-Up led NATO to betray Muslims’, The Glasgow Herald, 20/04/01.1477 Ambrose Evand-Pritchard, ‘Americans bow to forces of realpolitik in Bosnia: US steps in only when the minefield isclear’, The Sunday Telegraph, 26/11/95; Ian Bruce, ‘Allies hamper inquiry: Serb war crimes hidden’, The Glasgow Herald,01/12/95.