Informed Sources

World War III in Miniature

U.S. intelligence sources say the three main factions involved in the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina have hired nearly 20,000 foreign mercenaries since 1991 -- including some Americans. The marauding Bosnian Serbs have hired technical experts from Romania and Greece as well as fighting Russian cossacks; the Croat forces have recruited Canadian and American soldiers of fortune; and the Muslim forces have brought in mercenaries, not surprisingly, from Islamic countries -- Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.

The Pyongyang-Jerusalem Connection

According to Israeli sources, Israel and impoverished, still communist North Korea have discussed the possibility of an arrangement whereby, in exchange for economic aid, the North Koreans would agree not to transfer long-range- missile technology to Iran. However, the sources say, American officials, pursuing their own strategy to bring the North Korean nuclear-weapons program under control, have restrained the Israelis. Still, Jerusalem is continuing talks with a view toward a three-way U.S.-Israeli-Korean deal.

Billy Joel Is a Bit Like Mantovani

Conductor and screen composer John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park) is leaving the Boston Pops at the end of this year, and the orchestra is looking for a new leader -- preferably someone with star power, a marquee name. Among the people still in the running for the Pops job, according to rumor: Top 40- esque entertainers Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Quincy Jones and Marvin Hamlisch. There are also more conventional candidates up for the post, including conductors Erich Kunzel of the Cincinnati Pops and John Mauceri of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.