In March 2010 he testified to the US Congress that according to the chief of staff of the Dutch Army at the time of the incident , the fall of Srebrenica was caused by lack of readiness related to the Dutch being more concerned with internal ' socialisation ' of the military than fighting capacity . Sheehan stated it was in part due to homosexual men serving in the military . During the same testimony , Sheehan stated that gays weakened the army , while attraction between men and women in gender-integrated units would not . Speculation has it that Sheehan meant General Henk van den Breemen , Dutch chief of staff at the time of the Srebrenica genocide . General van den Breemen denied having said such a thing and called Sheehan 's comments " total nonsense " . Dutch Minister of Defense Eimert van Middelkoop stated that Sheehan 's statement was " disgraceful , " " unworthy of anyone in the military " . Prime-Minister Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands stated that Sheehan 's words are " shameful " , " outrageous " , " beneath contempt " and " disrespectful towards all troops involved " . Dutch advocates of gay rights , organized in the Pink Army ( foundation ) and the Stichting Homosexualiteit en Krijgsmacht ( " Foundation Homosexuality and Armed Forces " ) , announced a libel lawsuit against Sheehan , demanded public apologies , and for Sheehan to follow sensitivity training . The majority of the Dutch parliament voiced their support for the class action
fall of Srebrenica
Srebrenica massacre
John J. Sheehan