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

287lines and troop movements. After approximately twelve flights, however, the CIA discontinuedoperations with the GNAT-750. The intended 30 missions did not go ahead due to bad weather,technical difficulties and problems with the relay of video images. 1529 They were later used to protectUS troops in Macedonia against possible attacks.In June 1994, the CIA renewed their efforts. It again wanted to fly three GNATs, preferablyfrom Italy and otherwise from Albania. The home base was eventually Albania once again, but a newlaunch-site was set up in Croatia in November 1994. Now the GNATs were also fitted with Sigintcapabilities to intercept communications and electronic traffic and radar emissions. As the GNAT wassuitable for Comint, the CIA could now easily intercept ground communication passing through GSMphones or Motorolas and other walkie-talkies. The new GNATs could follow convoys and could even1530distinguish between fake and authentic artillery fire.The GNATs appear to have played a key role in November 1994. The stationing of the twentymembers of the GNAT team on the island of Brac off the coast of Dalmatia (Operation Lofty View)coincided with the signing of the American-Croat military agreement on 29 November 1994. Accordingto the journalist David Binder, the placement of the GNATs in Croatia also had a lot to do with theBosnian-Serb counter-attacks against ABiH offensives. In return for their cooperation, the Croatianmilitary commanders received intelligence about the positions, troop movements and communicationlinks of the Bosnian Serbs. This information was allegedly also shared with the ABiH. 1531 At any rate,UAV flights by the CIA and the Pentagon were carried out in January 1995 in the air space of thewarring factions. 1532 As will be shown later, the eastern enclaves were also on the target list and photoswere taken by Predators. The GNATs definitely flew until 1996. 1533 At least, at the end of June 1995,GNAT UAVs with RG-8As were still flying for the Pentagon. 1534Apparently, the results delivered by the GNATs were disappointing, though, because reportsappeared before long that serious work was in progress to produce a successor. This would eventuallybe the Predator. 1535 The Predator, a more sophisticated version of the GNAT 750, falls under the ‘Tier2’ programme of the CIA. It is much larger than its predecessor, but the greatest difference is theaddition of a satellite data-link, which dispenses with the constant line-of-sight connection through theinterim station of the RG-8A. The Predators were allegedly deployed in July 1995. The Americans arealleged to have had Predator video footage of the murders in and around Srebrenica. 1536Images were indeed relayed by UAVs. Though the Predators were still in the test-flight phase,they were operational above Bosnia. These ground-controlled UAVs were deployed by the US DefenseDepartment and the CIA. The Predator therefore carried out various missions depending on the actual‘owner’, ranging from intelligence gathering on potential threats against US ground troops and planes(Defense Department) after the Dayton Accord to the collection of general intelligence on the warringparties (CIA). Hence, different types of UAVs were operational in the Balkans with Elint and Iminttasks. 15371529 ‘GNATs Weathered Out’, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 14/02/95, p. 19.1530 ‘spying on Bosnia’, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 06/06/95, p. 23 and David A. Fulgham, ‘CIA to fly missions frominside Croatia’, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 11/07/95, pp. 20 - 21.1531 David Binder, ‘GNATs for Bosnia’, The Nation, 08/05/95, pp. 620 - 621.1532 MoD, DCBC, File 792, DocId, 9221, AFSOUTH to ASCAL, 27/01/95.1533 David A. Fulgham, ‘Predator survives lost satellite link’, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 25/03/96, p. 24.1534 MoD, DOKP.u. STAOOPER. Telegram from Commander 5ATAF to AIG 5781, 27/06/95.1535 David A. Fulgham, ‘Tier 2 UAV aborts first test flight’, in Aviation Week and Space Technology, 11/07/95, p. 22 and DavidA. Fulgham, ‘Predator UAV produces high-quality images’, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 28/11/95, p. 62.1536 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 and Ian Bruce, ‘Allies hamper inquiry: Serb war crimes hidden’, The Glasgow Herald,01/12/95.1537 A tactical UAV, the Hunter, was deployed by the Pentagon in 1999 in Kosovo but probably never flew above Bosnia.See: Lt. Commander J.D.R. Dixon, UAV Employment in Kosovo: Lessons for the Operational Commander, Naval War Collegepaper, 08/02/00, p. 4.