Mixed Messages on Accountability

While the administration's vision of democracy was more complete than that of its predecessors, its record in pressing for accountability for those who commit gross abuse-also a critical element of any meaningful democracy-was mixed. In a November speech, Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., rejected amnesty for war criminals in the former Yugoslavia, and raised the specter of sanctions if governments refuse to extradite indicted defendants for trial before the international war crimes tribunal. The speech was tremendously important in rebuffing those governments (particularly Britain and France) that would risk the long-term dangers of impunity for gross abuse in favor of the short-term attractions of peace without justice and a quick exit for their U.N. troops. By setting forth a workable plan to try war criminals, the speech went a long way toward silencing skeptics who say that the pursuit of justice is available only to a battlefield victor.

The administration also sought accountability in Iraq by supporting the U.N.'s establishment of a separate U.N. war crimes tribunal to address atrocities committed by Baghdad's troops during the Persian Gulf War and its aftermath. However, little progress was made on this campaign in 1993.

Since no U.S. troops were in harm's way in Iraq or the former Yugoslavia in 1993, the administration's support for accountability would have been much more principled, and powerful, if it had extended to Somalia, where U.S. troops are deeply involved, or to Haiti, where U.S. interest in a political solution is high. Instead, while the Clinton administration was preoccupied with U.N. efforts to arrest General Aideed for the alleged role of his troops in attacking U.N. troops, it made no effort to hold accountable those responsible for the mass starvation of Somalis, let alone to ensure an independent investigation into the conduct of U.N. forces. In Haiti, it exerted quiet but strong pressure on President Aristide to close off the possibility of prosecution for human rights crimes and to abandon his quest to dismiss from the Haitian military those behind widespread atrocities.