From the archives: Rob McCartney travels to Bosnia in 2003 seeing firsthand the destruction of war
Everywhere you go in Bosnia, there’s destruction. This used to be *** shoe factory. It stands as *** stark reminder of war. People here are now forced to get their water from community watering holes. Coping as best they can. How’s everybody today? And Nebraska’s National Guard is helping them right now. This is *** new area that we’re moving into. The Russian contingency is leaving. Part of the guard’s mission in Bosnia. These patrols, Bandit 35 over. They go into communities and over *** cup of Bosnian coffee, just talk with the people. Seeing if everything’s all right, if they need anything, we want to let people know that, you know. They can talk to us. Through *** translator. This store owner tells me she appreciates America’s concern. You’re welcome here and I’m glad to see you here. That’s it. Jared Ideas of Philly, Nebraska is surprised by the welcome they’re getting and by the similarities between Bosnians and Nebraskans. They might have *** different cultural or religion, but otherwise they’re about like me and you. I mean. They’re just normal people. Can you tell me who your teacher is? Can we talk to her? And one place the troops always find those similarities. In Bosnian schools. Kids want to play. And they want to talk. Nebraska. While we were there, our group was surrounded by kids of all ages, all curious. Our people in our country I found them to be very inviting. They’re very friendly, but very poor. These Bosnian teen girls want to know all about American teen girls. What do they wear? What music do they like? What’s their favorite TV show? Oprah show, favorite, really? You like Dr. Phil. But for all the similarities, there’s always that stark reminder of war. If they see that sign, they’re not supposed to go there. Outside almost every school, *** sign like this, it’s warning message about mines and weapons obvious. Mines are killing us. That’s why Nick Ely of Lincoln says these patrols are so necessary, them knowing that we’re we’re here to help instead of here to show them guns and war that they don’t really want. So I think it’s *** big help. This is kind of their business district here, Joe Summers says. Win the hearts of the children so you can win the hearts of the parents and eventually win the peace. It’s *** trust thing. We really try to build the trust of the people so that they feel that they can come talk to us, but trust here is in short supply. Bosnia has seen more than its share of atrocities. This cemetery worker tells us we’re standing where *** group of Muslim civilians had been executed during the last war. And they’re still trying to bring all the dead from that war back home. So in *** country still hurting from war, the mission is to help ease the pain. And sometimes, as Jason Lawrence of Omaha saw, that can be as simple as being *** friend. Reporting from northern Bosnia with photojournalist Peter Soby, I’m Rob McCartney, KETV News Watch 7.
From the archives: Rob McCartney travels to Bosnia in 2003 seeing firsthand the destruction of war
As KETV prepares for Rob McCartney’s retirement, we are digging into our archives to bring you some of his past stories.This one hails from 2003 when Rob traveled to Bosnia to see the destruction and devastation of war.He toured the site of an old shoe factory that had been turned into rubble. Nebraska’s National Guard was deployed there to help the communities that were affected by the war, trying to ease their pain.See the whole story in the video above.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
As KETV prepares for Rob McCartney’s retirement, we are digging into our archives to bring you some of his past stories.
This one hails from 2003 when Rob traveled to Bosnia to see the destruction and devastation of war.
He toured the site of an old shoe factory that had been turned into rubble.
Nebraska’s National Guard was deployed there to help the communities that were affected by the war, trying to ease their pain.
See the whole story in the video above.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |