The civil war in Bosnia, between Muslims, Serbs and Croats, historical and traditional enemies, fought with ferocity, began in April 1992. After initial successful Serb campaigns, battle positions became entrenched, as warlords, who levied tolls on UN food aid convoys, fought a war of siege, bombardment and starvation, to defend their own locality. Western intervention was disastrous; it was a war which could not be stopped.

Western policies changed from supporting Bosnian entity, to division by cantons, and variations of those positions, as negotiations continued fruitlessly and endlessly. Uprooted refugees, ethnic cleansing, atrocities, concentration camps, broken promises and deceit, all became prominent features. Distrustful of Muslims, Western statesmen refused to raise the arms embargo against Bosnia so it could defend itself, or to allow NATO (American) warplanes to bomb Serbs.

In March 1994, when rival American and Russian initiatives brought about a ceasefire in Sarajevo, bombed continually for almost two years in full television spotlight, it was hoped it would spread and develop into a peace process. Much of Bosnia lay in media darkness. Bosnia may become some form of UN protectorate, a long-lasting one, as it will take time for roused ethnic emotions to cool down.