General Ratko Mladic, Bosnian Serb Army Commander

Famous for: Commander of the Bosnian Serbs' armed forces. The ``Daily Telegraph'' lists him among the 30 warlords worldwide at present, adding that the officers who have negotiated with him consider him a tactical genius and a madman. He oversees all Bosnian Serb military operations, so that all that is ascribed to themethnic cleansing, camps, etc. could not have taken place without his approval or knowledge. It is believed that he plays an important role in the political life of the Serb Republic in BH, many believe that his role is more significant than that of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.

How does he fight: Mladic has a relatively small army (100,000 men) at his disposal, compared to the territory he controls (70% of BH), but compared to the other warring sides he has absolute superiority in artillery and tanks and a firm logistics support. He avoids classic battles, and concentrates his troops along lines of communication and around enemy strongholds in order that he might soften up the other side by prolonged and random shelling. He later captures these targets with small elite units and through skillful maneuvers. If he can't capture a target he destroys it using artillery, thus engaging a large number of enemy troops and paralyzing civilian lifee.g. Sarajevo. Favorite commands: ``Drive them crazy'' and ``Burn.''

How does he conduct politics: Mladic never shies away from the media, and takes every opportunity for underscoring the suffering of the Serbian people and Serb military success. He insists that ``offensives are his destiny,'' i.e., that he never withdraws. He regards the Igman and Sarajevo cases (when he was forced to step backed. note) as political affairs. Some regard this as Mladic's political independence (he is the ``caring father'' who will not betray, and who will always protect), compared to politicians who are, by definition, unreliable; others believe that he is just playing an allotted role. Mladic is skillful at manipulating people who think like he does; he greeted pensioners at the Sava Conference Center with ``Comrades'' and received ovations. Asked why he had done so, he said it was what all those present had wished to hear.

How did he enter war and politics: Mladic appeared before the public eye shortly after arriving in Knin, where, compared to the majority of Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) officers he adapted very quickly to the newly arisen situation. He cooperated with Police Minister at the time Milan Martic (currently president of the Republic of Serb Krajina) and Milan Babic (president of RSK at the time), training local reservists, and, as he admitted, he ``relied on healthy forces in the units.'' It is important to mention that the Knin Corps were under the direct command of the General Staff at the time. In short, Mladic proved to be ``the right man in the right place'': he instigated the war in the villages of Kijevo and Vrlika (Knin Krajina), was active during the Zadar and Kupres operations, and was finally promoted Chief of the General Staff of the Serb Republic in BH Army on May 12, 1992 in Banja Luka.

Qualifications: Graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade in 1965. Posted to platoon commander in Skopje, battalion commander in Kumanovo (Macedonia), brigade commander in Stip (Macedonia), Third Army head of teaching department (19891991), assistant commander in the rear of the Pristina Corps (January 14June 26, 1991), chief of operationalteaching activities of Knin Corps, Chief of staff and Commander of Knin Corps, and finally, specially promoted to general and Bosnian Serb Army Commander.

Reputation: Exceptionally popular with the troops because of frequent visits to the front lines. Insists on being omnipotent: ``When I guarantee something, it's like the Lord above did,'' i.e., brags of sparing those parts in which he knows ``decent'' Croats and Muslims, e.g, he banned the shelling of Dubravica near Skradin because of a certain Ante Lace. Mladic has a show off streak: at the start of the war he passed through Croatian lines claiming to be colonel Stjepan Fazlijan, talked with Croat soldiers, bought them beer and sweets for their children... Mladic is arrogant with international negotiators (he told Lord Owen that he shouldn't be disappointed with the Serbs' turning down of the peace plan, but to change the maps). The current xenophobic atmosphere only serves to push up his ratings.

How powerful is he, in fact: there are assessments that after Gorazde he is more powerful than ever. He has shown Karadzic, who had accused him of ``idiotic and irresponsible statements'' (I'll bomb London), that a monolithic army stands behind him. He has forced Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to agree to a joint photograph after negotiations with UN representatives in Belgrade. In fact, the only thing that functions in the Serb Republic in BH is his army, and the only real success of the Bosnian Serbs are his victories. Mladic underscores that the ordinary Serb soldiers are responsible for all the success, leading one to ask, in that case, what is their commander like?

General Ratko Mladic's Talk

``Srebrenica used to be a large Islamic and Turkish stronghold since their arrival in the region... The settlement was built on the Serb land. Therefore, by the rules of heritage, it does not belong to them althouth they were the majority population.'' February 1994

``The offensive is a dominant form of the armed conflict if you ask me. I've got an offensive character. The leadership of the Bosnian Serb Republic and the headquarters of the Bosnian Serb Army have accepted this strategy and the way of warfare, that would eventually produce appropriate effects. Our goals will be fulfilled with minumum losses.''

February 1994

``Morrillion is an old fox. He is a great brigand.'' May 1993

``Why would my life be more precious than that of any other fighter in a trench?'' February 1994

``Scorch and kill everything!''

An order via radioconnection, recorded and broadcast by Radio Sarajevo. It was denied by General Mladic, who claimed that his voice on the tape was an electronic imitation May 1993

``If they bomb us, I'll bomb London.'' May 1993

``The biggest obstacle to peace iswar.'' May 1993

``We had better fought Italy and Austria and those powers that actually declared war on us, while setting up our poor Slovenes, Croats and Muslims as bait and cannon fodder.'' May 1993

``Would you please tell me who's that man Owen when he's so deeply concerned about the destiny of the Serbs in the former republic BosniaHerzegovina. Mladic is not creating Greater Serbia but only protecting his country the same way Lord Owen would.'' November 1992

``One more attack and I'll shoot down your planes. I cannot guarantee safety to UNPROFOR. I'll attack both UNPROFOR and your headquarters.''

In the conversation with General Rose immediately after the first NATO strike against Bosnian Serb positions around Gorazde April 1994