BLACK HAWK DOWN: Did mother of dead soldier protest Clinton?

[Tallguy]

I remember that as well. The major Media, however, took a pass on that story since it would have embarrased their boy.

[marine86297]

"Mogadishu is a third-world cesspool of a city, all narrow alleys and crowded buildings. Tanks would have been of very little use in that environment, and the Senate report said that was Powell's primary reason for turning down requests for armor. The CENTCOM commander turned down the request for the AC-130's for the same reason, poorly suited for urban areas."

I was in the Mog and Baidoa and believe me, armor would have been most welcome. We always heard the reason for no armor was the fact that Clinton did not want war machines for a peacekeeping mission.

[Tallguy]

Tanks would have been of very little use in that environment, and the Senate report said that was Powell's primary reason for turning down requests for armor.

Granted that this was the thinking at the time, but it looks incredibly stupid in hindsight. Especially when you consider that the Rangers were partially extracted using Pakistani M113's.

Plus, if the US Army cared to look, the Israelis were even then successfully using tanks in urban areas.

[marine86297]

Hey, come to think of it I don't remember anybody screaming for armor for us in Somalia like they are screaming for armor (or lack there of) in Iraq.

Gosh I hate the double standards of freakin liberals!!!

[Tallguy]

Hey, come to think of it I don't remember anybody screaming for armor for us in Somalia like they are screaming for armor (or lack there of) in Iraq.

That's probably because Clinton yanked the Rangers out of Somalia so fast they got whiplash. IIRC, Clinton basically 'allowed' Les Aspin, his professorial Defense Secretary, to 'resign' -- thus pre-empting much of the after-action investigations. Aspin died shortly thereafter.

Clinton was the luckiest politician I ever saw. Even when he Effed-up, he came out smelling like a rose. 'Course that's easy when the MSM is in your pocket.

[CT]

They weren't family, but I also remember a couple around Chicago that told Clinton off to his face. Words to the effect that he had blood on his hands for not giving armor support. Clinton had these people detained and held.

Some Freepers around then maybe can help.

PS The press said nary a word. We found out via NewsMax and alternate media.

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[Alia]

bookmark

[krunkygirl]

a NEVER FORGET bump

[Mia T]

solving clinton poverty 


WHY DID BILL CLINTON IGNORE TERRORISM?
Was it simply the constraints of his liberal mindset, or was it something even more threatening to our national security?


Why hillary clinton should never be allowed anywhere near the Oval Office... or any position of power--THE SERIES
REASON 1: MISSUS CLINTON HIRED JAMIE GORELICK


sandy berger haberdashery feint
(the specs, not the pants or the socks)


BILL CLINTON'S CINDY SHEEHANS (courtesy Sean Hannity)

[Mia T]

excellent! Would appreciate it if you could post this on the following thread:

BILL CLINTON'S CINDY SHEEHANS (courtesy Sean Hannity)


Thanx.

[SuziQ]

Actually the father of one of the men did castigate x42 in the Oval Office when medals were awarded posthumously. Somehow, no one knew about it until much later, and then only conservative news outlets. I don't think the mainstream media even picked up the story.

[Mia T]

see #50 and #51.

[doug from upland]

Capt. James Smith refused Clinton's letter of condolence. (Years ago I did an interview with him for FR.)

The father of Randy Shughart refused to shake Clinton's hand in the Oval Office. He looked Clinton in the eye, told him he was the reason his son was dead, that he was unfit to be the president and unfit to be commander in chief. Clinton was taken aback. He looked at the mother and said, "What's he jumping on me for? I didn't kill the kid."

[OldFriend]

BTTT

[defenderSD]

It was Defense Secretary Aspin, not Powell, who turned down the request for armor. Powell strongly believed in the doctrine of using overwhelming force. Here's an excerpt from the book entitled Legacy, by Rich Lowry:

"The Pentagon's understanding of the Policy," Clinton defense secretary Les Aspin would explain later, "was to move to more diplomatic efforts but snatch Aideed on the side, if you can." The policy, in other words, was half devoted to seeking a diplomatic accord with Aideeed, and half devoted to attempting to capture or kill him. Meanwhile, in September, American officers in the field requested more firepower--artillery pieces, Bradley armored vehicles, M-1 tanks, assault helicopters, and the AC-130 Specter gunships.

Secretary of defense Aspin turned down the request because granting the military's demand for such weaponry would send the wrong "message." In other words, American troops should try to capture Aideed, but not use any weapons judged too threatening.

So Clinton's policy in Somalia was compromised by Clinton's usual indecision and his pattern of not supporting other men and instead setting them up for failure and defeat.

[defenderSD]

(((( Ping ))))

[defenderSD]

Please see post #56.

[Milligan]

I remember seeing something on TV over the Mogadish Fiasco back in 1993. Saw a angry parent. Almost nil coverage because it was embarrassing Clinton.

Check with freepers.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1462436/posts

[defenderSD]

I remember a lot of coverage of what happened in this military disaster, but very little coverage of why it happened and Clinton's responsibility for that disaster.