Savannah Morning News Jasmin Imamovic, the mayor of Tuzla, wanted Hinesville Mayor Tom Ratcliffe to understand how much he values American forces patrolling his city of 140,000 people. Imamovic, after all, is a politician, and he understands the need for political support of any government's actions. So, he made sure to meet with Ratcliffe and explain his position. Some people in Bosnia-Herzegovina are afraid American forces will pull out. The city is ravaged by unemployment.
People are slow to let go of political and religious differences.
The country is in transition and improvement will take time, Imamovic said. He believes U.S. and NATO forces must stay for the long haul as the country mends. To grow, he says, the country needs investment, but investors won't come without peace. Imamovic says it is wise for the U.S. and other countries to get involved in the Balkans. The region was the ignition point for World Wars I and II, and peacekeeping prevents the outbreak of another world war, Imamovic said.