Lawyers, meanwhile, scoffed at his vigorous declarations of independence from BP, which he still makes.

WSJ: Overseer of US victim funds says work wrenching

Slovenia and Macedonia managed to break away relatively peacefully, while declarations of independence in Bosnia and Croatia led to the worst violence and war crimes seen in Europe since World War II.

BBC: Yugoslavia opts to end federation

Comment: In contrast to the assertion of autonomous power contained in each of the declarations of independence or sovereignty adopted by every Soviet republic, Gorbachev's draft of the All-Union Treaty would devolve remarkably little power to the republics.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

These and other figures have offered a common assessment -- and a common prescription: German endorsement of the Croat and Slovene declarations of independence would grievously complicate efforts to end the fighting and, therefore, Germany must continue to be bound by an international consensus that denies such recognition for the foreseeable future.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy