Bosnian U2 fans
Angela Pancella ([email protected])
Sun, 12 Jul 1998 09:41:40 -0500
In today's (7/12/98) St. Louis Post-Dispatch, there's an article by the
fabulous Harry Levins called "GIs in Bosnia are protected by being
isolated." It's talking about US troops and what they're doing these days
in Brcko, Bosnia. An excerpt:
"...Some soldiers leave the bases armed mainly with stacks of a glossy
magazine called Mirko, a play on the Serbo-Croation word for 'peace.'
"Among them is Spec. Adam Koeneman, 19, of Oakville, MO., an Army
Reservist in a psychological operations unit--propaganda troops.
"Rather than patrolling, Koeneman spends his days strolling around Bosnian
communities handing out copies of Mirko. The magazine is part soccer news,
part rock lyrics, part celebrity gossip--and part low-key propaganda about
peace and unity...
"The Serbs grab for copies of Mirko. In fact, they run across streets and
bolt from doorways to get copies. Many ask for back issues. Only a very
few spurn Koeneman coldly, like airport travelers brushing off religious
tracts.
"...Koeneman must tote his M-16 and wear his combat gear--'battle rattle,'
the GIs call it.
"But through some quirk, the Army's rules fall more softly on Staff Sgt.
Eric Soto, 23, an Army Reservist also from Oakville...
"Soto's work takes him indoors, where battle rattle would seem especially
intimidating. He hands out aoudio and video tapes to broadcasters.
"The tapes are packed with pop and rock music by the likes of Megadeth, U2
and Alanis Morisette. The commercials, of course, tout peace."
Angela
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on Sun Jul 12 1998 - 08:58:07 PDT