Opinions on Bosnia mixed in small town

December 2, 1995
Web posted at: 11:55 p.m. EST

From Correspondent Jed Duvall

MOUNT AIRY, Maryland (CNN) -- Bosnia seems a long way from Mount Airy, Maryland, an old farm town beyond the suburbs of Baltimore and Washington. For many of the people who live in the small community, it's hard to see why U.S. troops should get involved in the Balkan conflict.

Karen Cheatwood is among those who believes it's a bad time for U.S. troops to go to the Balkans. "I think they should be able to handle it themselves over there," she said. (66K AIFF sound or 66K WAV sound)

High school teacher Bob Washek, an Army vet who went to Vietnam, takes different view. "I think the cease-fire, if the English, the Americans, and the French participate with NATO and show resolve ... it might work," he says . But if this were Vietnam, would he advise the same? "If I was in the Army, sure." (110K AIFF sound or 110K WAV sound)

To Steve Jiron, a government map maker, the Bosnia mission just doesn't look good. "I truly don't think they should be sending them over. This has been going on a long time and the United States always ends up as the clean-up team in other countries. We have enough problems right here," Jiron said. (176K AIFF sound or 176K WAV sound)

High school student Angela Vogel agrees. "I think we have enough problems here in our own state and in this country that we need to focus on." (50K AIFF sound or 50K WAV sound)

But Winslow Burhans, a cabinet maker, says that it's the United State's role to help.

"I don't have a problem with it. After all, look at Desert Storm. We helped people there. We're the strongest nation in the world; we should help the rest of the world." (116K AIFF sound or 116K WAV sound)

In Mount Airy, with the cold moving in and Christmas near, Bosnia is likely to continue to seem like a far-off concern. That could change, though, if things heat up for the U.S. troops.

Opinions on Bosnia mixed in small town

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