CROATIA AND THE USA IN TANDEM IN MILITARY OPERATION STORM ‘OLUJA’: A VIOLENT ATTACK ON CROATIAN SERBS, ORTHODOX POPULATIONS, AND CITIZENS IN CROATIA

Column of expelled civilians (Croatian Serbs, Orthodox Christians, citizens of Croatia and the former Yugoslavia)

MPRI – American 'Advisors' Who Changed the Course of the War in Croatia

When discussing Operation 'Storm' in 1995, it is impossible to overlook the key role played by the U.S. military advisory group Military Professional Resources Incorporated (MPRI). This private military company, founded in 1987 under the leadership of former high-ranking U.S. Army officers, played a pivotal role in 'training' the Croatian military—which in reality meant preparing for the ethnic cleansing of Krajina.

What is MPRI and what did they do in Croatia?

Officially, they were 'just' trainers – under the guise of the 'Democracy Transition Assistance Program' (DTAP), they were supposedly teaching the Croats about 'human rights and democratic control of the military.'

In reality, they were the chief strategic planners – through MPRI, American generals (some active, others retired) provided the Croats with:

• Advanced tactics – modern methods of offensive warfare

• Intelligence support – satellite imagery, analysis of Serb positions

• Psychological warfare – how to destabilize the Croatian Serb population

Why is MPRI so controversial?

1. Violation of the UN Arms Embargo

   While Croatia was banned from importing weapons, the Americans—through MPRI—provided them with knowledge far more valuable than guns.

   
   

2. Direct Ties to the Pentagon

   Many MPRI members were recently retired U.S. generals, meaning the company effectively served as a tool of American foreign policy

   
   

3. Role in Operation "Storm" Though officially uninvolved in planning, MPRI trainers were directly present in Croatian military headquarters just before the offensive.

   
   

4. How Croatia Acquired Weapons for "Storm" Croatia obtained arms through a combination of Slovenian aid, the black market, MPRI’s expertise, and other assistance. Despite the embargo, the Croatian Army (HV) built an effective military force that outmatched the poorly equipped Serb units in Krajina.

   
   

Did expelled Croatian Serbs sue MPRI?

A lawsuit against MPRI was officially filed in 2010 at the U.S. Federal Court in Chicago (Northern District of Illinois), where a group of Serbian refugees, representing 200,000 expelled Krajina Serbs, sought $10.4 billion in compensation for ethnic cleansing during Operation 'Storm' (1995).

Key evidence in the lawsuit:

1. Direct Military Collaboration

The contracts between the Croatian government and MPRI (1994-1995) prove that American instructors were actively involved in:

• Modernizing the Croatian Army (HV) through tactical training and intelligence operations

• Preparing offensive operations

• Maintaining MPRI personnel presence in Croatian General Staff headquarters immediately before "Storm"—including participation in meetings discussing the attack on Krajina

2. UN Embargo Violation

   MPRI indirectly supplied the HV with military knowledge under the guise of "training" (DTAP), violating UN Security Council Resolution 713.

   
   

3. Testimony from U.S. Officers

   Some MPRI members (e.g., General Richard Griffiths) later admitted they were "more than just trainers"—they "participated in operational analyses. Croatian General Ante Gotovina hinted in interviews that MPRI tactics "decisively influenced" the speed of Krajina's capture.

   
   

4. Satellite and Intelligence Support

   The lawsuit alleged MPRI facilitated HV (Croatian Army) access to:

   - NATO satellite imagery of Serb positions

   - Signals intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities

Why Did the Lawsuit Fail Despite the Evidence?

1. U.S. Political Pressure—MPRI's involvement was a "sensitive issue" for the American government.

2. Legal Obstacle—Judges argued that "training does not equate to direct participation in operations."

3. International Bias—Croatia was already a member of NATO’s "Partnership for Peace" program, making the lawsuit politically inconvenient.

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Why is this still important today?

Because it proves that "Storm" was not just a Croatian operation but part of a broader Western plan for the dissolution of Yugoslavia. While Serbian generals sat in The Hague, those who gave them weapons and knowledge remained free.

MPRI was a tool of American policy—and proof that the ethnic cleansing of Krajina was a commissioned action on Croatia’s behalf and a genocidal Croatian Ustaša act.