Sometimes the decision not to use force, to stay our hand, I can tell you, it's just as difficult as the decision to send our soldiers into battle. The former Yugoslavia, well, it's been such a situation. There are, we all know, important humanitarian and strategic in- terests at stake there. But up to now it's not been clear that the ap- plication of limited amounts of force by the United States and its traditional friends and allies would have had the clesired effect given the nature and complexity of that situation. Our assessment of the situation in the former Yugoslavia could well change if and as the situation changes.
Military force is never a tool to be used lightly or universally.
I know that many people wouIcl like to find some formula, some easy formula to apply, to tell us with precision when and where to intervene with force. Inevitably, the question of military intervention re- quires judgment. Each and every case is unique. To adopt rigid cri- teria would guarantee mistakes involving American interests and American lives. It could signal U.S. friends and allies that our support was not to be counted on.