Michael J. Murphy, the U.S. Ambassador to BiH, a man who is supposed to represent the interests of one of the world’s most powerful nations, has long been leaving the impression that he does not represent his country nor its declared policy toward BiH.
During a meeting with Ilija Cvitanović, Murphy finally and clearly admitted this by saying that the U.S. supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH, the constitutional rights of its constituent peoples, and Euro-Atlantic integration—all the things Murphy has worked against.
Indeed, when his actions are scrutinized, a troubling question arises: Who has Michael Murphy really been working for all this time?
Double Games and Undermining BiH’s Sovereignty
Murphy’s diplomatic engagement in BiH is far from conventional. His actions clearly point toward destabilization rather than stabilization of the country. While publicly advocating for BiH’s sovereignty, his behind-the-scenes activities tell a different story. Systematic pressure on local authorities, imposition of decisions, and selective support for political elites reveal a pattern of behavior that has nothing to do with supporting sovereignty but everything to do with weakening institutions and creating chaos.
When a diplomat of a great power uses his influence to favor select groups while ignoring the system and the law, that is no longer diplomacy. That is the deliberate undermining of a state’s foundations.
Constitutional Rights? Only When It Fits the Plan
Murphy claims to support the constitutional rights of BiH’s constituent peoples, but his actions tell a different story. Persistent disregard for the problem of the electoral law and preventing Croats from electing their legitimate representatives is not support for constitutional rights—it’s a strategy aimed at dismantling the internal balance of the country, creating tensions, and deepening the crisis.
What lies behind such actions? Is the goal to weaken BiH further, making it even more dependent on international actors?
The Selmo Cikotić Case: Shielding Crimes, Manipulating Justice
One of the most alarming examples of Murphy’s actions in BiH is the case of Selmo Cikotić. Despite evidence of war crimes in Bugojno, Cikotić has enjoyed political and legal protection for years. A key witness against him died under suspicious circumstances while being questioned by SIPA agents. Justice has remained in the shadows, and Murphy has done nothing but ensure that the case stays stalled.
This raises the question: why is the U.S. ambassador so invested in protecting individuals whose crimes continue to haunt the families of victims?
Silencing Media: Controlling the Narrative
When RTRS reported the truth about Murphy, sanctions quickly followed. The message is clear: media freedom in BiH is permitted only as long as it doesn’t touch upon the interests of international diplomats. This isn’t the first time Murphy has used his position to control the narrative in BiH.
The suppression of critical voices shows that his mission here isn’t to promote democratic values but to impose a single, tightly controlled perspective on reality.
Euro-Atlantic Path as a Smokescreen
Murphy often speaks about supporting BiH’s European and NATO aspirations, but his actions suggest otherwise. By supporting political actors who are openly against Euro-Atlantic integration, Murphy slows down the process of bringing BiH closer to the West.
The question arises: why would someone who is supposed to facilitate these processes actually work to delay them? Is this a strategic game where BiH is used as a pawn in a larger geopolitical calculation?
Whose Man Is Murphy?
If Murphy is not representing official U.S. policy, as he claims, then whose interests is he serving? His actions not only contradict the declared U.S. policy toward BiH but often go directly against it. Could Murphy be representing the interests of certain lobbying groups, shadowy power brokers, or perhaps even other international forces that benefit from destabilizing BiH?
Fear Justified, Questions Unanswered
Michael Murphy has become a symbol of international hypocrisy that has kept BiH trapped in a vicious cycle of political chaos and legal uncertainty for decades. His actions leave deep scars, and the questions surrounding his true intentions are growing louder.
BiH has too often been a victim of the great powers’ games. Perhaps the answer to the question of who Michael Murphy really worked for lies in this rhetorical query:
If we analyze the great powers, their enduring interests, and their influence in BiH, and then ask ourselves whose influence has grown and whose has declined during Murphy’s tenure, whose reputation has improved and whose has worsened, perhaps the answer to this question will reveal who Michael Murphy truly served in BiH.
One thing is certain—he was not an American man.
EZanki/POSKOK/