A nation must think before it acts.
Like most military units, the U.N. Protection Forces (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia operate under explicit Rules of Engagement (ROE), or written orders defining when the troops can use force. The ROE printed here were issued by General Jean Cot, then commander of U.N. forces, and were intended to establish the conditions under which the forces could use their weapons as they carry out the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. (As of this writing, the ROE were due to be re-issued under the current U.N. commander, General Michael Rose, but were expected to be similar.)